Back then most any blue collar worker was in uniform, especially if they were in the service industry. Served many purposes. Gave the worker some pride. Gave the public a secure feeling. It let whoever you were dealing with know where you worked and what your name was. Back then most blue collar workers had a lot of pride and loyalty. Usually you worked at the same job for life, from high school until retirement. Attitudes were a lot different than now. You were happy with who you were and what you did. This really changed in the 60s and 70s with all the individualism and self-expression that came out of the hippie movement.
Most of the aircraft plant workers didn't have uniforms, but wore either a dark green or blue chambray shirt. That's where the term blue collar came from. Dad was a liasion engineer with Boeing. As an engineer, he had to wear a white shirt and slacks to work. But he also crawled around inside of airplanes to investigate problems, right alongside with the mechanics. Mom would throw a fit almost every night about the grease stains and tears in his clothes.
Suits were worn by executives and salesmen. Your appearance was expected to be immaculate. I recall mom looking out the window at someone coming to the door. If it was a stranger not in a suit or uniform, she wouldn't answer the door.
Around here a lot of men would remove their jacket before getting in the car when it was hot, but as soon as they stepped out the jacket went back on. You got used to the heat, few homes had a/c, and even fewer cars. Swamp coolers and fans to help stay cool, but the swamp coolers weren't much help when the humidity was up.
