60s Jerry Lewis Tux

[Senator Jack]

Another thread NOT FOR EVERYONE!

Whenever someone asks me about my style icons, I always bring up Jerry Lewis. You can talk all you want about Frank, Dean, and Sammy, but I've always thought Jerry was the best dressed man in 50s/60s Hollywood. (If you go for the continental look, which I do.) Here's a tux Edith Head designed for The Ladies' Man. Thinking of having it reproduced.

Love the sleek, tight fit of the the trousers

RED LINING!

I like the 'V' cuff on the sleeve with the silver button

Comments from 60s fans welcome

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[reetpleat]

Another thread NOT FOR EVERYONE!

Whenever someone asks me about my style icons, I always bring up Jerry Lewis. You can talk all you want about Frank, Dean, and Sammy, but I've always thought Jerry was the best dressed man in 50s/60s Hollywood. (If you go for the continental look, which I do.) Here's a tux Edith Head designed for The Ladies' Man. Thinking of having it reproduced.

Love the sleek, tight fit of the the trousers

Not exactly my style, but I have always loved thate hip look from that era. What is the preferred or common name for that era and look amongsth the lounge members?

I read a n article about Pucci. Not the designer of wild patterns, but a tailor that did a lotof martin and lewises suits, cut lose in the chest for movement.

I had a pucci suit once, but it had a hole in it so I just got rid of it. It was rather boring 50s, but had a built in belt.

 

[The Wingnut]

I'm only a fan of the '60s when it comes to automotive related stuff and some movies, but I have to admit, that's got some style! I like the taped edges, they really define the lapels. Very formal.

 

[Jay]

Positive comments regarding edge taping.

I was going to say the same thing. It looks like hell on all those 70s tuxedos, but the black with the gray looks great.

 

[MrBern]

Funny, just last nite I passed by Valentino's window on Madison ave & there was a very slim pegged `60s type tux.

 

[Lincsong]

Jack, post some pictures of that suit you wore Saturday night in Las Vegas. That one looked Jerry Lewis.

 

[Jovan]

I tend to think these sort of lounge/semi-formal mutt suits look gaudy, but to each their own.

 

[Senator Jack]

Thank you, Jovan. I did write that this thread wasn't for people who aren't fans of 60s style. Perhaps we should just become a fashion forum here and write about what's 'in' as of ten minutes ago.

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[Feraud]

Well Senator, you are correct about Lewis. He certainly was a very sharp dressed fellow in the day. I always assumed many did not take him seriously as a man of style because he is a great comedian. We are mistaken to have done this.

I will echo what MrBern said about the 60's styled tuxes. I notice "the look" gaining momentum.

Please keep us updated on your progress with the Lewis tux. The red lining and cuff treatment is great looking!

 

[BegintheBeguine]

Positive comments

I like it. A man can move in it.

I ike the taped edges, gives it definition. I saw no correlation to 70s tuxes but then I'm not that familiar with that era.

 

[reetpleat]

Doesn't the taped edges and overall cut go back to the late 1800s? That would explain why it was revived then, and then done in the seventies so badly.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Edith Head? Really? Huh, that's cool. I only really ever associated her with frocks and other womens clothing.

As you know, this style (not exactly this suit, with the piping and all, but the skinny Miles Davis-type look) is where i started into vintage. Though i've moved backwards through time to the 30s, i still love the Minette/rat pack skinny look.

The suit in question here - particularly the super-short arms - reminds me of certain modern designers (not exactly, of course, but there is clear inspiration from the 60s in many of the modern collections).

bk

 

[Senator Jack]

I don't know. In a twist on the usual routine of getting older and set in one's ways, I'm not as narrow in my thinking as I used to be. Polyester 70s tuxes with the taped lapels are definitely not for me, but looking back, it was a style., and while I'm certainly not a fan of the ruffled shirt that went with it, I can see how someone, thirty years later, could 'own' that whole look.

As for the Lewis tux, I was at a swing ball a few months back and a guy was wearing a vintage slate blue and it really knocked my socks off. It's been in my head since. Wish I had had one for Mondo Atomic. Maybe for next year. Joe Hemrajani is coming to NY at end of Feb; somehow I think he's going to gently question my sanity.


Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I have (or at least had) a morning coat from the 60s with just these taped lapels/pocket flaps. Now what did i do with that?

bk

 

[Senator Jack]

You may be right about the sleeves being too short, BK. They could be about 1/4" longer. Probably done for theatrical effect. I'm not so sure about the silver buttons now either - could be just a tad over the top if not appearing in technicolor (as much as I'd like to). Silk may work better.

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[Baron Kurtz]

I'm not so sure about the silver buttons now either - could be just a tad over the top if not appearing in technicolor (as much as I'd like to).

a bit like the first "in colour" episodes of the avengers, where they had absurd colour combinations - esp. Mrs. Peel's outfits - just to prove they could. "Ooohh look at the amazing clarity of colour!"

bk

 

[Jovan]

Thank you, Jovan. I did write that this thread wasn't for people who aren't fans of 60s style. Perhaps we sjould just become a fashion forum here and write about what's 'in' as of ten minutes ago.

Regards,

Senator Jack

I didn't take a coarse tone and you chose to, as well as making an assumption about me that's way off base. I am a fan of 1950s and 1960s style, but that doesn't mean I have to like all of it. I'm sorry I expressed an opinion that is different from your own, which is basically what you're attacking me for. If you've had bad experiences in the past here with people attacking your sense of style, I sympathize, but I was not doing that. You overreacted, bud.

I like the fit and material of the suit, but not the taped edges. They're not my cup of tea. I think if you do a contrasting dinner suit it looks better with the whole lapels in satin, like so:

 

[Matt Deckard]

Just be cordial guys. It's about having style and each person has their own interpretation.

In the 30's the the black tie and black dinner jacket were the stringent fashion which if one didn't follow, one could have been ostracized from the goup. We live in an era where you can be who you want to be. I'm sure many are afraid to wear the tux like the one Lewis wears to a State dinner, though most of those guys have hung up their hammer when it comes to having fun. We all have our own idea of what is right and wrong in dress. I myself prefer the James bond look from the 60's. Some like Peter Sellers or George Peppard from Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Their is a balance to looks and some are more tired than others, though to choose one look over the other will always depend on your situation. You can say you dress for where you are, though wearing a tweed suit to a tails affair will never fly in my book. Though when it comes to black tie affairs... party environment being less formal... well take some sartorial risk and wear the Green pocket square.

I've seen plenty of guys who dress like this. Not sophisticated... they are twerps.

Though we do know what looks sophisticated. Whether it be Lewis in his grey or Bond in his black... they both fit into the same environment.

The real question with any clothing is... Do you own the look?

 

[Jovan]

Eek. That reminds me of the unfortunate evening wear of Jim in American Pie.

 

[Senator Jack]

Sorry if I got touchy there, Jovan. 50s/60s fans are routinely belittled here (stingy brims are ridiculous, narrow ties awful, pegged trousers hideous, etc.) and we've lost a few good members because of it. So now when I post a new thread about the era, I always write that it's not for everyone in the hopes that the naysayers will just move on. Unfortuntately, they can't seem to resist the urge to pop in and write 'that's ugly' or even ruder comments that I won't dig up. You're right. I read 'gaudy' and gave a knee-jerk reaction. (But in my defense, 'gaudy' puts me in the mind of Mrs. Roper)

That tux is pretty sharp. What house designed it? Doesn't look like it has ribbon on the trousers. More pics?

Regards,

Senator Jack