Ladies suits

[Miss Sis]

Ooooo, I just found this thread!

Wearing a classic 40s navy suit to work today. Feels really good! Don't usually wear the vintage to work but going to a show tonight up London so went nuts.

I have just cleaned a ladies cream 1920s Palm Beach suit for a friend. Yes, you read that correctly - a real, 20s, Ladies Palm Beach suit. It was a bit grubby so worked my magic on it. It is very interesting and I will be taking some pics of it and will post them here as soon as possible. It has very minimal wear. A friend who works in a militaria shop found it in a pile of stuff and gave it to my chum.

I think it must be a very rare example as I have never even heard of a ladies Palm Beach suit, much less seen one. Can anyone enlighten us on this?

 

[Miss Sis]

1920's Belted Striped Acetate Two Piece Dress Suit

Betty, this suit says later than 20s to me, especially if it has a zip? What makes you think it's specifically 20s?

 

[jtcarrey]

Ooooo, I just found this thread!

Wearing a classic 40s navy suit to work today. Feels really good! Don't usually wear the vintage to work but going to a show tonight up London so went nuts.

I have just cleaned a ladies cream 1920s Palm Beach suit for a friend. Yes, you read that correctly - a real, 20s, Ladies Palm Beach suit. It was a bit grubby so worked my magic on it. It is very interesting and I will be taking some pics of it and will post them here as soon as possible. It has very minimal wear. A friend who works in a militaria shop found it in a pile of stuff and gave it to my chum.

I think it must be a very rare example as I have never even heard of a ladies Palm Beach suit, much less seen one. Can anyone enlighten us on this?

a LADIES plam beach suit!!!????? GET OUT!! WOW that's amazing!! I want one!! hahahaha dude that is so rare! and yay for wearing your suit at work, I wore my 40's suit one day at work, no one really noticed actually haha but whatever

 

[imoldfashioned]

I have just cleaned a ladies cream 1920s Palm Beach suit for a friend. Yes, you read that correctly - a real, 20s, Ladies Palm Beach suit.

I am so excited to see pictures of this--I've never seen an example of a Ladies Palm Beach suit. How lucky that it fell into the hands of someone who realizes what a treasure it is!

 

[Vintage Betty]

1920's Belted Striped Acetate Two Piece Dress Suit

Betty, this suit says later than 20s to me, especially if it has a zip? What makes you think it's specifically 20s?

It's an odd piece - maybe even a costume from a later period. But the zipper is very very old, and a side zip. I have other pieces from this period that have zippers too. But the clincher is that the piece has a dropped waist and very old hooks on the interior of the belt. The belt doesn't ride on the waist, it actually rides on the hips and the buttons were swapped out later. So, that's my guess.

Ladies - What is a Palm Beach Suit and what makes it special?

Vintage Betty

 

[Miss Sis]

I am so excited to see pictures of this--I've never seen an example of a Ladies Palm Beach suit. How lucky that it fell into the hands of someone who realizes what a treasure it is!

Not just 20s but EARLY 20s at that. I only say that it isn't any earlier than that because I don't know any better, but it is very end of WW1 - early 20s in style.

Sorry I can't get the pics up quick as we don't have internet at home, so it might take a while, but they'll get here eventually. If anyone is interested in this, it's you guys! lol

 

[KObalto]

Ladies - What is a Palm Beach Suit and what makes it special?

Vintage Betty

I'm not a lady but Palm Beach suits werea beautiful light summer weave made of a top-secret blend possibly involving mohair and/or rayon along with wool. It is no longer manufactured.

 

[Vintage Betty]

I'm not a lady but Palm Beach suits werea beautiful light summer weave made of a top-secret blend possibly involving mohair and/or rayon along with wool. It is no longer manufactured.

Very interesting!

Miss Hannah - you look GORGEOUS in your new suit! Can we see front pics and detail pics too? I particularly love how it's the exact right length at your knee level.

MissSis, I am really looking forward to your pics!

Vintage Betty

 

[MissHannah]

That blue one is a stunner Miss Betty

 

[MissHannah]

Very interesting!

Miss Hannah - you look GORGEOUS in your new suit! Can we see front pics and detail pics too? I particularly love how it's the exact right length at your knee level.

Thank you Betty! Here are the Ebay sellers photos:

 

[cherry lips]

Here I am in my Lilli Ann

Gorgeous Fifties*Freak!
Divine MissHannah!
I do not own a single suit and after browsing through this thread I feel naked!

 

[LuckyKat]

That is a beautiful suit, & with cool blue & white pinstripes...I wish I got ahold of that suit before a seamstress did.
&, you were right, it did used to be a man's suit. During the war, because they were conserving everything & only making things for the war, it was very common for a taylor or seamstress, or even an able woman at home, would take in a man's suit to make a woman's suit.

I just purchased a suit that's nearly identical to the one Betty posted. Forgive the hanger pics - worn, the shape is pretty much the same as the one above. I couldn't get a good shot of me wearing it -- all my self-timer photos came out way too dark.

I couldn't find anything with a similar cut on ebay or vintage clothing sites, so I was excited to find the previous one. I also searched for the thread about it, but found nothing.

Here's the info I found on J.B. Simpson -- custom-fit suit manufacturer from Chicago. Considering that the label inside says it's for a Mr. L. Brumfield, I suspect this one started out as a man's suit... what do you guys think?

 

[Idledame]

According to this site which shows how to date the label, it was made between 1939 and 1949:
http://www.steelzipper.com/ACWA.html
And this shows how to remake a man's suit into a woman's suit:
http://www.costumes.org/history/20thcent/1940s/sews4victory/suitthatboughtbond.jpg

 

[cherry lips]

Oh dear, Redlights, I must say you look heavenly in these pics. The red heels against your pale skin is esthetic bliss.

 

[Darhling]

Ivory Jackie O - esque suit

Cropped jacket with cropped sleeves and hidden buttons

A-line skirt with two faux pockets

Pants suit

wide legged pants and long, one button jacket. Slim revers, curved edge, amazing waist definition in the back and faux pockets.

(I need to take down the pants!)

I took new pics with flat shoes, I think it looks better with this particular suit - The classic Chanel ballerina, white leather with black nose.

 

[Slim Portly]

Ivory Jackie O - esque suit
Cropped jacket with cropped sleeves and hidden buttons
A-line skirt with two faux pockets...


Pants suit
wide legged pants and long, one button jacket. Slim revers, curved edge, amazing waist definition in the back and faux pockets.

D, these two suits look perfect on you.

 

[Darhling]

D, these two suits look perfect on you.

Thank you Slim! btw I love the shortened version of my FL name, "D" , everybody can't go around calling me Darhling all the time..

 

[Matt Deckard]

Darhling... now that's just really really cute.

 

[Darhling]

I can finally post this suit! It is a tailored version of a suit Marilyn Monroe once wore, but I had the jacket made much shorter, since I am as tall as three apples and a long jacket drowns me out.

Please disregard the vacant look!

 

[Mrs. Merl]

Darhling - that is a super cute suit! And how smart to have it made to "suit" you!