Closing a vent?

[Robert Conway]

I have heard about people having a rear vent on a suit jacket sewn closed, to give the appearance of a ventless jacket.

Is this really an acceptable thing to do?

If it is, should this only be done to a single vented jacket, but not a double vented?

Curiously yours,

RC

 

[Brad Bowers]

I have heard about people having a rear vent on a suit jacket sewn closed, to give the appearance of a ventless jacket.

Is this really an acceptable thing to do?

If it is, should this only be done to a single vented jacket, but not a double vented?

As far as I'm concerned, it's acceptable. I bought a really nice glen plaid DB suit at a thrift store for $5, but it had a double vent, which I don't like. To me, DB suits should be unvented, so I had them closed. You can't really tell, and it looks fine.

Brad

 

[Tomasso]

Both single and double vents can be successfully tailored to ventless, if that is your preference. But be warned, the procedure is irreversible.

 

[Shaul-Ike Cohen]

To me, DB suits should be unvented

Is this a personal preference, or a matter of Golden Era authenticity?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Is this a personal preference, or a matter of Golden Era authenticity?

In very rare cases, double-breasted suits in the '30s had double vents. (This was a British fashion, but very few Americans -- or even Britons -- adopted it.) Vents in the '30s were not as deep as those of the '70s.

In the 'teens and early '20s, it was very typical for single and double-breasted suit jackets to have a single vent. Watch Harold Lloyd's comedies: you'll see Lloyd wearing plenty of examples.


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[JamesT1]

Both single and double vents can be successfully tailored to ventless, if that is your preference. But be warned, the procedure is irreversible.

I've never heard of it being irreversible. All it would require to reverse it would be a seam ripper and re-cutting the lining.

As for the original topic, it depends on the suit. I wouldn't recommend doing it on a double vented unless the jacket has a seam running down the middle of the back.

 

[BegintheBeguine]

It's acceptable. In my career as a tailor I have sewn closed many a vent, and even re-opened some closed vents.

 

[Tomasso]

I've never heard of it being irreversible. All it would require to reverse it would be a seam ripper and re-cutting the lining.

As I understand it, material is removed when closing a vent, with the inside seams trimmed to that of a unvented jacket. Creating vents on an unvented jacket isn't possible.

I wouldn't recommend doing it on a double vented unless the jacket has a seam running down the middle of the back.

Don't most jackets have a center seam?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Don't most jackets have a center seam?

Most, but not all. I've run into some '40s suits -- the more "fashion forward" kind -- which have had no vent and a one-piece back. My theory is that this is the "box back suit" that the old song refers to.

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[JamesT1]

Some jackets that are double vented tend not to have a center seam.

As for the removal of material, that's something I never do, just for that purpose.

James

 

[Tomasso]

So,if you were to close this vent you would simlpy sew it shut......

...without cleaning up the excess material?
As for the removal of material, that's something I never do, just for that purpose.

...without cleaning up the excess material? I would think that it would be preferable for all seams to be finished as the the center seam, in this photo.

 

[JamesT1]

Usually, all that is required is folding of the material, it gives it a cleaner appearance, primarily on fully-lined jackets.

 

[Matt Deckard]

You can take out vents... though please... It's better not to even try adding.