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Clothing communicates as much as it covers and protects. An eighteenth century gentlemen could glance at a passer-by and immediately discern wealth and station from his clothing. Before mass-production of clothing, the wealthy purchased clothing made specially to fit them from a tailor, while the poor muddled through with just a few pieces of dress. Changes in fabric production and clothing manufacture revolutionized the clothing industry, and by l890, all but the poorest could buy ready-to-wear clothing, making it tougher to discern gentleman from bum. Today, dress designers are the new innovators, pushing styles to change from year to year. |
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