Collectors & Aficionados
From Style to Safety - Part 3: Clothing
From silk suits to fireproof Nomex — how racing fashion evolved from luxury and style to safety and sponsorship.
When discussing clothing, we must not underestimate one aspect: those who raced cars before the war and in the first twenty years after the war were almost always wealthy. Over time, this status created a style of dress that had little to do with safety, let's say nothing at all, but rather with function and personal style. The famous Tazio Nuvolari created his own symbol, the Turtle, which he had embroidered on his clothing, while Achille Varzi, his historic rival, had silk suits made in soft colours. While Italians were sensitive to appearance, Germans aimed for a style that was associated with their country. White suits were common, a kind of symbol.
As illustrated two weeks ago, this style was complemented by helmets of different weights depending on the season, which were colour-coordinated.
