Most of us in our best clothes would not compare favourably to the richness on display by these average people in their best dress. However, I wonder how much

Most of us in our best clothes would not compare favourably to the richness on display by these average people in their best dress. However, I wonder how much variety of style was worn in previous generations. Certainly within the span of living memory the current period is the most vividly variegated explosion of unrestrained style, but that is only compared to the monotone conformism of post-war industrialism. Were there perhaps places and times before us with a similar or higher level of embracing stylistic inventiveness?