An interesting thrift store suit

[Rooster]

I came across a gaberdine DB suit in navy blue yesterday. Oldish, in my novice opinion a 30's or 40's suit. Waaayyyy high arm holes. Pants have dropped belt loops and a Talon zipper. It's prbably a 40 or smaller. It seems the waist on the pants was a 32 with a 27 inseam. The jacket was way too small, I wear a 44R.
It had a moth hole on the back near the collar and there were some odd green stains on the jacket and the pants....mildew maybe? It needs cleaned, I have no idea if the stains will come out or not. Anyway, a sharp looking suit overall.
If anyone is interested I'll go back and get it at cost, which is less than $10.
I also came across a pleated and belted back jacket too! Looked like a cream colored gaberdine. It was a 44R and fit me perfectly. Unfortunatly it was a Levi Strauss......

 

[Marc Chevalier]

It always adds insult to injury when I come across one of those '70s Levi's (or Angel's Flight) "action" suits in thrift stores. Very detailed pleating on the belted backs, and even pleated pockets on the front. But those awful lapels ... those big stitches ... those low-rise pants ... and all that polyester ...

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[Quigley Brown]

I knew all the Iowa thrift stores pretty good when I lived there. Which one were you at???

 

[Rooster]

OK, Here's the pictures.

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Any questions , comments or conversation are welcome.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

That's a very nice suit! Probably from later 1940s; in any case, almost certainly post-WWII.


I'm worried about the stain in the seat of the pants. Speaking from experience, I can tell you that it probably won't come out, no matter what you try. This fact will make the suit a hard sell. However, if someone wants it just to dance in (or to use as a costume), then the suit is a winner!


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[Jovan]

Pass on it. The wear and discolourations make it a tad unwearable.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Pass on it.

Since it's selling at the thrift store for less than $10, I would definitely not pass on it.


Buy the suit, give away the pants, and offer the jacket as a blazer to a smaller, vintage-loving guy. It would work very well as a spring/summer sportcoat, worn with white or light grey flannel trousers, or tan gab slacks.

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[Jovan]

I missed the price somehow. Still, even if it were in my size, the buttoning stance is comically low.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I missed the price somehow. Still, even if it were in my size, the buttoning stance is comically low.

The stance isn't to my taste, either. But someone could probably make it work for them.


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[Feraud]

For ten bucks someone can get the experience of high armholes on a real vintage suit. Leave the jacket on the the stain is gone.
I am not sure how bad the buttons are. I would prefer to see it on someone.

Compare Rooster's picture with this jacket. The button position looks similar.

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Here is the suit. The sleeves need tailoring but the jacket is perfect.

 

[Jovan]

Yours is a good couple inches higher at least. It could also be the really low gorge.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Yours is a good couple inches higher at least. It could also be the really low gorge.

Agreed. Feraud's suit collar is higher and shorter than the one on the thrift store suit. It raises everything, including the placement of the chest buttons.

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[Feraud]

..this could be a suit for one of them long torso'd fellas.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Not so much that. It just happened to be the dominant style for DB suits in the mid and later '40s. Suit collars got longer, lapels dipped lower and so did buttons. The style was a reaction to the previous 30 years of high jacket stance.

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[Saint]

Is it still available? My sister Sunny pointed me to this thread. As one of those long fellows I thought I would give the jacket a try. Thanks.