History of Fashion, Trousers Jackson Swaby History of Fashion, Trousers Jackson Swaby

The History of Pleated Trousers

Front pleated trousers have been a long-time staple in men’s and women’s fashion.  Whether in the office, at formal events, or as casual wear, pleats have stood the test of time, evolving across different eras. From their origins to their resurgence on runways, pleated trousers have a fascinating history. 

Pleats are folds of fabric that are stitched into the waistband to provide extra fabric and room for movement. There are various styles of pleats, including reverse, forward and double pleats.

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The Dark Ink 100% Italian Wool Over Shirt
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The Dark Ink 100% Italian Wool Over Shirt

At first glance, the Dark Ink hue of this 100% wool overshirt seems to shift, deep and rich like a midnight sky.  It's not quite navy, but rather a darker, more versatile shade, perfect for pairing with everything from casual jeans to tailored trousers.  It’s a confident colour. The most powerful statements often come from the most understated choices. A classic box cut with clean lines, no excessive embellishments or pockets.

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Why Wear Linen Shirts?
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Why Wear Linen Shirts?

Linen is a fantastic fabric for shirts. It is highly absorbent and breathable, making it perfect for hot weather. We assume that linen is only wearable in the warmer months when in fact linen can be worn all year round as linen fabric is temperature regulating. We don't stop wearing cotton shirts in the winter months so why not linen?

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Men’s Casual Jackets… What is a Casual Jacket?
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Men’s Casual Jackets… What is a Casual Jacket?

There are many different styles of casual jackets for men, from classic denim to the anorak. At Order Materia we think the fit should be comfortable, versatile, and have a relaxed silhouette. Fasteners can be varied from buttons, zip, or snap fasteners. And what is the difference between a jacket and a coat? It’s usually the length. Jackets are shorter and usually made of lighter-weight fabrics. A casual jacket can be both lined or unlined and coats are usually lined.

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What is an Overshirt? What makes the best Overshirt? Can I wear an Overshirt in Summer? Your questions answered
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What is an Overshirt? What makes the best Overshirt? Can I wear an Overshirt in Summer? Your questions answered

What is an Overshirt I hear you say. Well, an Overshirt is an outerwear piece of clothing that is constructed like a shirt and worn like a casual jacket, but it is not a jacket. Are Overshirts in fashion? Oh yes. They are one of the most popular men's trends over the last 2 years. An Overshirt is a versatile garment that is meant to be worn over another layer or two of clothing like a teeshirt, shirt, sweatshirt, hoodie or sweater. The garment should be loose enough to wear another garment underneath but not loose enough to be unflattering.

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How to wear a Casual Shirt
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How to wear a Casual Shirt

Can casual shirts be tucked in?

If you’re unsure, here are some things to consider. Think of the occasion. Going to the pub? Untucked. Special occasion? Tucked in. And if you are tucking your shirt in, wearing a belt will make your outfit look neater. If you are wearing a casual shirt without a jacket, untucked. Wearing a casual jacket or a coat over a casual shirt changes things a little, as it becomes slightly less casual, so tucked in. There are other casual shirt types that can be worn untucked, including a short-sleeved shirt (Hawaiin patterned ones included) a t-shirt, a polo shirt, and a rugby shirt.

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The Skinny Brow Trend

After a good ten years of groomed bushy brows, skinny brows are making a comeback. The trend has been bubbling for a while on Tik Tok together with a skinny brow app that lets you see how you look with the dramatic brow. Hulu released its controversial Pam & Tommy tv series, with Lily James as Pamela Anderson reminding us of Pamela’s iconic blonde hair and skinny 90s brows. If you think skinny brows are a new thing, think again, it's just their turn on the merry-go-round of eyebrows.

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Moth Larvae Eating Your Clothes?

I’m sure everyone can relate to finding their favourite sweater has been eaten by the dreaded clothes moth. An adult clothes moth won’t do any harm to your clothes, it's the larvae that do the damage.

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A Short History of the Mini Skirt
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A Short History of the Mini Skirt

There have been many disputes as to who first made the shorter hemlines, but it was Mary Quant who pioneered 60s fashion in London. Born 11th February 1930 in Blackheath, London. Her parents were university professors. She studied illustration at Goldsmiths then apprenticed to an upmarket milliner in Mayfair. At 16 Alexander Plunkett Greene, grandson of Bertrand Russel and descendant of an aristocratic family, helped her to open her boutique ‘Bazaar’. Her iconic boutique ‘Bazaar’ on King’s Road London was opened in 1955, where her strong colours and simple shapes were born. Bazaar became the place to be, a hedonistic hangout of music, drinks and fashion, which appealed to the young. Short skirts and dresses were her signature look, making the mini popular on an international scale. The Quant definition of a mini required the bottom edge of the skirt to hit roughly halfway up the thigh and fall no more than 4” below the butt.

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The Hollywood Glamour Of A Compact

I love the glamour of a fabulous vintage compact. Small works of art, shiny, sculptured, engraved, or bejewelled,

The earliest compacts were cherished possessions of the Kings and Queens of ancient Greece. The box mirrors were polished bronze and

lavishly adorned with images of Pan, Eros and Aphrodite, gods of mischief, passionate desire, and true love.

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For The Love Of Lashes - The History of False Eyelashes

Have you ever given a thought about your false lashes? False eyelashes have been around for decades and with the rise of social media, they have dominated the beauty scene.

So where did the obsession with our lashes begin? Around 3500 BC, the Ancient Egyptians began using brushes and ointments to obtain voluminous lashes. Men and women used materials like Malachite to darken their lashes. Men and women artificially coloured and lengthened their lashes with kohl, a black putty made of lead sulphide that was applied to the eyes.

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What Are Smart Casual Trousers?
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What Are Smart Casual Trousers?

Men’s trousers fall into two categories, smart or casual. Smart trousers; think suit trousers. Casual; jeans or chinos. But what about something in between? You want to look like you have made an effort but with a sense of comfort and an injection of your own style. Good quality fabrics are a must and of course

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Why Wear a Short Skirt?
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Why Wear a Short Skirt?

I’m sure everyone reading this knows about Mary Quant and her iconic ’60s mini skirt. All the years later and the mini is still a fashionable piece of clothing. How short is a mini skirt? A mini skirt sits mid-thigh, but the actual length can range from 11” - 17” depending on the wearer's height and leg length. A micro mini, a massive 2022 trend, has a length of around 10”.

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Why we use French Seams on Our Handmade Garments at Order Materia
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Why we use French Seams on Our Handmade Garments at Order Materia

At Order Materia we are passionate about our choice of fabrics, our manufacturing process and the finish of our garments. Each garment that we design is manufactured to a high standard. The choice of fabrics, their construction, and manufacture are extremely important to us. We use a variety of manufacturing techniques that are relevant to each garment and type of fabric.

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Cotton - How To Wash And Look After Cotton Garments

Everyone has at least one favourite piece of clothing made from cotton in their wardrobe and it's probably a shirt or a dress. After washing and pressing it several times has the colour faded or shrunk a bit?

Did you look at the wash care label or just assumed you could machine wash it with the rest of your washing?

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The Durability And Easy Care Of Cotton Drill

Cotton Drill has to be one of the easiest fabrics to look after. That is why so many of our clothes, especially casual clothes are made from Cotton Drill fabric. The fabric is constructed using a twill weave which makes it very durable. It can be washed many times, becomes softer, and even improves with age. It has a characteristic diagonal weave, resulting in an interesting finish. Twill weave fabrics wear well, have high strength, and have good resistance to wrinkling. It is a medium or heavy weight fabric.

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The Beautiful And Fragrant Peony
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The Beautiful And Fragrant Peony

The arrival of peony flowers in a garden is a glorious sight. Bold, colourful and deliciously fragrant, they are truly beautiful. Peonies represent romance and love and are considered a good omen to a happy life. It is the traditional flower for a 12th wedding anniversary.

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