Man's "Paper" Shirt
Artist/maker unknown, German. Made by Papierkleid, German.
Geography:
Made in Germany, Europe
Date:
Late 1960sMedium:
Multicolored printed spun-bonded polyester ("paper")Dimensions:
31 1/2 x 64 inches (80 x 162.6 cm)Curatorial Department:
Costume and TextilesObject Location:
2009-126-1Credit Line:
Purchased with funds from the gift of Mrs. Victor M. Friar, 2009
Made in Germany, Europe
Date:
Late 1960sMedium:
Multicolored printed spun-bonded polyester ("paper")Dimensions:
31 1/2 x 64 inches (80 x 162.6 cm)Curatorial Department:
Costume and TextilesObject Location:
Currently not on view
Accession Number:2009-126-1Credit Line:
Purchased with funds from the gift of Mrs. Victor M. Friar, 2009
Explore the Collections
Paper 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.
