Gosh,
How on earth did folks survive the polyester days?
The only thing worse was Nytest. Those, thank goodness, quickly melted onto the soleplates of irons...you couldn't wash, bleach or lysol the stink out of the armpits on that hideous fabric.
Nor can you truly clean grease out of polyester blends.
Ick.
I do remember back in the early '60's, my mom would meet the repairmen, who really did wear uniforms, at the door with our 200+ lb. St. Bernard. He had a strong protective sense and no sense of humor. They never bothered her and it's funny how often they were able to fix the problem on the first visit, instead of only after three as our neighbors and friends often complained.
I think the uniforms served both as practical protection as well as giving the workmen a sense of identity. Many had learned highly skilled professions in the military and were far more competent than the numnuts who pass for 'service-people' today.
Anybody remember the smell of poly-blend shirts being ironed?