Major Danger's Major, (Evening Wear) Coup

[Maj.Nick Danger]

During a cursory walk through of one of my local vintage sources, I find two old looking suits, with old union labels inside.
Not just any old suits, but two complete sets of navy blue evening wear, and in rumpled but excellent condition,...no damage!
The price was right, and I was in a hurry to get somewhere, so I of course bought them without a try on.
Later on I try them on, and with just a slight bit of resistance from the jackets, they slip on and fit reasonably well!
I estimate that they are in about 42 to 43 size range, (I wear a 44) because of the initial tightness in trying to get them past my massive, Arnold Shwarzeneggar-like shoulders. lol But once past that minor obstacle, they fit pretty well. I don't know whether I should keep them or maybe offer them up on ebay just yet. Maybe I will have occasion to wear these in the near future???
And if so, I wonder just exactly what accouterments go with these properly.[huh]
Here are a few hasty pics.
First is double breasted, from none other than Hart, Schaffner, and Marx. I think most likely mid to late forties, judging by the heavy,(serge?) fabric, watch pocket, button and Talon zipper fly, and detailed buttons.

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The single breasted number is most definitely 1950s. I investigated the history of Sterling, Lindner, and Davis, and found that the Davis name was added in 1950, and the company folded in 1958. It is lighter in both color and fabric weight.

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I'm wondering what the proper accessories would be? Waist coat? Cumerbund? And what color tie? Black?[huh]

 

[Feraud]

A nice coup indeed. I would think you can easily pass them along if you decide not to keep the suits.

Here is a vg sticky regarding formal wear.
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=7058

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

A nice coup indeed. I would think you can easily pass them along if you decide not to keep the suits.

Here is a vg sticky regarding formal wear.
http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=7058

Yes I did see Shindeco's excellent primer on formal wear, but it does not contain much info on the midnight blue variety. For instance, it is stated that the black tie must match the lapel facing. In my case, this is not possible, so I'm wondering if there is such a thing as a midnight blue tie and is that proper? Also the question of waist coat color,...[huh]

 

[Orgetorix]

Midnight blue accessories are (and were) rare. Black ones are acceptable with midnight blue evening clothes, though the texture (grosgrain vs. silk) should match the lapel facings if possible.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Midnight blue accessories are (and were) rare. Black ones are acceptable with midnight blue evening clothes, though the texture (grosgrain vs. silk) should match the lapel facings if possible.

I see. Thanks for the info.
I'll have to keep my eyes peeled then. A matching waist coat would be next to impossible to find I think. What are my options there I wonder?

 

[Feraud]

I would stick to a cummerbund, especially with that little 50s number.
A cummerbund will probably be easier to find than a waist coat.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Nick, it is possible to find midnight blue bowties and cummerbunds. However ... you need to see them in person, not just in a photo. Pictures often won't indicate whether the item is midnight blue, rather than black. And don't trust the seller's description! Hunt around vintage clothing stores and antique malls, and you'll eventually succeed. Midnight blue accessories are not that hard to find.


Wear a cummerbund with the SB tux. If you wish, you can also wear a cummerbund with the DB ... but chances are that no one else will see it, since you'll have the jacket buttoned up nearly all of the time.


As for selling the tuxes on eBay, be warned: so many are available there, you probably won't get good prices for yours. If I were you, I'd wait until late November/very early December --the beginning of the Christmas/New Year's season-- to post them on eBay.

.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Nick, it is possible to find midnight blue bowties and cummerbunds. However ... you need to see them in person, not just in a photo. Pictures often won't indicate whether the item is midnight blue, rather than black. And don't trust the seller's description! Hunt around vintage clothing stores and antique malls, and you'll eventually succeed. Midnight blue accessories are not that hard to find.


Wear a cummerbund with the SB tux. If you wish, you can also wear a cummerbund with the DB ... but chances are that no one else will see it, since you'll have the jacket buttoned up nearly all of the time.


As for selling the tuxes on eBay, be warned: so many are available there, you probably won't get good prices for yours. If I were you, I'd wait until late November/very early December --the beginning of the Christmas/New Year's season-- to post them on eBay.

.

Thanks very much for your expert, (as usual) advice Marc.
I think Fate is no random trickster, so I will most likely have an occasion to actually wear one of these, (or both even) with some minor alterations in the near future.

 

[Mid-fogey]

I'm reminded...

...of the movie Father of the Bride, where Steve Martin is told by everyone the tux he sees as black is, in fact, dark blue.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

...of the movie Father of the Bride, where Steve Martin is told by everyone the tux he sees as black is, in fact, dark blue.

I will do my best Steve Martin impersonation then.

 

[Edward]

I'd have thought that black accessories should look fine with either of those suits - wasn't the point of a midnight blue dj and trousers that under artificial lights they looked blacker than black (whereas actual black often looked washed out)? At that rate, i shouldn't have though black accessories would actually clash. That said, I'd probably look for a black cummerbund to wear with the sb jacket as a black waistcoat might look just that little bit "wrong" if there is a difference that is just apparent. I'd have thought it would be easier to find a cummerbund matched to the tie that would look good with the suit, rather than a waistcoat that swould match.

Both look great. Nice find! As long as you can sit / eat / dance comfortable in the jackets and don't need to dislocate a shoulder to get them on lol, it seems to me that a slightly neater fit than you'd wear in a lounge suit is not a bad thing.

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

Thanks for your input Edward. I will need the sleeves shortened slightly on the DB, and the inseam taken up on both, but other than that, and a good cleaning/pressing, they're good to go. Still has me astonished, the fact that I found something wearable here from an era from which only size 40 or below examples seem to have survived.