Austin Reed advertisement from the Evening Standard, 1970
h 26.7, w 21 cm
Donated by Mrs Eileen Bradshaw, 1994
Yesterday's outcry is today's advert for a suit. It is directly
referring to the revolutionary qualities of the Karl Marx memorial by
saying about the suit: "It may not be revolutionary, but it's a step
in the right direction." "This ... suit won't set Carnaby Street back
on its trendy heels. But it will teach them one thing: you don't have
to shout to be noticed." The advert ends with the slogan: "Dedicated
to the overthrow of dull clothes". The most shocking to me was
actually the prices. Now nearly 30 years ago, a new suit cost £30 and
a shirt £4.10, unimaginable in today's prices. I wonder how long the
average worker in the glass manufacturing industry would have needed
to work to be able to afford an Austin Reed suit.
