When I was in university, part of my training as a costume designer was studying costume history, including military costume/uniforms. My original plan in life was to be a men’s clothing designer, so naturally I was drawn to the lines, durability, and practicality of military uniforms. Uniforms worn by emergency services…

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This week, we're going to test your spacial-temporal abilities and see if you can visualize the gentleman's coat from the pattern pieces below and match it to one of the coats below:

Your choices:…

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Gents, do you own a winter coat? I know it's a funny question, but I'm on my fourth client almost in a row who doesn't have a proper winter coat and I'm astounded. We live in Canada and our winters are cold, so why wouldn't these men have the proper gear for winter weather?

 

One of the clients never "got around" to getting one as an adult, so he shivered his way through each winter in a short cloth and leather baseball-type jacket  that was miles too big for him. Thinking…

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I'm updating the presentation book I use to show potential clients the kind of work that I do, using visual collage and fabric swatches to illustrate appropriate dress for different work and social situations as my tools. I created the original collage sheets about seven years ago and redoing them now, I see that there have been very few lasting major changes in menswear since then, save for the slimmer suit cuts and the introduction of gingham.



Changes in menswear are historically… Continue