Originally Posted by
Brian Bean
As a boy, I always thought them hilarious even though I was too young to wear them anyway. I don't say I was any less impressionable about what I later wore, but whereas most young men were impressed by what other youths were wearing, I was impressed with different role models. Particularly from films and books. I preferred old films and so I had some suits made based on Americam gangster films ie. Three piece with stripes. Then I started reading P.G.Wodehouse and began copying Bertie Wooster's attire, I had a number coloured waistcoats and was dissapointed that I was unable to buy a pair of spats although I did manage to effect a cigarette holder. I was also much influenced by Victorian male dress as in some of the Sherlock Holmes books, but I never went so far as to wear a deerstalker. I suspect that I looked as ludicrous as the Day Glo socks and Brothel Creepers brigade of an earlier generation but I didn't think so at the time.
For many years now I have been wearing the 'casual' look ie. various types of windcheaters and reasonably matching trousers but never ever jeans, which are simply too common to contemplate.