Clothing sizes in the 'golden era' ...

[Two Types]

Us larger fellows are often heard to bemoan the lack of larger sizes available in vintage clothing. The explanation is always 'but clothing was much smaller because men were much smaller'.

It might be a bit difficult to read, but it's interesting to see this advertisement for men's sportswear from 1925, in which tennis trousers were available up to a 44 inch waist.

It's also interesting to see that they offer a 'combination shirt' which is shirt with trunks attached, to prevent the shirt riding up over the waistband during play. Does anyone out there have an example to show us?

 

[herringbonekid]

in the Sears and Roebuck catalogue of 1923 suits (and most mens garments) are available in sizes:

chest 34 -44
waist 29 - 42
inseam 29 -36

 

[The Wiser Hatter]

The small guys never wore suits.

 

[AntonAAK]

Us larger fellows are often heard to bemoan the lack of larger sizes available in vintage clothing. The explanation is always 'but clothing was much smaller because men were much smaller'.

It might be a bit difficult to read, but it's interesting to see this advertisement for men's sportswear from 1925, in which tennis trousers were available up to a 44 inch waist.

Those sizes existed but how many did they sell? No-one is saying that there weren't any larger men in those days, just that there were comparatively fewer and the average size was smaller.

Which means we all fight for the few larger suits when they come up.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Men's trousers in the Houndsditch Warehouse Co. catalogue of 1938 didn't go below 32" waist and I think went up to 44".

AntonAAK is of course mostly correct.

 

[kiwilrdg]

People were thinner as a rule then. Body proportions were not normally the same then either so if you find things that fit they often need alterations to fit a modern body shape.

For an interesting examples of men of abundant stature look at pictures of President Taft (who needed a custom made bathtub so he would not get stuck anymore) and the WWII British General "Jumbo" Wilson.

One is safe in assuming that larger sizes were hard to find then as well. In "To War With Whitaker: Wartime Diaries Of The Countess Of Ranfurly" the Countess has stories about her butler not being able to get a uniform that fits so he drills in a pinstripe suit with a helmet.

Large size clothing was also often taken in to make smaller size clothing so there is less left of the larger ones. The items that did not get worn out were the ones that were too small to fit.