The Menswear Association of Britain, optimistically kaleidoscopic as ever, opened its exhibition at Harrogate yesterday with yet another forecast that men’s clothing is going to explode into brilliant colours. Old hands at the exhibition have heard it all before, particularly those who remember the 1961 exhibition and its slogan “Blue is new for ‘62.” But who can doubt that the menswear shops have already won one victory over the grey hordes of Englishmen by putting them into brightly coloured shirts.
The aim of the exhibition is to persuade the grey men to surrender in droves to colour. But they are hardly likely to yield this year to one model, a pink corduroy suit with brass buttons. A thousand guesses would not produce the name of the exhibitor of this exhibitionist’s garment. It is the Cooperative Wholesale Society, diligently dressing the divi men.
A few garments at the style show seem to be for futures more distant than next year. One was a knitted gold jump suit, carrying slightly comic echoes of the the old fashioned “combinations.” and another red casual suit owing its inspiration to bib-and-brace overalls.
Flower shapes
What made the show exciting were the new Jacquard weaves for suitings, with flower shapes, lozenges, and zigzags replacing the fired trio of herringbone, check, and stripe.