The old fashioned way

A reflection upon times gone by

Eric Musgrave

The Tailor & Cutter was the magazine for the bespoke trade for more than 100 years. Established in 1866, it survived as a weekly publication until around 1971. In the first of a series of features, menswear authority Eric Musgrave dips into his precious T&C archive to recall what the magazine was promoting in the months just before World War II.

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Britain (with France) declared war on Germany on September 3rd 1939 and so a six-year global conflict began. The Second World War was a watershed for British society, so the issues of The Tailor & Cutter from the spring and summer of 1939 reflect a way of life that was soon to disappear.

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Each image has its own story written by Eric.

About the Author:

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Eric Musgrave has been writing about fashion and style for 36 years. He is the author of Sharp Suits (Pavilion Books), a pictorial history of men’s tailoring since Victorian times, and has contributed to several other fashion works. As editorial director of Drapers, the UK’s leading fashion industry magazine, he has been twice named business media editor of the year. He is now a freelance writer and fashion industry consultant. See ericmusgrave.co.uk for more details.