“WORST-DRESSED MEN”

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28896, 16 May 1959, Page 4

“WORST-DRESSED MEN”

Fashion Expert Looks At N.Z. "The Press’ 1 Special Service AUCKLAND, May 15, New Zealanders for years have been the worst dressed men in the world—a shade worse than the Australians according to Mr Louis Klein, an associate of the American Institute of Clothing Design, and an international authority on men’s fashion. Mr Klein is the managing-direc-tor of a large English company which makes suits in New Zealand and Australia. He did not blame New Zealanders for being badly garbed. Far from it. The fault, he said, was that of the trade—the clothing manufacturers and retailers. Mr Klein had some blunt words for an audience of Auckland retailers and salesmen. He would make the suits, he promised, but it was up to the trade to help the New Zealand males by making them clothes conscious. •‘lt’s not sissy to be well dressed.” said Mr Klein. Mr Klein implied ; that when a New Zealander landed in New York, or London, or any of the great cities of the world he stood out like a sore thumb, because of his outmoded suit. Why, asked Mr Klein, was this? The New Zealander was no different from any other male. He was not lackadaisical, or scared trying a new style. No, said Mr

Klein, the New Zealander had been considered the worst-dressed man in the world because the trade had not done a good job. Salesmen should set an examule. They must be well dressed and able to advise the customer. “If it’s big news when Christian Dior shortens wemen’s dresses by an inch,” said Mr Klein,”why shouldn’t it be big news when men’s suits have three buttons instead of two?”