Five Centries of Fashion

William Lee invented his knitting frame at a time when the demand for knitted stockings was increasing. Stockings became an important part of men's fashions during the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, and can be seen in many portraits of the time.

Men's fashions of the sixteenth century continued into the seventeenth century, but with more elaborate designs. The doublet became more decorative with slashes across the chest and sleeves that revealed the shirt underneath.

Towards the end of the seventeenth century, waistcoats and knee-length coats had replaced the doublet in menswear. Lace or linen frills extended beyond the cuff of the coat and a cravat was worn around the neck.

The early nineteenth century saw the development of a men's fashion that had devastating impact on the knitting industry. Trousers were widely worn in place of breeches and stockings were no longer required to cover the lower leg.

By the second half of the nineteenth century a wide range of clothing items was available for people to wear. Shops were selling ready to wear clothing to the mass market.

Early twenty first century designs still retain characteristics of the fashions that were being developed in the early twentieth century.

Dior, Cardin, Givenchy, Chanel and Ricci were a few of the post war designers to have an impact on women's fashions.