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This object consists of 11 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

Roller Skating Ensemble

1979 (made)
Artist/Maker
Umbro (manufacturers)
Morris Vulcan Limited (manufacturers)
Walkers (manufacturers)
Howie, Paul (designer)
Place of origin
Great Britain (made)

Red wool hand-knitted jumper-tunic with large blue collar and blue knitted belt. Accessorised with red leather gloves (tucked into belt), red nylon socks (rolled down to ankle height), black ribbed tights, and a pair of red roller skates, to be worn over red leather shoes

Object details

Categories
Fashion
Sport
Shopping
Object type
Roller skating ensemble
Parts
This object consists of 11 parts.

  • Jumper
  • Belt
  • Sock
  • Sock
  • Tights
  • Glove
  • Glove
  • Rollerskate
  • Rollerskate
  • Shoe
  • Shoe
Materials and techniques
knitted wool. Leather gloves, nylon socks. Metal roller skates with rubber wheels.
Wool
Nylon
Metal
Rubber
Leather
Hand Knitting
Brief description
Outfit for a roller disco, Paul Howie, 1979. Knitted jumper and belt, with tights, socks, shoes, roller skates, and gloves
Physical description
Red wool hand-knitted jumper-tunic with large blue collar and blue knitted belt. Accessorised with red leather gloves (tucked into belt), red nylon socks (rolled down to ankle height), black ribbed tights, and a pair of red roller skates, to be worn over red leather shoes
Production typeReady to wear
Gallery label
(1985)
ROLLER DISCO OUTFIT
SWEATER AND BELT
Hand-knitted wool
British: Paul Howie, 1979
SOCKS
Machine-knitted nylon
British: Umbro, 1979
TIGHTS
Machine-knitted wool and nylon
English, 1979
GLOVES
Punched leather
English: Miloré, 1979
SKATES
Metal, leather, plastic etc.
English, Morris Vulcan, 1979

The loose-fitting thigh length sweater recalls the 'sloppy joe' of the 1950s. It is knitted mainly in stocking stitch with narrow bands of ribbing at the wrists and lower edge. The V-shaped yoke, which extends over the shoulders, is knitted in reverse stocking and garter stitches and is padded and quilted. The matching belt is simply a long strip knitted in stocking stitch.

Given by Paul Howie, via Simpsons (Piccadilly) Ltd.
T.245 to 249A-1980
Object history
The complete ensemble was donated in 1979 with a customised Adel Rootstein mannequin specially made for the purpose of modelling it. This was part of a group of 25 such total ensembles donated in 1979.

Historical significance: Roller discos were a major part of teenage socialising in the late 1970s and 1980s. They had their own special dress code. This remarkably complete outfit reflects a fashionable, co-ordinated version of a look which was made up from a number of separate components, all of which are present here.
Subjects depicted
Youth Style
Leisure
Dancing
Collection
Textiles and Fashion Collection
Accession number
T.245-1980

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Record createdAugust 16, 2007
Record URL
https://collections.vam.ac.uk/item/O138536/roller-skating-ensemble-howie-paul/
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