TomoHawk Posted December 30, 2015 Share #1 Posted December 30, 2015 I just read a book about the fashions of the sports car owner/driver of the 1940s and 50s, and it made me wonder about the stuff I wear today. People used to dress for just about any time they leave the house: for school, for a party, for Church, for travel, etc., and it was never the same thing. Remember that ladies had all those fancy hats? The only time you saw a person wearing a T-shirt tat wasn't covered was for cutting the grass or some other mundane or dirty task. Even at my last evening visit to a nice restaurant I saw guys in T-shirts, one with a jacket over that. People have lost the skill of dressing well or appropriately for wherever they were going. So I would like to ask what you'd put together (that doesn't include a T-shirt) for a trip to anywhere in a Zed as a proud sports car owner & driver. What would you wear to a dinner at Applebees, or a race as a guest of Nissan? I remember photos of guys at the races wearing turtleneck sweaters, jackets, slacks, cool colored berets and golf caps, and just lots of great fashions. Jaguar owners wore slightly different stuff. Even the race drivers had cool fashions. 1 Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/53039-what-the-well-dressed-z-owner-wears/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
psdenno Posted December 30, 2015 Share #2 Posted December 30, 2015 Type of event, time of year, and location all need to be taken into consideration. While I've never been a guest of Nissan at an event, I've been the guest of Porsche at events in Germany. My packed wardrobe included sports coat and slacks with nice shoes, tuxedo with appropriate shoes, polo shirts, jeans, and tennis shoes. Porsche provided a new car at the factory for use during the scheduled events which ranged from lectures from company ececs and engineers to hot laps at their test facility, to formal diners in castles, to a road rally. Lots of clothing requirements. My wife's wardrobe also ranged from casual to formal evening wear for the events we attended. Dennis Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/53039-what-the-well-dressed-z-owner-wears/#findComment-483713 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomoHawk Posted December 30, 2015 Author Share #3 Posted December 30, 2015 The book is called Sports Clothes for Sports Cars, by the famous Men's fashion expert John Weitz. He was a sports car owner and racer in the1950s, so he focuses on all that kind of fashion. He discussed the kinds of things worn by Nuvolari, Moss, Sterling, and even Shelby. Then he had a chapter with fashion recommendations for all the major racetracks, like Sebring, Watkins Glen, Bridgehampton, V IR, etc. Yeah, you probably need a variety of clothes for where you are and what you'll be doing, from breakfast to e beach to dinner. So we can discuss it all and get to the second-hand stores to stock up for next year's cruising season. Personally, I'd start with a lightweight colour-coordinated turtleneck with a plain cotton/poplin windbreaker or sportcoat/tweed, depending on the weather. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/53039-what-the-well-dressed-z-owner-wears/#findComment-483728 Share on other sites More sharing options...
psdenno Posted December 30, 2015 Share #4 Posted December 30, 2015 (edited) 2 hours ago, TomoHawk said: Personally, I'd start with a lightweight colour-coordinated turtleneck with a plain cotton/poplin windbreaker or sportcoat/tweed, depending on the weather. Perfect! But, don't forget your string back driving gloves. All sports car fashionista need a good pair of driving gloves. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEzz7BZNbA8 Dennis Edited December 30, 2015 by psdenno added link Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/53039-what-the-well-dressed-z-owner-wears/#findComment-483732 Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteunseen Posted December 30, 2015 Share #5 Posted December 30, 2015 55 minutes ago, psdenno said: Perfect! But, don't forget your string back driving gloves. All sports car fashionista need a good pair or driving gloves. Dennis And a nice pair of driving shoes, with them little rubber nipples. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/53039-what-the-well-dressed-z-owner-wears/#findComment-483742 Share on other sites More sharing options...
psdenno Posted December 30, 2015 Share #6 Posted December 30, 2015 47 minutes ago, siteunseen said: And a nice pair of driving shoes, with them little rubber nipples. If you're going for the rubber nipple driving shoes, you'd better plan on also getting a tweed driving cap to match shoes and driving gloves. Got to look coordinated when you play "dress-up". http://www.orvis.com/p/aberford-tweed-driving-cap/7g3y Dennis Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/53039-what-the-well-dressed-z-owner-wears/#findComment-483751 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomoHawk Posted December 30, 2015 Author Share #7 Posted December 30, 2015 (edited) I saw a photo of Moss with a little golf cap on- it was kinda cool- I already have a nice polyester beret for the summer, and I use a wool one in the winter. I really liked the look Steve McQueen had in Bullet, with the cardigan, for a cool day. Real racing shoes are extremely expensive, but they used to wear boxer shoes back in the ol' grand-Prix days. The closest thing today is wrestling shoes. I have a pair of work gloves that I like for driving. They are made of a neoprene-like material, with a rubber-coated palm. BTW, Aviator glasses are out-of-style lately, unless you are in an F-14 pretending to be Tom Cruise. Even if you are in a 1970s sportscar. Edited December 30, 2015 by TomoHawk Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/53039-what-the-well-dressed-z-owner-wears/#findComment-483752 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomoHawk Posted December 31, 2015 Author Share #8 Posted December 31, 2015 (edited) 7 hours ago, psdenno said: Perfect! But, don't forget your string back driving gloves. All sports car fashionista need a good pair of driving gloves. I thought stringback gloves had laces? The gloves in the video aren't exactly flame-proof, but how many well-maintained streetcars let the flames loose? If they send me some, I'll try them, but I have several pairs of leather cycling gloves I can use in the meantime. $125 for some gloves. How many people really wear that stuff? Edited December 31, 2015 by TomoHawk Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/53039-what-the-well-dressed-z-owner-wears/#findComment-483760 Share on other sites More sharing options...
TomoHawk Posted January 10, 2016 Author Share #9 Posted January 10, 2016 I've been checking tbe local second-hand stores for lightweight turlenecks with no luck, unless you would have more luck looking in the women's section, but my chest just isn't that "big". Does anyone have a source of lightweight light-coloured wool turtlenecks? Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/53039-what-the-well-dressed-z-owner-wears/#findComment-484359 Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheee! Posted January 11, 2016 Share #10 Posted January 11, 2016 Not a turtleneck but it's a baseball shirt... I'm rockin' this today! Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/53039-what-the-well-dressed-z-owner-wears/#findComment-484360 Share on other sites More sharing options...
wheee! Posted January 11, 2016 Share #11 Posted January 11, 2016 My favourite tie.... 2 Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/53039-what-the-well-dressed-z-owner-wears/#findComment-484361 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Obvious Posted January 11, 2016 Share #12 Posted January 11, 2016 Nice!! So at the next show, you'll be rockin the T-shirt with the tie? That would be a good look. Link to comment https://www.classiczcars.com/topic/53039-what-the-well-dressed-z-owner-wears/#findComment-484381 Share on other sites More sharing options...
dspillman
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