Just a few general questions.

[Van_Tallgarden]

Hi chaps,
New to the Fedora Lounge, and I love the style of the 1930s.
I'm hoping to get more into it, and to dress in the fashion on a daily basis.
So, just wondering.
Is a waistcoat always necessary?
What are the small wraps that go on the upper arm of a shirt? (They look like tape)
and finally,
What should I look for in a double breasted suit?

Thanks, and sorry if this should be in a different board, or if a similar thread has been made.

 

[Kabel]

Well for as far as I know those 'tapes' are called sleeve garters and that's the only thing I can really help you with, sorry about that.

 

[adouglasmhor]

A waistcoat is not always necessary especially with a DB suit in my opinion. What you should look for in any suit is a good fit.

 

[rue]

As I understand it, men's sleeves only came in one length at the time and the garters were used to hold them up.

Other threads that might help you:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...0s-Menswear-Catalogs&highlight=1930s+menswear

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/show...weaters-pajamas-etc.&highlight=1930s+menswear

 

[DanielJones]

If you are interested in sleeve garters River Junction Traders has a nice selection.
http://www.riverjunction.com/Sleeve-Garters_c_18.html

Cheers!

Dan

 

[Shangas]

Back in the old days, shirts came in a "one size fits all" kind of mode. But one size doesn't fit all. Sleeve-lengths were adjusted using elasticized bands called sleeve-garters. You can still buy them today.

Prior to the 1940s/1950s, a waistcoat was almost mandatory with a suit. But you don't HAVE to wear one with a suit. If you want the 1920s-1930s suit-style though, then a waistcoat would be a must. But only with single-breasted suits. DB not so much.

It's been a long time since I wore a double-breasted anything, so I won't comment on your last question.

 

[Nick D]

The most important thing is fit of the suit. If you're just starting, look for a suit that fits rather than one that looks perfectly 1930s. If you find one from the 30s that fits right away, well done! Wearing a shirt with a long point collar and a wide tie with a small knot (rather than a spread collar with a wide tie with a gigantic knot) will help tremendously with the 30s look.

If you're really going for the whole thing, the suit should have wider spaced buttons than double breasted suits do today, and it should button higher, with wider lapels. The trousers were higher and wider in the leg, and turn ups are a must. There was much more fabric choice then than you get off the rack today, too, but they had the moderns standards of gray and navy as well.

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Nick is right about that. Sleeve garters are only optional. A good shirt and a small tieknot as described are far more important. Also a good haircut would do a lot for the look. Just search the FL for threads about spearpoinbt collar shirts, ties and haircuts. Also look at the catalogue sticky and get used to the look of the suits.

 

[carldelo]

Sleeve garters, also called simply arm bands - there are these elasticated metallic type which are much fancier than the fabric ones:

http://www.classicwardrobe.co.uk/Arm-Bands.aspx

However, I don't think you need these to have a thirties look. You should think about wearing braces with a thirties suit.

 

[Shangas]

I have my own set of sleeve garters. I don't use them often though and they are, in my mind, more suggestive of a turn-of-the-century look rather than the 1930s. I think by then, regular, fitted shirts were becoming more common. As Flooey & Nick say, they really are optional and in my opinion, should only be worn when you actually NEED to adjust the length of your sleeves.

If nothing else, sleeve-garters are handy for keeping your cuffs up when you're doing dirty work and don't want to get them grimy/wet.

 

[filfoster]

Has anyone ever seen someone, in person, not in a dramatic production or carnival, wearing sleevebands/arm garters? Or spats, for that matter.

 

[Undertow]

Has anyone ever seen someone, in person, not in a dramatic production or carnival, wearing sleevebands/arm garters? Or spats, for that matter.

I could be wrong, but I believe our own Marc C. has donned a pair of spats in the past.

Garters? Didn't the Baron used to wear sleeve garters? Or am I remembering a picture wrong?

 

[Shangas]

Like I said, you only wear sleeve-garters when the sleeve-lengths actually need to be adjusted. Since most shirts these days aren't the "one size fits all" shirts of the past, there's not so much need to wear them as once there was. If I *needed* to wear sleeve-garters, though, I wouldn't have any hesitation about putting them on.

 

[MikeBravo]

I always associate sleeve garters, along with those "sun visors" with the green underneath, with accountants and bankers.

The garters are worn to keep the sleeves out of the ink drying on the journal or ledger being written in

 

[Nick D]

I wear spats, more often in the fall and winter but I have a lightweight pair as well.

 

[TCMfan25]

I wear spats, more often in the fall and winter but I have a lightweight pair as well.

I love Spats!

 

[filfoster]

I love Spats!

Who doesn't?
And Tooey Spaatz too.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I could be wrong, but I believe our own Marc C. has donned a pair of spats in the past.

I have, but only for special "vintage" events (i.e., the Cicada Club, which can be a carnival of sorts ).