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Cool (But Sold) eBay Stuff

The one in the auction is, i think, gabardine. If it's like my 30s white (cream) gabardine belt back, it's pretty heavy fabric. It was too warm for the warmest days last summer even in London, and absolute hell on the Tube. I couldn't bear to sit down, or touch any of the walls for fear of getting it dirty.

Very much a suit for taking a cab to an air conditioned summer venue. Or for spring and autumn.

bk
 

Marc Chevalier

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Guttersnipe

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Was that the real deal? I saw it but didn't know what to think. The material looked correct and the construction of the the pants was what you'd expect from the era, but somehow I couldn't exorcise my doubts. I think the zipper fly, fully lined jacket, and costume company marking threw me.

Marc Chevalier said:
.
This just might be that rarest of birds: an authentic vintage 1940s zoot suit. http://cgi.ebay.com/VINTAGE-PLUM-PI...ptZVintage_Men_s_Clothing?hash=item2c5320603d
.
 

Marc Chevalier

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Guttersnipe said:
I think the zipper fly, fully lined jacket, and costume company marking threw me.

The zipper fly was pretty common by the early 1940s. Fully lined? Unusual, but possible: it certainly existed back then. As for the costume company, Western Costume didn't make all of its stuff: it also acquired "real" contemporary and vintage clothing.


My guess? Either it was a real, mass-market zoot suit that Western Costume acquired, or it was made --in the 1940s or maybe '50s-- by Western Costume itself. Either way, it's probably from the zoot suit era, and that's good enough for me. Wish I'd bought it! :(


P.S. I should add that costumers sometimes add linings to unlined jackets in order to help those jackets last longer. The lining "keeps in" some of the perspiration that might otherwise be soaked up by the wool. If this suit was used by dancers in films, it would have been exposed to a lot of sweat.


.
 

Guttersnipe

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That all makes a lot of sense. Good point about zippers; it seems sometimes we collectors (myself included) generalize, the assumption being, this or that detail definitively points to one era. I'm not sure why the zipper gave me reservations - I own, and have seen, 30's trousers with zippers before - yet the prevailing wisdom that zips always = later lingers on.

I endlessly debated bidding too. My final decision not to bid was based not on my uncertainty, but rather that I don't think I would actually wear a drape...I hope it went to a loving home :(

Marc Chevalier said:
The zipper fly was pretty common by the early 1940s. Fully lined? Unusual, but possible: it certainly existed back then. As for the costume company, Western Costume didn't make all of its stuff: it also acquired "real" contemporary and vintage clothing.


My guess? Either it was a real, mass-market zoot suit that Western Costume acquired, or it was made --in the 1940s or maybe '50s-- by Western Costume itself. Either way, it's probably from the zoot suit era, and that's good enough for me. Wish I'd bought it! :(


P.S. I should add that costumers sometimes add linings to unlined jackets in order to help those jackets last longer. The lining "keeps in" some of the perspiration that might otherwise be soaked up by the wool. If this suit was used by dancers in films, it would have been exposed to a lot of sweat.


.
 

resortes805

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Guttersnipe said:
I endlessly debated bidding too. My final decision not to bid was based not on my uncertainty, but rather that I don't think I would actually wear a drape...I hope it went to a loving home :(

Something tells me Pachuco Jose may have snagged this one. It would have fit me with alterations, but the suit is a near perfect fit for him.
 

reetpleat

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Guttersnipe said:
Was that the real deal? I saw it but didn't know what to think. The material looked correct and the construction of the the pants was what you'd expect from the era, but somehow I couldn't exorcise my doubts. I think the zipper fly, fully lined jacket, and costume company marking threw me.

My guess it was made for a movie costume. However, it was made in the era to probably pretty accurate specs, so, I can't believe it went so cheap or that I didn't buy it.

Maybe not truly authentic as in made for and bought and worn by a zoot suited hipster, but, still pretty close.

Or, maybe it is truly authentic.
 

feltfan

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Baron Kurtz said:
addendum: someone else's knackered bespoke shoes. What a chump! Might as well buy some crud from a dept store; the fit will be just as good as a shoe designed for someone else's foot.

bk
I have not found this to be true.

I have a pair of custom (for someone else) Otabo dress boots.
They were never used (used to be a guy who sold Otabo returns at a
reasonable price on eBay), so maybe that's not what you're talking
about. But they fit me nicely and I'm quite happy with $600+ shoes
for $50.

I also have two pairs of vintage (70s?) ML Leddy boots custom for
someone else. They are not a 100% perfect fit- perhaps the very
tiniest bit long, but I could say something similar about most shoes
not custom to me. They are incredible boots made from very fine
leather with some of the cleanest stitching you could hope to see
on a cowboy boot. Very pleased for $50 and $30/pair. After about
a year of light use they are molding nicely to my feet.

I expect those shoes on eBay are someone's Rosebud. The store
closed in the 50s, so supply is limited. If you got the cash...
Most people would roll their eyes in a similar manner about buying
Art Fawcett hats or Aero jackets.

Point is, you are, hopefully, buying a level of quality you can't get off
most shelves.
 

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