Morning suit

The Duke of Windsor, like the 18th century dandy Beau Brummell, had the various components of his suits made by different tailors. While he had his jackets made by Frederick Scholte, he had his trousers tailored by Forster & Son. As the Duke explained, 'I never had a pair of trousers made by Scholte. I disliked the cut of them; they were made as English trousers usually are, to be worn with braces high above the waist. So preferring as I did to wear a belt rather than braces in the American style, I invariably had them made by another tailor.' To avoid the necessity of wearing either a belt or braces to support his morning trousers, Forster devised an internal elasticized girdle, which fastened at the center front with a series of adjustable hooks and bars. To prevent gaping, two vertically positioned trouser hooks were set on either side and hooked over the tight fitting girdle.

This particular morning suit was made for the Duke of Windsor during his short reign as King Edward VIII and bears the label 'H.M. The King, 22.6.36'. The Duke had a sentimental attachment to the clothes he wore as Prince of Wales and as King of England. Unable to part with them, he preferred to have the collars and cuffs replaced and the fabric patched and repaired.