The centerpiece of the fashionable motorist’s attire was a full-length, loose-cut coat, which could range from a lightweight leather duster to a shaggy fur costume, depending on the climate.

Driving coats for ladies were marketed in a variety of colors to match one’s automobile and were offered in fine materials such as linen and silk — with added weatherproofing. Special driving gloves were a necessity.

For men, a driving cap often came with goggles attached, to defend against dust and the occasional pebble. Women’s hats also included removable dust shields to protect the wearer’s face.

As a symbol of one’s affluence and style, motoring clothes were often worn even when not driving; looking like one had just stepped off an automobile became something of a fad.

As cars became cheaper and more widespread, and increasingly sported cabs were enclosed from the elements, motor clothing lost much of its utility, both as practical protection, and as a way to signal one’s elite status.