We all know about Cary Grant, Fred Astaire, Adolphe Menjou, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr. the Duke of Windsor, as “sartorial gods” or inspiration.
I am curious about lesser known sartorial inspirations that you might have (A couple that get mentioned from time to time in the Lounge are Gary Cooper, Ataturk, and some others.) I’d like to hear more about some of these, inspirations that most Loungers do not think of.
Since its my topic I’ll throw my hat in the ring and go first.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan (I will do my best to keep this non-political). He was a British trained lawyer and had a successful practice in Bombay/Mumbai in the early 20th Century that made him wealthy. He was always very well turned out and appreciated British tailoring from Saville Row. He had a thing for 3 piece double breasted suits (supposedly had 100s of them), a monocle, 1000s of silk ties (supposedly he never wore the same one twice), and spectator shoes. It was sometimes said that he was the best dressed man in the British Empire. Towards the end of career because of political reasons he dressed in traditional Northern Indian/Pakistani clothes like his sherwani and karakuli cap. But at heart he was a man who favored a nicely suit bespoke suit (You can find some photos of him in a sherwani, but sporting spectators etc.).
Here are some photos in his classic look from the 1940s. By the 1940s he was dying of tuberculosis and that had a major impact on his appearance. His bespoke suits started to “hang on his frame” towards the end. But still I think he always cuts quite a nice figure.
Here are some photos from earlier in the 20th Century
Here is some further reading if interested:
http://pakteahouse.net/2010/11/24/jinnah-as-a-fashion-icon/
I'll add a few more of mine and I would like to hear about some of yours!
I am curious about lesser known sartorial inspirations that you might have (A couple that get mentioned from time to time in the Lounge are Gary Cooper, Ataturk, and some others.) I’d like to hear more about some of these, inspirations that most Loungers do not think of.
Since its my topic I’ll throw my hat in the ring and go first.
Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founder of Pakistan (I will do my best to keep this non-political). He was a British trained lawyer and had a successful practice in Bombay/Mumbai in the early 20th Century that made him wealthy. He was always very well turned out and appreciated British tailoring from Saville Row. He had a thing for 3 piece double breasted suits (supposedly had 100s of them), a monocle, 1000s of silk ties (supposedly he never wore the same one twice), and spectator shoes. It was sometimes said that he was the best dressed man in the British Empire. Towards the end of career because of political reasons he dressed in traditional Northern Indian/Pakistani clothes like his sherwani and karakuli cap. But at heart he was a man who favored a nicely suit bespoke suit (You can find some photos of him in a sherwani, but sporting spectators etc.).
Here are some photos in his classic look from the 1940s. By the 1940s he was dying of tuberculosis and that had a major impact on his appearance. His bespoke suits started to “hang on his frame” towards the end. But still I think he always cuts quite a nice figure.
Here are some photos from earlier in the 20th Century
Here is some further reading if interested:
http://pakteahouse.net/2010/11/24/jinnah-as-a-fashion-icon/
I'll add a few more of mine and I would like to hear about some of yours!
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