Belfast-made Moring Coat

[Edward]

So, this last week I picked up a "vintage" morning coat on eBay. Arrived today. It caught my eye as it was cheap and bears the name of a Belfast-based tailor, which had a certain pull. Didn't cost much either, so I gave it a shot. Here it is:

Two buttons, quite widely spaced, on each side. They are not functional cuffs, but an extremely good job of looking like them:

Tailor's label:

Sole drawback? Notch lapels are less desirable to me than peaks:

Great fit on me. It's a long one, very cut to a thirties pattern to my eye. not sure about the lapels, though... whether that makes it later, or whether some cretin has butchered them later on. If it has been altered, it was very professionally done. The general impression I have is that it is at least as old as 1950s, beyond that, who knows. Were notches ever used back in the day (even though not common)?

 

[Orgetorix]

They certainly were! And they may have been more common than you think (though not in the majority). They were more common in the early decades of the 20th century, and by the late '30s the single-button, peak-lapeled style had become predominant. Though, as these illustrations show, they were sill common even in the '30s.

 

[Edward]

They certainly were! And they may have been more common than you think (though not in the majority). They were more common in the early decades of the 20th century, and by the late '30s the single-button, peak-lapeled style had become predominant. Though, as these illustrations show, they were sill common even in the '30s.

Ah, Mr Orgetorix, sir! I hoped I would have the benefit of your estemed knowledge on the matter here. It seems then that it could (as I believe the auction stated) indeed be thirties?

This is my fourth morning coat (two modern - one black in a herringbone weave pattern, another grey; one 1950s, black, and this one). Now I need to find somewhere to wear 'em... Maybe time I developed an interest in the geegees?

 

[boushi_mania]

This is my fourth morning coat (two modern - one black in a herringbone weave pattern, another grey; one 1950s, black, and this one). Now I need to find somewhere to wear 'em... Maybe time I developed an interest in the geegees?

Find someone to marry? I'm finding it's a great excuse to put together a formal rig, and with the bride's approval, no less! (She likes it when I look good.)

Seriously though, I've got a morning coat on the way myself, so I'll be looking for other reasons, as well. Is there such a thing as a professional wedding-crasher? lol

 

[Edward]

Find someone to marry?

Ha.... not exactly looking likely at present.

I'm finding it's a great excuse to put together a formal rig

It would be that..... (kind of an expensive option, though.... )....

Seriously though, I've got a morning coat on the way myself, so I'll be looking for other reasons, as well. Is there such a thing as a professional wedding-crasher? lol

It's such a shame nobody wears it much anymore. I think Ascot is about the only place nowadays where one could go and it be the norm.... even at weddings now which go for traditional morning dress (rather than the sort of ghastly modern confection one might expect a soccer player or other 'celebrity' type to appear in), it's only ever the wedding party who appear in it. I'd love to go to a wedding where all the men had the option of wearing the full works. Not that that would have been all that common outside of the upper echelons back in the day, but still....

 

[boushi_mania]

It's such a shame nobody wears it much anymore. I think Ascot is about the only place nowadays where one could go and it be the norm.... even at weddings now which go for traditional morning dress (rather than the sort of ghastly modern confection one might expect a soccer player or other 'celebrity' type to appear in), it's only ever the wedding party who appear in it. I'd love to go to a wedding where all the men had the option of wearing the full works. Not that that would have been all that common outside of the upper echelons back in the day, but still....

My current plan is, whenever an invitation or public notice states that an event's dress code is "formal" without realizing that it means something more than a suit, I will naïvely follow these instructions to the letter. I mean, they can't blame me for doing what they said to do, right?

 

[Edward]

My current plan is, whenever an invitation or public notice states that an event's dress code is "formal" without realizing that it means something more than a suit, I will naïvely follow these instructions to the letter. I mean, they can't blame me for doing what they said to do, right?

lol

I'd be tempted, but it's such bad form to upstage the bride....