Progress Suit Catalog - Fall/Winter 1920 w/ Illustrations and Swatches

[Hyena Stomp]

So I picked this up for a really good price on eBay recently and thought I'd scan and post it. Some cool styles and some even cooler fabric swatches included in this catalog! Enjoy!

 

[Hyena Stomp]

 

[Fastuni]

Slam bang. Thank you for these great scans!

The diversity of cuts during the early 20's is really fascinating... so many contradictory styles at the same time.

Some neat ones here, that I would wear.
Some are overdone and scurrilous... pardon "extremely daring"... like those fancy-pocket novelty suits or extreme peg trousers.
The box jackets are not my cup of tea either.

 

[The Good]

Thank you for sharing this catalogue, it's an excellent record of what could have been fashionable, or simply sold in 1920.

Slam bang. Thank you for these great scans!

The diversity of cuts during the early 20's is really fascinating... so many contradictory styles at the same time.

Some neat ones here, that I would wear.
Some are overdone and scurrilous... pardon "extremely daring"... like those fancy-pocket novelty suits or extreme peg trousers.
The box jackets are not my cup of tea either.

I agree with your reaction. There seem to have been so many different fashion choices all at once, in 1920. To me, the 1920s appears to have had the most different cuts and styles of suits or other coats available, and this is only from the beginning of the decade. I am not a fan of the box back and the full peg styles, particularly, and I find the unique pockets odd. The vests with the v-shaped arrangement of buttons look interesting, but not overdone to the point I dislike them.

 

[esteban68]

Great post.

 

[Patrick Hall]

Great post.

+1 - should be stickied.

 

[Fastuni]

Interestingly the three corduroy swathes have been ripped out.

 

[DesertDan]

This is facinating. I never imagined that there were so many stylistic varieties available at this time period.
I must say that the "Norfolk" (# 852) really grabs me as does the more conservative #810.

The "M" back on the coats and the various custom shirt cuff options are also quite nice.

 

[Stanley Doble]

"The famous Progress box back"

At last we know what a box back coat looks like

When I die, bury me in straight laced shoes,
A box back coat and a Stetson hat
Put a 20 dollar gold piece on my watch chain;
So the boys'll know I died standing pat

If you don't remember, here is the thread that asked the musical question

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?6639-Box-back-coat

 

[Two Types]

Interesting to see the choice of waistcoat pocket flaps.

 

[herringbonekid]

the 'box back' is totally absent from the catalogues of the same year i own (Charles Williams 1920 and M.Ward 1920) so i wonder if this was pretty much it's final outing ?
they also don't have any of the overly fancy pocket flap designs seen above. both hark back to the mid teens, so many of these designs are slightly backward-looking for the year.

 

[Fastuni]

the overly fancy pocket flap designs seen above. both hark back to the mid teens, so many of these designs are slightly backward-looking for the year.

All the more odd that they are described as ¨brand new novelty¨. So much for truth in advertising

 

[Hyena Stomp]

You're welcome guys, I'm glad you're enjoying this post. No sense in letting a resource like this collect dust on my shelf when there are others out there who are interested in it.

All the more odd that they are described as ¨brand new novelty¨. So much for truth in advertising

Not to mention the name of the company itself!

 

[John Galt]

Hats are my bag, and I've been similarly surprised by the great variety of styles offered by the premier hatters in this time frame. Fascinating post. Thanks for sharing!

 

[Claudio]

Thanks for posting - lovely

 

[Dostioffsky]

Great scans! I love the diversity in hat colours as well.

I found these on Etsy, they are from the same company.
Some more interesting styles and fabrics. Like 'new style lapels' on the first one (can't say I'm a fan of those) and the left cap's fabric on the last one.