Opinions & dating on this suit

[LordBest]

I picked up this suit for $5AUD at a local thrift store, it is a decent fit now and is slowly improving as I lose rotundity, but I have no idea how old it is nor what kind of time period I could use it to portray. Would it be a faux pas to wear such a thing to a 40s gathering, for example.

 

[H.Johnson]

I'd say 1990s - It's a modern TST phone number. The tailor is still in business, why not give them a ring?

 

[GBR]

I'd say 1990s - It's a modern TST phone number. The tailor is still in business, why not give them a ring?

Agree but maybe even newer - not one of the reputable tailors.

 

[LordBest]

Thanks for the replies. I had a feeling it was 80s or 90s, did not notice the phone number I have to say. No buttonhole, which is fairly modern I think. Any opinion on the look of the thing? Worth keeping or should I pack it off to ebay?

 

[Geesie]

Agree but maybe even newer - not one of the reputable tailors.

I don't think "reputable" is the right word. Most of the Kowloon tailors do good "cut to fit" suits. I mean, they're not going to do anything bespoke but I have two suits, four shirts, and a dinner jacket from one of these tailors and I'm perfectly happy with them.

 

[Tomasso]

Could the numbers following the customer's name be the date? 3/3/79 ?
Most of my suits/jackets are dated.

 

[LordBest]

I assumed the numbers were a serial number or some such, but a date would make sense.
Is this suit worth keeping? Would it be worth getting a tailor to pop a buttonhole in the lapel and whatnot, to make it more suitable for a Golden Era aesthetic or is it hopelessly modern? I am still learning the ins and outs of Golden Era fashion so I need all the advice I can get.

 

[H.Johnson]

Tailors in the Nathan Road area use this type of label with a machine-embroidered sequential customer/job number. It doesn't relate to the date at all.

This is one of the tailors to which you will be taken if you follow one of the many 'suit touts' who frequent the TST and ferry terminal areas.

 

[reetpleat]

I would consider it suitable for a late forties look. Wear it with a wide but later flashier tie. Not a great style from that era, but pretty similar to that style. Depends on how much of a purist you are, but if you wore it with a hat and tie and came to a vintage party, I would not look askance at you

 

[LordBest]

Thank you reetpleat, good to know that the suit is passable vintage as it fits rather well and everyone says it suits me well enough. The sleeves may need to be taken up a tad and I may see if the tailor can add a buttonhole if if is not too expensive/difficult.
At the least it gives me something vintage-esque to wear until I can fit in to the genuine article.

 

[Forgotten Man]

My two bits...

Well, after takin' a hinge at it, I would say since it fits, you can "period" it a little. I have a buddy that buys suits from thrift shops all the time and he makes them look period by adding details that are from the era he loves, like the late 20s or early 30s for bank robbery recreations.

If ya have the cloth in the hem of the pants, put a nice deep cuff in the pants... and that will help it out. Wearing it with a period tie will help and I see you have that already! Enjoy it until you find what you real are looking for! And keep your eyes on ebay!

Good luck.

 

[LordBest]

Thanks Forgotten Man. I am sure I will be able to add some kind of cuff to the pants, they have actually been taken up by a good two inches at some point, if that can be let down and cuffed there should be no problem. So cuffs, buttonhole, period tie, any other suggestions to forty-fy the suit?
I am glad you noticed the tie, I picked it up from a thirft store for $1AUD, 70cUSD, it is labelled Munrospun Made in Scotland.

 

[Forgotten Man]

Yeah, do it, get some cuffs on that suit... somein' like one and three quarter inch deep or two inch deep... depending on how wide the pant leg is.

Some 30s European suits I've seen don't have a button hole on the lapel... so, that's not the most important detail... I'd try and find more stripped dress shirts and some that have really sharp collars... long and pointy to some degree.

Good luck!

 

[Widebrim]

I would consider it suitable for a late forties look. Wear it with a wide but later flashier tie. Not a great style from that era, but pretty similar to that style. Depends on how much of a purist you are, but if you wore it with a hat and tie and came to a vintage party, I would not look askance at you

I agree on the late-40s look. I recently bought a semi-modern, single-breasted, pin-stripe that I just put 1 1/2" cuffs on. Since the lapels are "medium-thin," and the slacks have no pleats, I'm passing it off as late-50s. For your suit, I would also suggest a pocket square (small, but important detail), as well as some suspender buttons (if the trousers don't have some of the latter already). Nice-looking suit, though, mate.

 

[Forgotten Man]

Well, going off of the very conservative fashion of the fabric I'd maybe suggest passin' this suit off as an early 30s rig. I have seen some lapel treatment of that width in the early 30s... not uncommon. In the 20s I've seen some narrow lapels too.

I dig the tie he wears in the photo, it's a classic plaid type of pattern you'd see in the 30s but, not uncommon in the 40s too. Oh, and I'd take up the sleeves a tad, they look a little long.

Keep at it, you'll get it!

 

[LordBest]

Thanks to you both. So the suit could be good for 30s/late 40s depending on how I accessorise it? Any advice on how to do this correctly, apart from period tie styles?
I do usually wear a pockets quare with it, but I was in a rush to get some pictures taken and forgot to put it in. Made a hash of tying the tie and whatnot as well.
I am thinking about pairing the suit with a 30s/40s style knitted v-neck vest, my mother found the pattern in an old pattern book of hers. Let me know what you think of this idea, colour will probably be a dark red and/or beige.

 

[miss_elise]

i like the sound of a knitted v-neck vest...

 

[GBR]

I don't think "reputable" is the right word. Most of the Kowloon tailors do good "cut to fit" suits. I mean, they're not going to do anything bespoke but I have two suits, four shirts, and a dinner jacket from one of these tailors and I'm perfectly happy with them.

I regret a great many do crap suits that fall to peices. They arev distiguished by the (usually Asian) touts that hassle people on Nathan 'copy watches' being their other line.

 

[GBR]

Thanks for the replies. I had a feeling it was 80s or 90s, did not notice the phone number I have to say. No buttonhole, which is fairly modern I think. Any opinion on the look of the thing? Worth keeping or should I pack it off to ebay?

That or the back of the fire - it really does not look good.

 

[Geesie]

I regret a great many do crap suits that fall to peices. They arev distiguished by the (usually Asian) touts that hassle people on Nathan 'copy watches' being their other line.

I was advised not to go to the Asian tailors but the Pakistani or Indian. So I did.