1930s sweater rules

[Rottweiler]

Ahoy gents,

One of the obvious differences between the sartorial rules for sweaters in the 1930s and more recent times is that you often see them tucked into the pants. I've only seen photos of this being done with pullovers.

A cardigan wouldn't be tucked. It would be treated exactly like a waistcoat, just a more casual type. If sleeveless, you even see it called "a knit waistcoat." Were pullovers thought of the same way? I wonder, because if you're wearing braces, they have to go over any top tucked into the pants, and braces were considered part of a man's underwear back when his shirt was seen as such. Which leads me to wonder a few things.

1) Was a pullover something a gentleman would wear under a waistcoat for warmth?
2) Was tucking the older way to wear it, or an innovation?
3) Was running around in just your trousers and a pullover over shirt and tie seen as rakishly casual when it became the college style?

 

[Subvet642]

I've been watching the way sweaters were worn in the 30s, 40s, etc., and while it looks like they were tucked in, I believe they were worn with the bottom/hem placed at the pant waist covering the belt, with a little "fold over".

 

[Baron Kurtz]

i've seen several photos - maybe my mind even recalls some catalogue pictures - of people with the sweaters most certainly tucked in to the trousers. I have a 1920s sweater that's far too long for me, and potentially I could tuck it in, but I prefer to rol the hem up.

bk

 

[Fletch]

Irving Thalberg, always sartorially impeccable, agreed with you.

With Norma Shearer, by Steichen 1932

Folding the hem also works for those of us who aren't the right shape to tuck it into the waist. (Irving didn't have that problem.)

 

[S_M_Cumberworth]

I've been watching the way sweaters were worn in the 30s, 40s, etc., and while it looks like they were tucked in, I believe they were worn with the bottom/hem placed at the pant waist covering the belt, with a little "fold over".

I've seen it both ways — tucked and folded up. I have a sweater that has an extra long waistband and extra long sleeve cuff, both meant to be folded up. The only probably is that it becomes almost too short: it falls just below my natural waist, and the belt loops of most of the pants I have peek out beneath it.

 

[Mr_D.]

I've been watching the way sweaters were worn in the 30s, 40s, etc., and while it looks like they were tucked in, I believe they were worn with the bottom/hem placed at the pant waist covering the belt, with a little "fold over".

That's what I was going to say. I don't recall ever seeing a sweater tucked in. sounds tacky to me.

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

I remember a thread about this somewhere. One person was a real fanatic about tucked in sweaters. Haha. In the german knitting pattern magazines they rarely or never tuck in. But maybe because you have to see the bottom of the swaeter if you want to knit it.

Edit for the link:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?12722-Tuck-in-your-sweater&highlight=tucked+in

 

[skyvue]

That's what I was going to say. I don't recall ever seeing a sweater tucked in. sounds tacky to me.

I've seen tucked-in sweaters quite often in old movies. I wear them that way myself sometimes.

Here's a short GQ column on the topic:

http://www.gq.com/style/style-guy/coats-and-sweaters/200104/tucking-dress-pants

 

[Tomasso]

Edit for the link:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?12722-Tuck-in-your-sweater&highlight=tucked+in

It's a pity that all the links in the old threads are broken.

 

[S_M_Cumberworth]

It's a pity that all the links in the old threads are broken.

Yeah. I was going to link that thread, too, but all the evidence of tucked-in sweaters is gone now.

 

[scotrace]

But the link works...

 

[Feraud]

That's what I was going to say. I don't recall ever seeing a sweater tucked in. sounds tacky to me.

It's an option but a tough call. I've seen it look good and oh so very bad. [huh]

 

[Baron Kurtz]

hmm, yeah there are unfortunately several broken or absent links/pics in that old thread. Here're some pics. The first I particularly like, and is nicked from someone here at FLounge.

 

[Mr_D.]

...

Well, I am sure it's just my opinion, but that looks horrible.

 

[scottyrocks]

Um yeah, tucked in sweaters, something I'd put into the 'things I wouldnt wear' thread.

 

[ssfilez]

I don't think sweaters should ever be tucked in. It just keeps me wondering why they every thought of wearing their cardigans that way. And, I am fervently hoping that this will not be a fashion trend this year since the vintage look begins to creep its way into our closets.