British Workwear

[Two Types]

I'm not really a fan of workwear (that might be different if i actually did manual labour) but I thought I should post some pics of British workwear taken from films.

To start are examples of clothing worn by people working on barges. These pictures are from 'Painted Boats' a semi-documentary film from 1945 which was filmed entirely on location . Many of the people are genuine bargees, dockers and boatyard workers, rather than actors in costume:

(I like the way that a man working a bellows in a blacksmith's forge is wearing a tie and three piece suit)

 

[Two Types]

Docker (also from 'Painted Boats'):

 

[Two Types]

'Floodtide' (1948)

The typical styles of the day: on the left, the battered army surplus jacket - on the right, the old sports jacket worn with overalls.

 

[Two Types]

'The Titfield Thunderbolt' (1953)
A bus driver:

A train driver:

'Man in the Sky' (1957)

'Major Barbara' (1941)
A steelworker:

Workers (and Robert Newton) leaving a factory. One of them is wearing a curious set of overalls:

 

[Two Types]

'Johnny Frenchman' (1945)
Cornish fishermen:

This is a great piece of knitwear:

And it's always good to see Brits wearing berets:

 

[Two Types]

A merchant seaman in 'The Maggie' (1954)

 

[Two Types]

Some more:

Lab coats (or whatever they might be called):
'Millions Like Us' (1943):

with a belt back:

'The Man in the White Suit' (1951)

Overalls:
'The Man in the White Suit'

Butcher's jacket:
(also from 'Man in the White Suit')

 

[mondocatto]

Excellent watch chain, just the right weight. A great look.

 

[mondocatto]

Excellent watch chain, just the right weight. A great look.

 

[herringbonekid]

i like the white lab coat.
i wear shop coats quite a lot indoors if it's chilly, or if i'm painting.

thanks for the screen grabs.

 

[Two Types]

HBK: I knew you'd like the belt-back lab coat.

There will be plenty more screen-grabs to come.

 

[herringbonekid]

these were posted in the British belt back thread. from 'Passport to Pimilco' ... a diamond weave shop coat:

 

[Two Types]

'Once a Jolly Swagman' (1948)

Overalls with tie:

Overalls with tie & beret:

Railway workers waistcoat with sleeves:

I've noticed the collarless overalls is a bit of a theme.

 

[herringbonekid]

a recently sold workwear jacket by 'Pexwear':

classic tan cotton drill shopcoat also Pexwear, CC41 on same label:

 

[Two Types]

Some more screen-grabs: dockers in the 1930s film 'Song of Freedom':

These show the style of shirtfront:

 

[herringbonekid]

another CC41 (not mine)...

 

[Metatron]

I like that style. Just bought a similar Swedish one and thinking about how to integrate it in my wardrobe.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Here's a nice piece of deadstock British workwear. A very large boiler suit, with some interesting features. note the Wabash Stripe pocketbags, the interior cinch belt with British Make buckle, the military style fly and "ring-backed" buttons. As always, it's a pity it's so bloody big!!

 

[Two Types]

Here's one for HBK:

Shipbuilder's drawing office, 1952. Designers showing their working clothes:

 

[herringbonekid]

TT, did you take any screenshots from the film you said was set in a draftsman's office ?