Always Blue?

[happyfilmluvguy]

Something I've realized after seeing and finding a few vintage suits, is that the majority of them are the color...blue. Different patterns, different shades of blue, but blue nonetheless. I haven't often seen a green, or black, rarely brown or grey, really any other color. I'm sure they are out there. But why so often blue? Many times blue and pinstriped. Was this a popular color during the 1930s and 40s or have the other colors faded with the time?

 

[Feraud]

Maybe the blues were abhorred, never worn and survived for us to wear!

 

[Fletch]

Blue, then brown, then everything else. I'll bet grey was the most popular, and they all just got beat to hell.

Hey Feraud, I see you got the word on the uniform of the day (see my avvy) .

 

[Feraud]

Hey Feraud, I see you got the word on the uniform of the day (see my avvy) .

As you can see I was paying attention in class today!

 

[Nonchalant]

At least here in the US, I think blue was the most popular suit color during the period. While searching the forums, I came upon this quote by the esteemed Mr. Chevalier:

Every era has its "staple suit color". In the 19th century, it was black. In the early 20th century, it was dark blue (usually in wool serge). In the '50s, it was medium grey.

 

[Nonchalant]

From blue-green to navy to almost purple, at one point every vintage suit I owned was some shade of blue. Mine invariably have pinstripes. What I'd really like to find is a plain one (preferably gabardine) similar to what Feraud is wearing above, but they keep slipping through my fingers.

 

[Elaina]

Feraud, I love your tie in that picture.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

i have enough blue. Yes, the most common 30s suit colour i see is blue. Probably 1/3 of the suits in my wardrobe are blue so i now mostly pass on blue, unless it's a great deal.

But i do see plenty non-blues that take my fancy. I'm desparately searching for a 3 piece SB grey flannel with chalkstripe (just the boring standard white chalkstripe on grey). Now, those are rarities.

bk

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Blue is also the most common background color for 1930s brocade ties. I'm sick of seeing 'em so often.

.

 

[Big Man]

I wish this picture were in color, as I would like to know for sure what these suits really looked like. This is a picture of my grandfather (with a fedora in his hand) and his brothers at a family reunion in 1928. Five of the seven brothers have light colored suits. I would think they were grey, but I couldn't say for positive.

How does a photo like this stack up with the assumption that blue was the predominant color for a suit? I'm not taking issue with the statement, but simply looking for some insight. Could there be regional/socionomic factors involved in "the predominant" suit color?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

The dude on the right looks like he's holding a boater. I see no waistcoats . . . Is this a summer pic?

bk

(great pic, by the way)

 

[Big Man]

The man on the right is my great uncle Briscoe (who I've posted about before). He is indeed holding a boater. Briscoe was the youngest of the brothers (he was 36 in this picture). He was Superintendent of the Farms at the Napa State Hospital in Imola, CA at this time. This photo was taken in August, 1928.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

That explains it. Summer wear would include more lighter coloured fabrics. Linens and lightweight wools in lighter colours were prevalent. I suspect that people were discussing the heavier weight wools, though this was never specified. I was certainly talking about non-summer suits.

bk

 

[Big Man]

While I'm asking questions ...

What's everyone's take on the "survivability" of vintage clothing? Specifically, do you think that what is available today could be considered a "random sampling" of what was available, or is what we see today more narrow in scope (i.e. "dress" clothing)?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

It's an interesting question. In my experience, golden era tuxedos are far more prevalent, and less saleable, therefore, than are men's business-type suits.

And summer suits are the least available of the standard wardrobe items.

bk