AMAZING Vintage Photos of Overcoats

[Marc Chevalier]

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A Fedora Lounge exclusive – you won’t see these anywhere else (until now).


The photos below were taken from 1916 to 1921 by Clement Kieffer, Jr., a pioneer in the store window display field. Mr. Kieffer played a very active part in professionalizing a type of work that never been taken seriously in America. He was a co-founder and Executive Committee chairman of the “International Association of Display Men.”


Clement Kieffer designed the window displays for WEED, arguably the most prestigious men’s haberdasher in Buffalo, New York. Mr. Kieffer took photos of nearly every one of his displays from 1916 to 1921. He pasted these photos in a book, which is now in my hands.


Take a look at the variety of overcoats. Lots of belted styles, with chunky wide lapels and buttons. Some beautiful fur-lapelled coats, too. Pretty heavy-looking! And a few surprisingly bold houndstooth checks, plaids and windowpane stripes.


For photos of suits and hats, click on these links:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=21549

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?p=365559

 

[Marc Chevalier]

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

Why would they be displaying overcoats along with straw boaters?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Why would they be displaying overcoats along with straw boaters?

They were probably promoting straws to their rich customers who wintered in the South, or even in the Caribbean.

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[scotrace]

Marty, are you SEEING this stuff????

Holy Smoke!!!

 

[Fletch]

Those chesterfields with the gigantic mouton collars are amazing. They're like Pierce-Arrows you can wear! (and guess where Pierce-Arrows came from.)

Presumably Buffalo was just as cold in the late 'teens, altho I don't think the lake effect had been discovered yet.

 

[Tomasso]

Thank you so much, Marc!

I know that upon discovering the Kieffer book that you immediately thought of us. :eusa_clap



Your contribution to the Fedora Lounge is priceless.

 

[scotrace]

Amen. Priceless.

 

[K.D. Lightner]

Thanks for the photos, truly interesting.

I am not drooling over the coats, I am looking at some of those hats and caps. Oh, boy....

karol

 

[greyhound68]

Great photos and look at those prices. Wow.

 

[Gaige]

Phenomenal... I want that one... and that one... and...

Yeah.

 

[ShortClara]

wow!

Sooo dapper! Imagine the man who carries off that mouton collar coat - baybee!

 

[Alan Eardley]

They were probably promoting straws to their rich customers who wintered in the South, or even in the Caribbean.

.

I don't think we can necessarily say that the 'boater' was a summer-only hat. I'm talking about the UK here, but you see them worn in photographs that were definitely taken at colder times of the year. Boating was a popular social activity rather than a summer sport in those days. 'Boaters' were also year-round uniform for some colleges and clubs.

Also, I don't know whether the American version of a 1920s 'boater' was the same as its British cousin, but a British 'boater' is too heavy and stiff to be really comfortable in hot weather.

Alan

 

[kampkatz]

Fabulous photos

Much appreciation for the marvelous pics. As a history buff, I truly
enjoy your effort. Thanks again!

 

[Dinerman]

I'd love one of those double breasted fur collared ones.

 

[Mid-fogey]

Oh baby...

...making me wish for a time machine and a brick.