Siren Suit and Belt thumbnail 1
Siren Suit and Belt thumbnail 2
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Siren Suit and Belt

1940-1945 (made)
Artist/Maker
Simpson (Piccadilly) Ltd (retailer)
Place of origin
Great Britain (made)

Camel-coloured siren suit of wool with a zip and a belt.

Object details

Categories
Men's Clothes
Fashion
Accessories
Object type
Siren suit and belt
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Siren Suit
  • Belt
Materials and techniques
Wool with metal zip.
Wool (Textile)
Metal
Brief description
Siren suit of wool with a zip and a belt, retailed by Simpson (Piccadilly) Ltd, Great Britain, 1940-1945
Physical description
Camel-coloured siren suit of wool with a zip and a belt.
Dimensions
  • Weight: 1.56kg
  • Waist measured inside garment circumference: 102cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Chest measured inside garment circumference: 127cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Nape waist length: 50cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Sleeve length shoulder to cuff length: 63cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Sleeve length underarm to cuff length: 47cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Cuff circumference: 24cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Outside leg length: 106cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Inside leg length: 75cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
  • Crotch depth (front waist to back waist through crotch) length: 84cm (Note: Measured by Conservation)
Gallery label
(16/04/2016-12/03/2017)
Adapting to wartime

One-piece shelter or siren suits were introduced during the Second World War. They could be quickly put on over nightclothes or underwear and a sweater, when sirens warned people to take shelter from aerial bombing. Usually tailored, they were functional, warm and smart.

Man's shelter suit
Simpson (Piccadilly) Ltd
Britain, London, about 1942-5
Wool
V&A: T.276:1&2-1996
Given by Mrs Carol B. Ellen
Credit line
Given by Mrs Carol B. Ellen
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.276:1, 2-1996

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Record createdAugust 16, 2004
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O102447/siren-suit-and-simpson-piccadilly-ltd/
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