The evolution of the coat and jacket - from London's Victoria and Albert Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum in London has an large collection of men's clothes. This selection shows how elements of our coats and jackets have evolved over many years and still are found in what we wear. It also shows how slowly basic designs have changed over the last 80 years. The Duke of Windsor's check tweed suit could have been made by Dashing Tweeds this year.

Search the V & A Collections here and you may find some inspiration for your own style (with the possible exception of the sixties Mr Fish suit).

1790s

1820s

1840s

1875

1904

Duke of Windsor 1940

Mr Fish 1968

Tommy Nutter 1983