Costume and Textiles Man's "Paper" Shirt Made in Germany, EuropeLate 1960s Artist/maker unknown, German. Made by Papierkleid, German. Multicolored printed spun-bonded polyester ("paper") Currently not on view 2009-126-1 Purchased with funds from the gift of Mrs. Victor M. Friar, 2009 |
LabelPaper clothes—in reality, some form of non-woven cellulose, polyester, or rayon—were a fashion phenomenon for a few years after 1966. Seen as modern and practical, they offered freedom from the drudgery of laundry and novelty without long-term commitment. As this shirt made in West Germany shows, the phenomenon occasionally extended to men's clothes. The groovy design and enumeration of current sex symbols is interspersed with flowers and buttonlike circles with provocative English and German messages. |
