Help me date this suit please

[Mario]

What would you guess how old this suit is (not mine):

 

[thunderw21]

I'd say early '50s, though the button fly is an interesting touch. Usually see zippered flies on suits of that period.

Maybe the owner prefered to button up? [huh]

Really low button stance on the jacket.

 

[Mario]

Early 50's. I already thought that much. Seems that the only suits I can find that could be made to fit me all date from the 50's. [huh]

So I need to either loose some height - or put on some girth (which already turned out to be utterly impossible as my metabolism seems to be a lot faster than me! )...

Ah, well.

 

[Mario]

Another one (again not mine). Seller says it's from the 40's, but it looks pretty similar to the 1950's suit I posted before (lapels, low button stance). What do you pro guys think when this one was made? Did this low button stance only show up from the 50's onward or have there been similiar designs before?

 

[thunderw21]

Another "Bold Look" era suit, likely from the early to mid-'50s again.

The Bold Look originated during the mid-1940s and continued into the '50s. It's possible it's from the very late '40s, but more than likely not.

 

[Mario]

Thanks. So you're saying that the first suit is of the Bold Look variety as well?

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Why do you care so much if it is late fourtys or early 50s? If you like the suits and they fit you well...

Or do you want to events that are limeted to the swing era?

 

[Mario]

I don't care too much if they are late 40's or early 50's. The second suit I posted wouldn't fit me anyway (way too small), so I just asked out of curiosity because I found there is a certain resemblance to the first one. I couldn't have placed either of them in the Bold Look style, but then I'm still pretty new to this.

 

[thunderw21]

Why do you care so much if it is late fourtys or early 50s? If you like the suits and they fit you well...

Or do you want to events that are limeted to the swing era?

For myself as a historian I like to reference things and events in my mind by age/years/era. It helps me create context around an item like a suit and gives me more of a feel for it.

 

[Solid Citizen]

A Suit

Based upon the button fly I do not think this suit is from the 1950's. That's just my 2 cents! Solid Citizen

 

[Mario]

Ah well...I don't believe the clothiers back then were going 'Ah, this is the new years eve of 1939! Come next workday in 1940 we'll get rid of those button flys and replace them with zippers!"

 

[thunderw21]

Agreed. Button v. zippered fly was personal preference. You can get button fly trousers made today if you wanted.

Also, I just noticed that they have a 'Hollywood' waist, something most common during the '50s.

 

[Mario]

I just took the plunge and BINed the suit I posted first. As is usual with those long legs of mine I'll have to sacrifice the cuffs for length. At the moment the pants have and inseam of 32" while I need around 34". The cuffs are 2 1/4" and there is an additional 1" inside that can be let down.

Hmmmmm...If jumping from my 3rd floor window will help to reduce my length by three or even four inches?

 

[thunderw21]

I just took the plunge and BINed the suit I posted first. As is usual with those long legs of mine I'll have to sacrifice the cuffs for length. At the moment the pants have and inseam of 32" while I need around 34". The cuffs are 2 1/4" and there is an additional 1" inside that can be let down.

Hmmmmm...If jumping from my 3rd floor window will help to reduce my length by three or even four inches?

You could give it some faux cuffs to achieve the appearance of cuffs while still getting the needed length. I've done it on some of my suits and it works great.

 

[Mario]

There still needs to be enough material to make them - and your (my) tailor should know how to do them. How do you make them anyway? How much material do you need for faux cuffs as opposed to real ones?

 

[thunderw21]

Very little.

Faux cuffs.

 

[Mario]

Very little.

Faux cuffs.

Et voila! Thank you so much - perfect! :eusa_clap

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

I don't care too much if they are late 40's or early 50's. The second suit I posted wouldn't fit me anyway (way too small), so I just asked out of curiosity because I found there is a certain resemblance to the first one. I couldn't have placed either of them in the Bold Look style, but then I'm still pretty new to this.

No it's cool to know how to date suits. I just wondered if Mario dislikes the 50s...

But after reading it again...I found out it is not negative.

Early 50's. I already thought that much. Seems that the only suits I can find that could be made to fit me all date from the 50's. [huh]

 

[Mario]

No it's cool to know how to date suits. I just wondered if Mario dislikes the 50s...

Not at all. It's just that I also happen to love the 30's and the 40's (did I mention the 20's?), but I'm having a really hard time finding stuff from those eras that suit me. Either people where smaller back then or all those long length vinatge suits have been sold out. [huh]

 

[GoldenEraFan]

Not at all. It's just that I also happen to love the 30's and the 40's (did I mention the 20's?), but I'm having a really hard time finding stuff from those eras that suit me. Either people where smaller back then or all those long length vinatge suits have been sold out. [huh]

From what I've heard, people were smaller back then. I remember trying on a single breasted suit jacket from the '40s and the jacket fit perfectly but the vest was way too small.