Show us your suits

[Bugsy]

After what has seemed like a long time, I've finally come up with morning dress of which I'm pleased, and for a relatively inexpensive amount. Enjoy.

John

GG, I'm having trouble following what you did to fabricate the waistcoat slip. Please, PM me so I can ask you some specific questions. Thanks

 

[GrangerGangster]

I'm not able to PM members yet. Perhaps you can PM me and give me your email address, and we can communicate that way. If not, I can just give more complete, step-by-step instructions, in a future post. Happy to help.

 

[Bugsy]

I'm not able to PM members yet. Perhaps you can PM me and give me your email address, and we can communicate that way. If not, I can just give more complete, step-by-step instructions, in a future post. Happy to help.

GG I can't PM you since you left no address. I'll wait until you can message me directly. I have a ton of questions to ask you. Thank you.

 

[Slim Portly]

After what has seemed like a long time, I've finally come up with morning dress of which I'm pleased, and for a relatively inexpensive amount. Enjoy.

John

Bravo, my friend! A superlative opening shot across the bow of the HMS Fedora Lounge. If you don't mind my asking, do you find occasion to wear this fine outfit? Perhaps during your morning constitutional? Or are you a bold lad who throws caution to the wind and dresses thusly on a regular basis?

I have been working on my morning suit on and off at great length. In my case the the path is as much the point as the destination.

I look forward to future posts from you, sir.

 

[GrangerGangster]

Sadly, I don't think this will be worn for the purpose for which it was originally intended, until I get married. There just aren't opportunities these days to go that dressed to anything, at least not in the circles of which I'm a member. It's not like I've been invited to a Royal Garden Party, or have purchased tickets to Ascot, after having been invited into the Royal Enclosure. Living in the US doesn't help out a whole lot there. I can't say that something of that sort would never happen, nor that I'd never find some other occasion to wear it, but for right now, it's just one of the things that I wear for the sheer hell of the fact that I love wearing it, love being seen in it, and don't give a damn if people think I'm weird because of it.

 

[gypsy_caravan]

And you wear it darn well! I've never been one to care what people think of my dress, although in some circles locally, I was voted "most fashionable," whatever that means. My friends, family and co-workers all accept my sense of "fashion" as being part of who I am, cufflinks and all...

So, wear your morning dress with pride! Thank you for sharing .

 

[Slim Portly]

GG, you may find your resolve softening at some point. Many of us here at first dipped our toes experimentally into Golden Age fashion only to find that the waters were most welcoming. When I first started wearing three-piece suits, fedoras, and spectator shoes to an office where untucked t-shirts are the norm I endured the expected ribbing, but now I cannot show up with a bare head without being quizzed.

As has been said, you wear it well. And now that I have gone back a couple of months in this thread I see that you have many fine sets of clothes to show off, some perhaps more palatable to the unwashed masses. You do your thing, and I'll continue putting my stroller together. Hopefully someday I'll be able to strut mine with the panache that you do yours.

 

[Fletch]

That is one impressive rig, GG. Here's wishing you find Miss Right and she swoons with pleasure over it.

 

[Fletch]

Not-quite-deadstock off eBay for $55

This is the best 3pc I've found yet in terms of classic period silhouette.

It's lightish-weight super-itchy oxford, labeled "Silvertone," in a polychrome stripe over navy blue and dates from ca. 1940. (ACTWU tag © 1939 and an over-all prewar cut tell me so.)

Hat is a Schoble Cavanaugh-edge from johnnyphi's auctions. Cost more than the suit!

With charcoal grey and plain navy trou for comparison. In good light you see tones of maroon, powder blue and an undertone of charcoal.

No visible wear or damage on this babe, altho it was worn (found cigarette or pipe tobacco shreds in the pockets).
Size 46R(!), so it'll need a good bit of taking in. (I've got it pinned up in the pix.)

 

[Dinerman]

I've been thrifting with some pretty good results. Found a '40s? '50s? 2 button for $5, it's made from Pacific Mills "Mohara" fabric, a lightweight summer wool blend, with, if the name's any indication, some mohair in it. It was Tailored by Joseph & Feiss Co exclusively for the Leon Godchaux Clothing Company of New Orleans, La. Skeleton lined, overall decent worn condition. Important thing is that there was no mothing. The pants are cuffed, double pleated with dropped loops, suspender buttons, watch pocket, talon zip, gripper snaps. Pretty standard stuff.

The other suit is newer, I don't know by how much, but it has a very vintage feel to it. It was also $5 from the same thrift shop. It's a southwick, half lined two button. The fabric feels like the fabric on my '40s jackets, with that same slight stiffness and fine scratchiness to it; very heavy-weight with a nice stripe.
Feels very high quality.

pics to come.

 

[Dinerman]

I don't have the pants on for either, I need to let the hems out on both, but it gives you an idea of the cut.

1949 Union tag. What do you think as to date? The pants have nice wide legs, and a high waist.

color's a little weird on the fabric in this shot

 

[thunderw21]

Nice suits, Fletch and Dinerman! Really sharp. The fabrics look amazing.

 

[metropd]

After what has seemed like a long time, I've finally come up with morning dress of which I'm pleased, and for a relatively inexpensive amount. Enjoy.

John

Very Nice! Just Remember you are strictly violating one of the most important rules in morning dress. You are strictly forbiden to wear "Gibus" or opera top hats with morning dress. I know you have that great silk plush or beaver top hat to go with that morning dress.

 

[thunderw21]

Couple new ones.

3-piece DB, real nice wool fabric. No union or maker's tags, so I'm estimating this is early 1930s. Interesting that the two top jacket buttons are in line with the others.

Flat-front trousers, no cuffs. These are superbly long and high-waisted.

Red pinstripe with silver chalkstripe. The colors are much more vibrant than the picture shows.

Next is a September, 1940 dated 3-piece suit in very heavy tweed. 3 buttons rolled to 1. Two interesting features with this.
First, the jacket has a single vent in back.
Secondly, the bottom button on the vest, while in theory could be buttoned, is not meant to be buttoned because of the angle of the hem could create a bulge. An inoperable button, in a way.
Also, patch pockets on the jacket.
These features speak volumes about the tailoring.

The brown spots are stains that will come out easy enough.

Trousers are pleated with cuffs. I might have to take the cuffs out to make them long enough.

Edit: forgot to say, I paid $130 for these two suits and two ties.

Cheers!

 

[Fletch]

What a fantastic find, thunder...was this anywhere in central Iowa that this turned up? (I'm in Ames now - I can hardly imagine.)

 

[Dinerman]

Great suits. I like the Double Breasted. Where do you find this great stuff?

 

[thunderw21]

Where do you find this great stuff?

Oh, just a little place that's around...

 

[Dinerman]

Thrifted? Antique stores? Vintage shops? All of the above?

 

[thunderw21]

Thrifted? Antique stores? Vintage shops? All of the above?

It was a vintage shop.

 

[Dinerman]

Good deal.

I can never seem to find vintage shops the have good suits for prices that aren't insane.