In yesterday's post we mentioned fashion, cars and Glasgow. Let's follow the thread for another day and take a look at early motoring outfits such as the ones on display at the Riverside Museum in Glasgow.
Owners of early motorcars would have had to buy proper clothing to protect themselves from the wind, rain and cold.
When travelling in open cars, women would opt for clothes and accessories such as the ones in the following picture that include a coat (1910; David Kemp & Son Ltd, Glasgow) suitable for warm weather with outer collars that could protect the wearer in the event of a shower; a motoring veil (early 20th century), muffs (1870 and 1910) and a muff warmer (circa 1910; S Mawson & Sons).
The first image in this post - an illustration by Louis Rémy Sabattier from the magazine L'illustration (1909) - perfectly shows how women would wear this ensemble (the illustration also shows children ready for a car trip, but looking as if they were going to an expedition to the artic...).
Since they weren't protected by a proper windscreen, early motorists wore their windscreens: the leather coat (1909) in this display cabinet was indeed air-proof guaranteeing protection from the wind.
The driver would accessorise it with gauntlet gloves that prevented draughts going up the sleeves while a motoring cap (1920s) and driving goggles would protect ears and eyes.
This display features two types of goggles: one pair (visible in the second image in this post) from the early 20th century and a pair of batwing shaped goggles from London-based optical firm Raphaels, characterised by orange coloured lenses.
When motorcars evolved becoming a practical means of transport, people didn't need to wear extreme weather clothing to travel in one. The transition from open bodied to fully closed cars meant that ladies no longer had to worry about being soaked or caked in dust.
The goggles and overcoat were therefore left behind in favour of luxurious evening gowns such as the gold evening dress with train (1934) matched with a stole (1930s) in the fourth image in this post. Yet you feel that, somehow, ditching a few of these accessories was a shame: the "batwing goggles" for example may not be needed to drive modern cars, but, hell, they still look pretty cool.
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