Mystery solved! Bogart's weird suit in "The Big Sleep"

[Dr Doran]

That does look nice.

 

[CliffG]

I wouldn't worry about that too much. Dress to impress yourself first. Then others, if you feel like it.

I like this Bruce, I like it a lot, I would like to use this as my motto if you do not mind.
Thanks,
Cliff

 

[Feraud]

The next time you see a guy --besides "Mr. Bogart"-- whose suit's outside breast pocket is stuffed with glasses or something, please let us know.

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When that happens a lot of guys will be complaining how "wrong" it is..

 

[mike]

He was a genius of a man.

The Big "Oh", indeed!

 

[CliffG]

Truth be told, in all cases but one, men don't really use their suits' outside breast pocket to hold anything except a pocket handkerchief. Not tickets, not pens, not glasses, and certainly not blow-your-nose handkerchiefs: those items go into hip pockets or interior pockets.


The one exception:





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occasionally I will put a pocket watch in my pocket, I guess this is wrong?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

occasionally I will put a pocket watch in my pocket, I guess this is wrong?

Cliff, I said that putting the pocket watch in your pocket is the one exception. You can verify this by rereading my original post about it.

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[Marc Chevalier]

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Courtesy of resortes805, this suit jacket has enough breast pockets (and lapel buttonholes) to make everyone here happy.

If we borrow a rule from photography, the Rule of Thirds, we are not going to really want two objects (the flower and handkerchief) on opposite sides as they aren't symmetrical (i.e. they are not exactly the same objects). If, on the other hand, one wore two flowers or two pocket squares then one would have "balance." But the rule of thirds essentially says that isn't always what you want. Take, for instance, this photograph by Ansel Adams. It follows the rule of thirds and is not symmetrical, yet is unquestionably beautiful. Having the pocket square and flower on the same side is similar to this photograph. The large ridgeline is on the right side of the photograph, and not directly down the center. Many beginning photographers make the mistake of centering everything in their photographs, which I have just shown isn't always the best. Symmetry can work, though, such as in this photo of a corridor designed by architect Eero Saarinen. Note the overally symmetry of the photograph, except for the very small man and the door handle. But as the flower and pocket square are fairly large and noticable objects on a person, and due to the fact that they aren't exactly the same, I don't think that Oviatt's look works.

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[Feraud]

^^lol Right!

 

[Nonchalant]

occasionally I will put a pocket watch in my pocket, I guess this is wrong?

fftopic:

 

[Bruce Wayne]

I like this Bruce, I like it a lot, I would like to use this as my motto if you do not mind.
Thanks,
Cliff

By all means, go right ahead.

 

[Nighthawk]

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Courtesy of resortes805, this suit jacket has enough breast pockets (and lapel buttonholes) to make everyone here happy.

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Nice, thanks!

NH

 

[Marc Chevalier]

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Bogart in Bullets Or Ballots (1936). Note that here, too, his suit has the boutonniere hole on the righthand lapel. Another "Oviatt's" suit, 10 years before The Big Sleep!

 

[Bruce Wayne]

Man, he looks young in the above screen grab!

 

[Richard Warren]

I carry many things (cell phone, glasses, sunglasses, pens, and random pieces of paper) in breast pocket of suit jacket. On rare occasions I put a handkerchief in.

The pocket is on the left side because it is easier to reach with the right hand.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I carry many things (cell phone, glasses, sunglasses, pens, and random pieces of paper) in breast pocket of suit jacket.

In the exterior breast pocket? Do you use a plastic pocket protector too?


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[Nighthawk]

In the exterior breast pocket? Do you use plastic pocket protector too?


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Hey, pocket protectors are vintage!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pocket_protector

NH

 

[Mysterious Mose]

Leslie Howard:

 

[Mysterious Mose]

John Barrymore, 1920:

Very likely this pic's mirrored, also check the trouser fly, but in that case why is there a button on the right side of the vest?
I like the sleeves on this one.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Leslie Howard:

Leslie Howard was a customer of Oviatt's, so it's very likely that this was an Oviatt's jacket.


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[Mysterious Mose]

Yes, I was reading an older post of yours on A&O and found Howard's name.
That's a really famous photo. Apparently he was some sort of secret agent and killed by the Nazi's. Snappy dresser, Mr. Howard.