Ready to Wear Trivia Quiz

Answer: boots

The Duke of Wellington, Napoleon's nemesis, designed the boot that bears his name. He first commissioned a shoemaker to construct the boot in 1817. This version was made of leather; today, Wellingtons (also known as "wellies" in British-influenced countries) are generally used as rain boots and made of rubber.

Answer: sweaters

The cardigan was named for the man who led the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War, the 7th Earl of Cardigan, James Brudenell. It was styled after the uniform coats worn by the soldiers of the time. The original style was sleeveless; nowadays, cardigans have sleeves.

The distinguishing feature of this type of sweater is that it fastens down the front, usually with buttons or a zipper.

Answer: shoes

For a shoe to be an Oxford, the eyelets for the laces are attached under the vamp (the upper part of the shoe where fasteners are located), and therefore not visible. Oxfords can come in a range of colors and styles, and although they started out as a men's style exclusively, over time women's oxfords made an appearance.

They are named for Oxford University in England, although the style originated in Scotland and Ireland.

Answer: shirts

A Henley is a shirt generally made from a knit fabric, with no collar, and featuring a placket with several buttons starting at the neck and running a few inches down the chest. With the addition of a collar, a Henley becomes a polo shirt. The style was started by rowing teams from the village of Henley-on-Thames, who wore them as part of their uniforms.

Answer: overcoats

The Chesterfield coat was invented in the mid-1800s by the 6th Earl of Chesterfield, George Stanhope. Before this, men's coats were designed to be worn both indoors and out. The Chesterfield, on the other hand, was designed to be worn over indoor clothing and to be removed once inside. Chesterfields can be made of a variety of fabrics and colors, but usually feature single-breasted fronts with short lapels, plain backs with single vents, and often-but not always-velvet collars.

Answer: shorts

Bermuda shorts end just above the knee. They were introduced around the beginning of the 20th century by members of the British Army, who wore them in the warmer reaches of the British Empire. In Bermuda they've been considered appropriate men's business apparel since the 1920s.

Answer: undergarments

Bloomers, also called "Turkish dress" or "reform dress" came into being in the mid-1800s, in response to the restrictive and uncomfortable clothing women had worn for many years. They were similar to pantaloons and offered women much more freedom of movement than previously. Their name comes from one Amelia Bloomer, who, contrary to wide belief, didn't create them. Bloomer was a women's rights advocate and writer. In 1851 someone wore a pair of bloomers to a gathering at her home, and she publicized the style. It became a fashion craze and a symbol of the women's rights movement. Although worn under dresses, bloomers were a visible part of a woman's ensemble. That they covered the lower portion of the woman's legs allowed skirts to become much shorter than they'd been before. Given this, bloomers were, predictably, controversial. Some people thought them scandalous; others, that the style reflected women's desire to compete with men for power.

Another faction in the bloomer controversy held that they were a healthier form of dress than the constricted clothing women had worn before the craze. Among other health benefits, women who wore bloomers were able to ride bicycles, improving their level of physical fitness.

Answer: raincoats

The mackintosh was invented in 1824 by a Scotsman, Charles Macintosh (the garment's name was often misspelled with the addition of a "K", and that spelling has become the standard over time). The central feature of a mackintosh was that it was made of two layers of fabric with a thin layer of rubber sandwiched in between.

Answer: hats

John Stetson invented the prototype of the hat that bears his name when he was in the American west panning for gold. It was oversized, with a wide brim, a high crown, and the ability to hold water. Stetson, a native Easterner, returned from the west and opened a hat production company in Philadelphia around the end of the Civil War. Stetson called his hat "the Boss of the Plains"; over time, a number of other styles evolved from it, including the ten-gallon cowboy hat and a hat used by the cavalry in the US. Over the years the Stetson Company has branched out to manufacture other products, including Western clothing and a line of fragrances.

Answer: cropped pants

Capris can be of several lengths, but all are shortened versions of slacks that end somewhere below the knee and above the ankle. They are a 20th century fashion, originating in 1948 and taking their name from the Mediterranean island of Capri, where they were a fashion craze in the early 1950s.

They have a number of other names, like pedal pushers, clamdiggers, and toreador pants. At this writing in 2016 they've enjoyed popularity for more than 60 years and are still commonly seen in women's wear departments.