National dress: fast-forward!

I have always had the greatest respect for National Dress. I found it no hardship when as a boy I had the option to wear the kilt as school uniform in Scotland.

I find Bavarian costume has a certain charm, even when it is bowdlerized to the extent that it becomes almost fetishistic.

That a leading Munich supplier of Alpine garb has added iPod controls to traditional Lederhosen is, I think, a delightfully ironic stunt. It certainly gives the notion of pressing all the right buttons new relevance.

So, come on you tailors in Abu Dhabi. Let's see an iPod interface in next season's dishdashas!