Check out this extensive illustrated lecture of climbing in Germany and Britain early in the last century. Consider the photo below as a teaser.

Cool. I collect antique postcards, and have quite an extensive collection of old photo postcards of rock climbing in the Lake DIstrict. The outfits, equipment and techniques are quite fascinating. To go along with these pictures, I just scored a 1938 climbing guidebook to the Lake District from ebay. Hasn't arrived yet, but should be pretty cool to have a climbing guidebook from that long ago.

Jannette

One reason I posted that photo is to lead our female members to imagine themselves climbing in that attire -- complete with "helmet."

And may we suggest a blazer, and straw boater for the gentleman climbers?

Seems to me that pants would be far more modest...