Want to buy or sell something? Check the classifieds
  • The Fedora Lounge is supported in part by commission earning affiliate links sitewide. Please support us by using them. You may learn more here.

Pre-1950s British/European sportswear and leisurewear

Fastuni

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,277
Location
Germany
A "Sun-shirt" by famous German shirtmaker "Rotnaht". Probably 1930s.
The material is like porous light towel cloth. Very comfortable at high temperatures.
I guess it is a cotton and raw-silk blend.

SAM_7218.jpg
]
SAM_7217.jpg

SAM_7215.jpg
 
Last edited:

Fastuni

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,277
Location
Germany
Thanks guys. European leisure shirts are an interesting niche...

here (Berlin 1947) a leisure shirt with square buttons.
(Yes, I know it's hard to focus on the buttons... ;) )

df_pk_0000059_030.jpg

www.deutschefotothek.de/documents/obj/88930091

----

Here also a zipped jersey sport shirt I made... it was a modern long sleeve shirt with buttons.
I made the collar and added a"ZIPP" zipper from the 30's. The label was salvaged from a ragged 30's undershirt.

SAM_7221.jpg

SAM_7219.jpg
 

PADDY

I'll Lock Up
Bartender
Messages
7,425
Location
METROPOLIS OF EUROPA
Wonderful...

Cycling jerseys had buttoned front pockets. Not the ripcage. Just some stuff.


I think I've linked this in the french catalog scan thread but there is a cycling catalog from 1938, the same years as the boule-picture and there is shirt with "unis sport" print (and front pocket). It's great to have a comparsion between catalog pictures and the same garments worn in real life.
http://archivalclothing.com/shopping-from-1938-unis-sport-catalog/

unissport11.png
 

Flat Foot Floey

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,220
Location
Germany
Here also a zipped jersey sport shirt I made... it was a modern long sleeve shirt with buttons.
I made the collar and added a"ZIPP" zipper from the 30's. The label was salvaged from a ragged 30's undershirt.

SAM_7221.jpg

SAM_7219.jpg
Certainly looks the part. I should ask J. to sew me one like this.
I once found a zipped shirt on the fleamarket but it was trashed and got worse when I tried washing it.

sport front.jpg
 

Fastuni

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,277
Location
Germany
Certainly looks the part. I should ask J. to sew me one like this.
I once found a zipped shirt on the fleamarket but it was trashed and got worse when I tried washing it.
attachment.php

Oh - great find, Floey - though it was in bad condition!
Cool to find stuff like this at all on fleamarkets.
Yes, copying it and re-using the Zipper, button and tag would be the best way if it is really trashed.
On the photo it still looks wearable, though.
 
Last edited:

Flat Foot Floey

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,220
Location
Germany
There was a lot of color bleeding and the teeth of the zipper came off. The whole thing was just disintegrating. It's not wearable anymore. We might copy the style of the pocket but the rubber band at the bottom wouldn't be my first choice. Either a straight hem or some tube-knit?
 
Last edited:

Fastuni

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,277
Location
Germany
Such a long shirt would be better tucked into the trousers. I would make a straight shirt hem (like on mine).
If you want to wear it like a sweater or jacket over a shirt, I would do a tube knit hem but make the body shorter.
 

Sloan1874

I'll Lock Up
Messages
8,427
Location
Glasgow
There was a lot of color bleeding and the teeth of the zipper came off. The whole thing was just disintegrating. It's not wearable anymore. We might copy the style of the pocket but the rubber band at the bottom wouldn't be my first choice. Either a straight hem or some tube-knit?

I was wondering about the elasticated waist as well. Certainly an unusual design feature, but has potential to look a bit like a sack!
 

Flat Foot Floey

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,220
Location
Germany
I think this was more likely a part of a track suit than a casual shirt that would be worn for layering.

This add is from 1931
DasMagazin_1931_Heft88_004.jpg
 

Flat Foot Floey

My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,220
Location
Germany
I was thinking about something like that too.
Would you buy cycling jerseys repros with a pointy polo collar if they were made of normal cotton jersey? With that chest pocket thingy?
I am afraid the knitted wool versions are too complicated to make.
 

Forum statistics

Threads
109,688
Messages
3,086,664
Members
54,480
Latest member
PISoftware
Top