Show us your suits

[Johnny J]

Purchased three vtg suits, late 40s early 50s on the bay last week and just had them cleaned.
This one dates to 1949. Single breasted two button w/ patch pockets.

This one is also from 1949. Single breasted two button.

And this is my favorite. Double breasted three piece in almost mint condition!

Fabric still looks very nice.

 

[Salieri]

Awesome suits, in particular the DB one. The cloth looks amazing!

 

[Nick D]

That db is more or less my dream suit. I suggest undoing the bottom waistcoat button, it appears to be pulling.

 

[The Private Eye]

For business, I wear often this one. With brown shoes of course and no tie. (Sometimes a tie could be a problem in my job.)
It's a Chino pants. The vest is in worsted wool.

 

[Benny Holiday]

Great suits Johnny J. And Matt, that sweater vest looks sharp as a tack with your suit. Worthy of a Foyle's War episode!

 

[_Nightwing]

Love the tie, and it goes great with this classy suit.

 

[Johnny J]

Thanks guys, I can't believe I found these in my size. I just had to let out the waist a little and take in the sleeves.

 

[MikeBravo]

That db is more or less my dream suit. I suggest undoing the bottom waistcoat button, it appears to be pulling.

Same here. Those are a once in a lifetime find I imagine (jealous much?)

It is traditional to leave the bottom button undone on a waistcoat. I fancy they are cut so as to have the bottom undone, hence the pulling in the pic (?)

 

[Johnny J]

That db is more or less my dream suit. I suggest undoing the bottom waistcoat button, it appears to be pulling.

Thanks Nick. I don't know if I am mistaken, but if you look at both pics the bottom button is undone. Only the top one is buttoned. If you are pointing at something else, please let me know cause I do value everyones opinion.
Thx.

 

[Dr Kilroy]

He was talking about waistcoat buttons, not coat buttons.

Best regards, Dr

 

[Shangas]

It's traditional to undo the bottom button of a waistcoat (a fashion set by His Majesty, King Edward VII), but I think with a five-button waistcoat such as that one, I would keep all the buttons done up. If it was a waistcoat with more buttons (Six, seven or eight buttons, for example), then I would undo the bottom one. But with so few buttons, it just doesn't seem...right.

 

[Dinerman]

Picked up a bit of an oddball suit at the thrift shop today. Greek. Heavy wool, lots of hand stitching and nice detailing. 3 inside pockets- the 2 breast pockets are high up right by the armpits- one lower one. Short skirt length. Fully lined with heavy silk, short vent. Pants have only one back pocket and a flapped watch pocket. Button fly, ticking lined. No cuffs.

What do you think as far as the dating?

 

[Nick D]

...but I think with a five-button waistcoat such as that one, I would keep all the buttons done up. If it was a waistcoat with more buttons (Six, seven or eight buttons, for example), then I would undo the bottom one. But with so few buttons, it just doesn't seem...right.

It's not the number of buttons, it's whether or not the bottom button is tailored to be left open. Charity shops are full of black dress waistcoats with five buttons, four to button. 6 buttons is certainly more common than 5, but the 5 closing with 4 is certainly acceptable.

 

[Johnny J]

I got it.

 

[Nick D]

What do you think as far as the dating?

When did they start using machines to pad the collars? Even then, this seems like an unusual treatment.

 

[Qirrel]

Machine padding was common, probably right from the start of the 1900s and even earlier. The zig-zag stitch machine wasn't invented until the late 19th century and was only used for industrial sewing. The usual practice when machine padding would be to use a straight stitch as that would have been the only machine available to smaller tailoring operations well into the 20th century. I would be surprised if the suit was prior to 1930. Based on styling I would say 40s or 50s.

 

[Johnny J]

Just got this suit back from the cleaners. Found it on the bay. I still need to take in a little bit the sleeves and on the pants let out the waist. Does the coat look a little too long or is it ok?

I like how the suspender buttons are on the outside.

There were several stains on the suit and the cleaners almost got them all out. But on a couple of areas you can still see light orangey marks. Any suggestions?

 

[Tomasso]

Does the coat look a little too long or is it ok?

It does look a touch too long but shortening the sleeves will have a mitigating effect on that; funny how that works....

 

[Johnny J]

It does look a touch too long but shortening the sleeves will have a mitigating effect on that; funny how that works....

Thanks Tomasso. I will shorten the sleeves and post another pic later. I really do like the suit! Hopefully it will be ok like that for me to wear.

 

[Salieri]

Just discovered my waistcoat in the Burton shop employee's style guide from 1934 - 1936:

Style no. 25: