Style Hits of 1941 - Catalog Illustrations

[Marc Chevalier]

By U.S. menswear standards, 1940 was the beginning of a suit style revolution: broad shoulders and relaxed jacket waists (with fewer or shallower darts, hence less suppression) entered the mainstream. World War II held it back a bit, but the end of the war burst the dam: men's suits became incredibly drapey, if not downright baggy.

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[herringbonekid]

seems they had a phrase for it (above) too : "extreme drape"

 

[herringbonekid]

they also seem to use the word 'sack' pretty freely....most of these jackets definately have darted fronts.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

True. The traditional, classic sack suit (like the old Brooks Brothers standby) didn't have any darts. But remember that in the '30s, a standard suit had four darts (two on each side) ... so anything less (such as two instead of four) might have been considered a kind of "sack suit".


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[jake_fink]

I see Ray Miland in that picture, and here's Lionel Barrymore (only, well, er... on his feet...)

I'm not seeing Ray Milland.... And here I see a Barrymore, but it isn't Lionel. Looks like John Barrymore to me. And the guy with the fishing pole does look like Warren William and/or a slimmer Warner Baxter.

The shoulders on #3018 look simply impossible. You'd need a yoke made of 2x4s to achieve and maintain that look. Maybe it's called a drape because it hangs on a curtain rod.

 

[jamespowers]

The shoulders on #3018 look simply impossible. You'd need a yoke made of 2x4s to achieve and maintain that look. Maybe it's called a drape because it hangs on a curtain rod.

Actually, I think you just leave the coat hanger in the jacket. You can see the drape in the pants quite a bit. They hang like, well, like drapes.

Regards,

J

 

[Sefton]

Actually, I think you just leave the coat hanger in the jacket. You can see the drape in the pants quite a bit. They hang like, well, like drapes.

Regards,

J

Yes, just like in that old Tom and Jerry cartoon where Tom is trying to make a zoot suit to impress a young hip lady-cat (you though I was going to say something else,didn't you?)
From "The Zoot Cat" (1944)

 

[CharlieH.]

Great stuff! And great suits!

I know these pictures are a bit exaggerated, but judging from the size of their heads, these men must be at least 7 feet tall!

And those are some killer graphics on the cover! I love some good vintage graphic design.

 

[jamespowers]

Yes, just like in that old Tom and Jerry cartoon where Tom is trying to make a zoot suit to impress a young hip lady-cat (you though I was going to say something else,didn't you?)
From "The Zoot Cat" (1944)

Yeah, like that. Now all you need is the music.

regards,

J

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Great catalogue. Thanks for posting it. But really, these things look totally ridiculous. This is perhaps the wrost style ever (yes, James, worse than the (19)70s).

bk

 

[Slicksuit]

Wow, those shoulders do seem extreme, yet I'm oddly attracted to the look. Emphasized broad shoulders seem to look best with larger brim fedoras. Awesome pictures!

 

[Maj.Nick Danger]

I really like the jackets, but those enormous trousers make the whole thing look bottom heavy. So the big pants we see today are really nothing new. lol

 

[Benny Holiday]

The exaggerated look had a fair bit to do with the influence of the zoot suit on younger mens' fashions. If they were sketching those suits today, they'd have to make sure they modelled one of the faces on Eddie Nichols for sure! lol

Hey don't be like that Baron, those shoulders and pinched waists save the slim dudes like us from having to spend hours at the gym to look like Charles Atlas! lol It's the 'wondersuit', the guys' version of the 'wonderbra'. You take the suit off and the chicks wonder where the Vin Diesel physique vanished to!

 

[jamespowers]

This is perhaps the wrost style ever (yes, James, worse than the (19)70s).bk

Nothing is worse than the 1970s except maybe the 1960s in parts.

Regards,

J

 

[Feraud]

Nothing is worse than the 1970s except maybe the 1960s in parts.

Regards,

J

I would add the 80's to that group.
Sadly, I see an 80's trend returning. Stretchy leggings, tacky leg warmers and all! :eusa_doh:

 

[jamespowers]

I would add the 80's to that group.
Sadly, I see an 80's trend returning. Stretchy leggings, tacky leg warmers and all! :eusa_doh:

I can't stand the leg warmers and the leggings but come one---nehru jackets? White loafers? Polyester? Leisure suits? The bad is just so much more concentrated.

 

[jake_fink]

I would add the 80's to that group.
Sadly, I see an 80's trend returning. Stretchy leggings, tacky leg warmers and all! :eusa_doh:

The MTV and 60s revival 80s, yeah. But there was a 40s/50s thing going on, and generally dress clothing went back to a more classic, traditional (less clownish) look.

There is nothing worse than the 70s. In the history of clothing ever, since man first put a pelt over his pelvis, there has been nothing as hideosuly dire as the 70s.

 

[scotrace]

In the history of clothing ever, since man first put a pelt over his pelvis, there has been nothing as hideosuly dire as the 70s.

Here's a fellow who agrees.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I think the 1790s gave the 1970s a run for its money:

And from 1810:

 

[jamespowers]

Here's a fellow who agrees.

That makes three of us. I think Marc likes the 1970s though.

Regards,

J