The Museum Of London Wants Gareth Southgate's Waistcoat

Harry Rosehill
By Harry Rosehill Last edited 68 months ago

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The Museum Of London Wants Gareth Southgate's Waistcoat

Summer 2018 will forever be remembered as a summer of love. Not because of the intense heat. Not really because of England's World Cup run nor the man that led them there. No, this is the summer an entire nation fell in love with a waistcoat.

Waistcoat sales are up 35% since Gareth Southgate rocked the item at the World Cup. To mark this event, the Museum of London wants to acquire one of Southgate's waistcoats as part of its permanent collection. Though this might seem like a bandwagonny stretch for the Museum, the fashion actually originated in London.

An example of a waistcoat from 1715, © Museum of London.

The waistcoat trend began in 1666 thanks to King Charles II, as recorded in Samuel Pepys' diary. The waistcoat's popularity grew from there, up until the mid 20th century, when sales slumped. However, since (soon to be Sir) Southgate wears them, they are hip once more.

If England win tomorrow, this could happen. If they don't... well then the waistcoat revolution might be short lived.

Last Updated 10 July 2018