Show us your British suits

[Two Types]

if you mean (as i think you mean) two watch pockets that probably indicates its not British as i've only seen that done on German or Italian suits (but there's always exceptions).
difficult to date it without seeing photos. as you know, British men's style was a slowly evolving beast and although peaked lapels were more common in the 30s and 40s that style could also be found throughout the 50s though dwindling in popularity.

please post some photos if you buy it !

Thanks. It does have two watch pockets, mind you I have a number of British suits with this feature. Looking at your earlier post of the catalogue shot from the 1930s (single breasted, peaked lapel, single button) I recalled that the jacket closes with a button on a shank (if that's the right word). thus it appears very similar to that jacket.

I will certainly post pics if I buy it. The argument will be: do I sell it (I'm sure someone will want it) or do I keep it for my son (12 years old) who has already told me I should find some good vintage suits ready for when he gets older. It's a difficult question!

 

[herringbonekid]

Thanks. It does have two watch pockets, mind you I have a number of British suits with this feature.

i've yet to see that on any Brit suits... please post photos on this thread if you have time. any uncommon features that add to our knowledge of British suits are welcomed !

 

[Two Types]

i've yet to see that on any Brit suits... please post photos on this thread if you have time. any uncommon features that add to our knowledge of British suits are welcomed !

If you look at post 145 on this thread you will see the double watch pocket on a grey suit of mine. The suit is by the tailors 'Dombey and son' in the City of London. I originally had eight suits that had belonged to the same man (I still have six of them) and had seen a number of other suits belonging to him. All of them featured the double watch pocket. Mind you, he had a love of pockets: one of his waistcoats has a total of six pockets: four outside and two inside.

 

[avedwards]

Yesterday, I saw a rather nice suit for sale. It is a single-button, single-breasted, peaked lapel two piece, in heavy blue/black wool. The trousers are typical twin pleated with two pockets (with very nice pointed flaps) in the waistband. Button fly, turn ups etc. There is no evidence of a makers label.

My question is this: To me, the suit seems old (cut, heavy fabric, button fly, waistband details) but the condition is immaculate. The peaked lapel, single breast suggests 1930s, the condition seems too good to be that early (i.e. too good to be true). Thus, would anyone know whether this style was popular in any other period apart from the thirties?

Any thoughts?

I know it won't fit me, but I am waiting to find out the price. If the price is right (fingers crossed) I'll buy it to sell on.

The condition doesn't necessarily mean it can't be from that era. It may have been well looked after, rarely worn and properly stored. I have an immaculate waistcoat from the 30s and if it weren't for the styling and material it could have been made yesterday.

The details sound 30s/40s but it could be a good repro. Without pictures it's difficult to tell.

 

[Cobden]

I agree it sounds like it could be from that era. However, features aren't always the best way to judge. I have a suit (no labels, I hasten to add, but it seems British to me, judging by the cut and the lack of any features that strike me as being "foreign") with peaked lapels, three buttons, double inward pleats and turnups...but, judging by the cut (width of lapels, width of leg) and general shaping, it's fairly clearly 1950's or early 1960's...these things can be hard to tell without a pic

 

[billyspew]

if you mean (as i think you mean) two watch pockets that probably indicates its not British as i've only seen that done on German or Italian suits (but there's always exceptions).
difficult to date it without seeing photos. as you know, British men's style was a slowly evolving beast and although peaked lapels were more common in the 30s and 40s that style could also be found throughout the 50s though dwindling in popularity.

please post some photos if you buy it !

I think I mentioned earlier in the thread, I have a relative who always had these features put into his suits from the 1970's and on. All his suits were made bespoke by Hector Powe and later Burberrys (who bought Powe's and transferred it's visiting tailor business under the Burberrys name). His were put in so he could carry his watch in one pocket and money clip/bill fold in the other (both on chains), once waistcoat's went out of fashion.

 

[Two Types]

I think I mentioned earlier in the thread, I have a relative who always had these features put into his suits from the 1970's and on. All his suits were made bespoke by Hector Powe and later Burberrys (who bought Powe's and transferred it's visiting tailor business under the Burberrys name). His were put in so he could carry his watch in one pocket and money clip/bill fold in the other (both on chains), once waistcoat's went out of fashion.

Thanks everybody. I shall go back tomorrow to see how much they want for it. I shall certainly buy it - unless they are asking silly money. I'll worry about what i do with it after I get my hands on it.

 

[Nick D]

Is the zipper original to the trousers? It looks to me like it's been added in later; stitched over the buttonholes. I've seen - and removed - this many times before.

There's no definite evidence of a button fly, though there's some odd things going on with the right side of the fly. It may be that it's a replacement zipper.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

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Surprised by the winning bid price?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/STUNNING-3-...=UK_Men_s_Suits_Tailoring&hash=item2c609cd2d0

 

[Guttersnipe]

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Surprised by the winning bid price?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/STUNNING-3-...=UK_Men_s_Suits_Tailoring&hash=item2c609cd2d0

Considering, size, condition, and genreal awesomeness, not really. Well displayed Savile Row suits usually fetch a good prices on eBay, especially if they are legit bespoke.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Considering, size, condition, and genreal awesomeness, not really. Well displayed Savile Row suits usually fetch a good prices on eBay, especially if they are legit bespoke.

Agreed.

 

[billyspew]

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Surprised by the winning bid price?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/STUNNING-3-...=UK_Men_s_Suits_Tailoring&hash=item2c609cd2d0

Not at all, if it'd been longer I would have been in the hunt at that price.

 

[esteban68]

I was sorely temted but being a short ar*e I didn't bother as I knew being bespoke with working cuffs that getting the sleeves altered would be a major issue, one which I learnt on my recent bespoke G A Sheppard c2007 but then again the almost mint suit only cost a tenner (UK) iirc plus £55 to get the legs & sleeves shortened and the seat/waist taken in.

 

[Lexybeast]

.
Surprised by the winning bid price?


http://www.ebay.com/itm/STUNNING-3-...=UK_Men_s_Suits_Tailoring&hash=item2c609cd2d0

I'd say with the craft that goes into it and what it would cost today, that was a pretty good deal. Wish a three piece like that would pop up in a 38!

I managed to get a '61 Henry Poole 2 piece in what looks to me like a very American cut recently, when I have some decent pictures of me wearing it I'll post them.

 

[Two Types]

Help and advice required, please

A couple of days ago I posted for advice on a rather nice suit I had spotted. I have now got my hands on the suit and here are the photos. A few of the details are different to those I mentioned in the original post (blame my failing memory - until today I was certain it had watch pockets!).

The condition is fantastic, it seems to have hardly - if ever - been worn. I just wish it fitted me.

What I would like advice on is any guesses on date and likely nationality. I don't know whether it is just a gut reaction but I don't feel it is British.

Here are the lapels:

A view of the jacket front (not great, but black is always difficult to photograph):

The interior breast pocket:

The front also has a shank button:

Cuff buttons - these aren't functioning and don't even have false buttonholes:

A view of the waistband. It has a small loop for passing the bearer through prior to buttoning (a detail I have not previously seen - at first I thought it was a lone belt loop!):

The waistband has two buttons. One fits into the waistband and one into a small slit between trouser and waistband. Again, this is a feature I am not familiar with:

A view of the rear pocket:

This shows the shape of the trousers:

So there we are .... any thoughts would be gratefully received. Hopefully the details might give a clue to some of you experts out there.

Thanks.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

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It seems to be made of wool barathea, which gives it the look of an evening suit. I used to see lots of these (imported) at used clothing stores in Chile: most of 'em were from Germany.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Nice.

The height of the inner pocket would suggest German to me. That, and the rear pocket flap (see previous post by hbk).

The boutonniere hole - is that functional?

bk

 

[Nick D]

The waistband has two buttons. One fits into the waistband and one into a small slit between trouser and waistband. Again, this is a feature I am not familiar with:

This is a very common way to make a buttonhole on mens trousers. It's a convenient location and an easy hole to make, adding that extra bit of support to the fly opening.

 

[Nick D]

.
It seems to be made of wool barathea, which gives it the look of an evening suit. I used to see lots of these (imported) at used clothing stores in Chile: most of 'em were from Germany.

But without all the other things that make an evening suit, grosgrain lapels, jetted pockets, trouser braid, so what does that make it?

 

[Cobden]

If I had seen the jacket on it's own, I would have assumed it was a black lounge/stroller/Streseman. But with the matching trousers, and with some of the features, it seems it is designed to pass as both day and evening wear; I appreciate that I have suggested this with several black suits to the extent it's almost becoming my default position, but it has a very "domestic servant" look to me, on account of the shank button, lack of faux cuff buttonholes and it being black