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#1 2018-08-30 12:43:03
- rwk
- New member
- Posts: 2
Striped grosgrain watchbands
Hi all,
I'm currently working on a piece for the website ivy-style.com on the history of the striped grosgrain watchband. I wanted to reach out to see if you know anything about the history or origin of the use of such straps, aside from what's already been widely published about the NATO/G10 style of strap from the British military in 1973. It seems that, from the movie Goldfinger, and in addition to a few other cultural references, one-piece slide through striped grosgrain bands were in common use by the 1950s and '60s, and that by the late '70s they were considered a staple in the wardrobe of "preppy" dressers. Beyond that, I don't know much. I would be extremely grateful if there's any light you may be able to shine on the subject for me.
Thanks in advance for any insight you may have!
#2 2018-08-30 17:56:44
- Berkeley_Breathes
- Member
- From: Crabapple Cove, ME
- Posts: 4519
Re: Striped grosgrain watchbands
I don't know much besides what you posted, but I know they're mentioned in the OPH, so I'd give that a look/mention.
Some history of grosgrain as a fabric would be fun - tux lapels, etc. How did it migrate from a jacket to a watch strap? Might be fun to look through Google Books or another kind of database - is it mentioned in novels of the '50s and '60s? Stuff like that.
Glad to have you here, rwk... Good to have some cross-site pollination as well, looking forward to your piece. Hopefully some more knowledgeable members chime in on this.
"The only comment a gentleman’s outfit should generate is that he is properly dressed for the occasion" - Calvin Trillin
#3 2018-08-30 18:14:06
- Berkeley_Breathes
- Member
- From: Crabapple Cove, ME
- Posts: 4519
Re: Striped grosgrain watchbands
For example, I've already found a couple of mentions (just casually looking through Google Books) of grosgrain straps being used for watches as early as 1910 through the 1920s.
"The only comment a gentleman’s outfit should generate is that he is properly dressed for the occasion" - Calvin Trillin
#4 2018-08-31 07:23:36
- rwk
- New member
- Posts: 2
Re: Striped grosgrain watchbands
Berkeley_Breathes, Thanks so much for the warm welcome. I'm glad to be here. Thanks for the advice, too. I'll check out Google books and see if I can find a little more history there. Is it possible to share a link which would direct me to the passages you read about grosgrain straps being used in the 1910s and '20s?