Safari suit worn by the Duke of Windsor

The Duke of Windsor became known for his love of style and for making practical elegance fashionable. This safari suit, which he designed himself, is a good example of this. It has features specified by the Duke to allow for short and long sleeve and trouser options. There are also a pair of boots associated with this ensemble. In his book, 'A Family Album' he describes the benefits of this design:

'When in East Africa I designed a special type of Safari shorts. These were made of thick khaki drill, which could be worn long, in the bush, to protect the knees from long grasses and thorny undergrowth, or could be buttoned up above the knee for the sake of coolness on the march in more open country.'

This was an innovative approach, but today such convertible garments have become more common for outdoor clothing.

The Duke designed his wardrobe to suit his taste. He prioritised comfort, in a style he called 'dress soft', including preferring belts for trousers rather than more traditional braces. He often broke with conventional style, choosing to wear brown tweed suits in town, a colour and fabric usually considered only appropriate country clothing. This type of fashion statement contrasted with his father, George V, who believed that strict dress codes should be adhered to.