Quote Originally Posted by Tobus View Post
By the turn of the century, it appears that more established shops were taking over the industry and by the 1920s they were setting the standards...in my opinion, the 1920-1970 era was still a very rigid period in terms of fashion, as dictated by a handful of outfitters who made and sold their products as generic fashion items, rather than individually tailored custom designs. This certainly had a striking effect on "tradition".
Yet, people like the Duke of Rothesay, clothed in bespoke things, are to be seen wearing the same styles, even to the present day.

Highland outfitters could produce anything they want, but they can only sell what people want to wear.

I've mentioned before that I reject the notion that the catalogues of Highland Outfitters, or for that matter Sears & Roebuck or any other firm, would waste space in their catalogues for things that people aren't purchasing. Printing and distributing catalogues is expensive, much more so in the 1920s than today, and space in a catalogue is pricey real estate.

My theories aside, I can produce hundreds of vintage photos showing that people are wearing the same things seen in the catalogues, and not wearing things not seen in the catalogues.

Except of course for members of the aristocracy with their bespoke clothing, and they too follow the same styles.