Show us your suits

[Baron Kurtz]

Here's the trousers of that suit above. Nice and high waisted:

bk

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Another lightweight suit. I think this one is late 20s/early 30s. No labels at all on this one. Very lightweight wool in a pinstripe. The only problem being that it's absolutely filthy. The absolute dirtiest suit i've encountered that's still wearable. I'm hopeful that a specialist dry cleaners can clean it up for me.

bk

 

[Jovan]

bk: That jacket doesn't look short to me, it looks like it hits right at the end of the buttocks, where it should... give or take an inch depending on physique.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Yeah, you're probably right. It's just a bit shorter than most of my jackets and takes a little bit of getting used to.

bk

 

[Jovan]

Speaking of which, weren't coats slightly longer in the 1920s as a fashion? I seem to notice jackets coming down two inches longer and the trousers coming up highwatered or no break in some magazine and catalogue illustrations from the 1920s.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

That's my experience, certainly. The shortness of the second lightwieght jacket above is what makes me think it's early 30s.

bk

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Speaking of which, weren't coats slightly longer in the 1920s as a fashion?

Yes, from 1919 to around 1924. Then, the coats became more "normal" in length -- only to become shorter around 1930.


Incidentally, suit coats were long and oversized around 1910. They looked more like cropped overcoats. In that same era, trousers became quite pegged at the ankle, with 2" cuffs that were rolled up rather than pressed into place.

.

 

[Jovan]

Interesting. I wish there was a huge book I could check out that had a bunch of illustrations and descriptions of style throughout the 20th century.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

There is: Esquires Encyclopaedia of 20th Century Men's Fashions. Richly illustrated and a trove of information without the typical commentary. Very hard to come across a copy, though.

bk

 

[Orgetorix]

And recent copies on Ebay have gone for well over $200, some over $300.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Those would be copies of Apparel Arts, right? I haven't seen any Esquire's Encyclopaedias for sale for a while. The ones on amazon range from $415-$2,143.

I got a photocopy of the pre-70s pages.

bk

 

[Marc Chevalier]

There is: Esquires Encyclopaedia of 20th Century Men's Fashions.

It's an oversize, heavy, thick hardcover book; below is a photo of the dust jacket. You can find them in the reference section of many public and university libraries -- sort of. Due to the high prices this book fetches on the market, copies have been stolen from many of these places.

 

[Orgetorix]

Exhibit A, $350

Exhibit B, $227.50

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Huh, i missed those . . .

bk

 

[jml90]

They have it at my local library...Maybe I should lift it....

 

[Marc Chevalier]

They have it at my local library...Maybe I should lift it....

Not a good idea. :rage:

.

 

[vonwotan]

Wow! Sorry I missed those. Not cheap but far less than most dealers are asking...

Exhibit A, $350

Exhibit B, $227.50

 

[Benny Holiday]

Yes, from 1919 to around 1924. Then, the coats became more "normal" in length -- only to become shorter around 1930.

Incidentally, suit coats were long and oversized around 1910. They looked more like cropped overcoats. In that same era, trousers became quite pegged at the ankle, with 2" cuffs that were rolled up rather than pressed into place..

Hence the "Teddy Boy" look of the 1950s, equal parts inspired by the look of the Edwardian ("Teddy") attire and the maverick tie/frock coat of the American West as depicted in cowboy movies.

 

[Orgetorix]

Wow! Sorry I missed those. Not cheap but far less than most dealers are asking...

There's one more up right now. It's at $250 with just under 7 hours to go.

And another ended yesterday for $199.99. A "former library copy," though.

 

[Jovan]

Thanks guys. I'll see if my library has it.