Histories of clothing concentrate mainly on changes in fashion and display with little on clothing's evolution to meet basic physiological needs. A review of different fibres by writers from the 17th Century onwards advocates the merits of (woo1) flannel against the skin. Clothing physiology is then explained, taking in fibre type, cloth construction, heat flow/loss through fabric caused by the evaporation of sweat etc. Military clothing is reviewed reflecting usage in all climates with historical detail and the main emphasis on the past 50 years containing detailed descriptions of army clothing. Clothing for extreme cold is examined, discussing field trials, the effectiveness of outdoor fashion clothing, insulation and the dangers of inadequate clothing. Waterproof clothing is similarly explored through the developments of Mackintosh, Burberry and Barbour. Separate panels discuss "The Feel of Fabrics", "Padded or Quilted Clothing" and "Moisture Relationships of Fibres"