Unusual colors

[Spatterdash]

Aside from the usual shades of men's suits, which colors have you always had an interest in? I'm rather curious as to what might be judged tacky, as well as hues that might be a welcome addition to the wardrobe that are not as common.

Myself, I've always wanted a forest green 3-piece suit, worn with a black tie, white shirt and a pair of spectators. I'd switch out the vest when the mood hit me, wearing a black vest with the spectators or a tan vest with matching spats.

 

[ArrowCollarMan]

I'd like a red suit. Not really red, but more of a toned down red. Almost brownish.

It would look like that.

I would more prefer a double breasted vest but in this case I'll go with a single breasted vest. I'd have the spats and gloves like pictured because thats awsome. Instead of a homburg I'd have a fedora of that color. A nice one too, sort of a wide-ish, contouring brim. I love the stylish curviness of a good hat. Its like a woman.

But thats my idea of a suit. I'm not sure if I'd really get it. It can be pretty flashy but I think I could pull it off. I don't know.

 

[Johnnysan]

Funny that you should metion green...

In my younger, thinner days, I wore an early 50's vintage forest green suit that had a very subtle dark blue vertical stripe in the weave. I gave up the suit some years ago - long before I re-acquired my love of vintage. Man, I miss that suit...

 

[Senator Jack]

I have a 60s forest green of muted sharkskin. With a white shirt, black tie, and stingy fed, and I look like The Green Hornet.

I've been meaning to get two double-breasted jackets made up - one purple, one yellow. I've always thought both colors would be great for the holiday season, as I'm big on lighter colors for Christmas parties. (The white dinner jacket tends to make a lot of appearances) Just mate them with black trousers, white shirt, tie, and patent leather shoes.

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Purple is cool. I have a blue red and black 30s suit that LOOKS purple (it really does in person!).

But the unusual colour i wish is BLACK. 30s/40s stuff in good solid BLACK with no pinstripes is almost impossible to find. A nice 3 button notch lapel 3 piece in BLACK would be my perfect find. I'd pay a lot of money for that.

bk

 

[Briscoeteque]

Purple is cool. I have a blue red and black 30s suit that LOOKS purple (it really does in person!).

But the unusual colour i wish is BLACK. 30s/40s stuff in good solid BLACK with no pinstripes is almost impossible to find. A nice 3 button notch lapel 3 piece in BLACK would be my perfect find. I'd pay a lot of money for that.

bk

Really? I recently got a black double breasted suit, with 6 buttons and three to use. It is an incredibly heavy wool. It seems to me like it's a few ribbed silk details away from a tuxedo. I'm wearing it in my avatar, with a black hat, a white shirt, a black silk brocade tie, and a black silk eyepactch. I look like a Bond villan.

I really want an olive suit, with white pinstipes. A purple and yellow (like the song) would be cool too. And I recently lost an auction for a gold double breasted sharkskin. I should have bid a whole lot higher than I did for that. Who cares if I look like Gene Rayburn?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Really? I recently got a black double breasted suit, with 6 buttons and three to use. It is an incredibly heavy wool. It seems to me like it's a few ribbed silk details away from a tuxedo. I'm wearing it in my avatar, with a black hat, a white shirt, a black silk brocade tie, and a black silk eyepactch. I look like a Bond villan.

what is the vintage of it? I've never seen one in person ... in my size. The only one i've seen is constantly doing the rounds on eBay and is a merchant marine uniform. there was a black tweed one but it went too high for me.

I'd be interested in seeing more pics of yours. maybe in the current "show us yer suits" thread.

bk

 

[Tomasso]

there was a black tweed

Black tweed, interesting. Why the dearth of black suits in vintage? Was it not a popular color?

 

[Senator Jack]

For years, I had been searching for vintage black french cuff shirts. Then it dawned on me why I never found them. Up to the 70s, it was the color of death. No one wore black as a fashion statement, only to funerals. All my black suits are from the late 50s on. I don't believe I've ever come across one from an earlier period.

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[Baron Kurtz]

well the claim was that it was tweed. i never saw it close up.

as for dearth of black vintage suits, this may just be my experience. It may not even be the case. I just never see them. Even in a vintage store in san francisco which had about 400 suits (all 30s-40s) i saw only one solid black. And it was massive. And priced accordingly at $1500

Maybe all the black suits just got worn so much because they were so popular that they got worn out?

maybe others can confirm or deny the lack of black.

bk

 

[herringbonekid]

A nice 3 button notch lapel 3 piece in BLACK would be my perfect find. I'd pay a lot of money for that.

bk

i used to work in a vintage shop and we had quite a few SB notch lapel black european 30s jackets in. they were almost like tux jackets but without the satin lapels. stupidly i didn't buy one because i was super-tuned to 40s at the time and not interested.

i think the reason for the lack of black is that it was seen as the formal evening wear 'colour' and therefore your regular suit wanted to look different. i've also heard that the lack of black in american vintage is because of it's fascist overtones, but i'm not completely convinced by that.

 

[Senator Jack]

Furthering my point about death. My girl and I had gone to Greece some years ago and we surprised her aunt and uncle who still lived on a farm. My girl was wearing black, and when her aunt saw her - just turning up like that - the first thing she asked was 'Why are you dressed like the angel of death?' I could tell she thought my girl had appeared as some blonde Grim Reaper, and when we left I told her, 'You better hope no one passes away in the next few months.'

Yes, people still wear black to funerals (well, we do) but I don't think it has that same intense connection as it did for previous generations. But then again, if people had black suits for funerals, where are they?

Regards,

Senator Jack

 

[The Wingnut]

Somebody say forest green?

 

[Briscoeteque]

what is the vintage of it? I've never seen one in person ... in my size. The only one i've seen is constantly doing the rounds on eBay and is a merchant marine uniform. there was a black tweed one but it went too high for me.

I'd be interested in seeing more pics of yours. maybe in the current "show us yer suits" thread.

bk

The seller sold it to me as 40's, and I believe him. It came to me with a price tag from a vintage clothing store with "40's" on it, with a price tag of $200 dollars. Inside the suit there is a tag with no logo that says 'Expressly made for' and the rest is blank. There are no other tags on it, including no fabric care tags.

Unfortuneately, some of the seams are coming undone, I'll have my tailor look at it when she lengthens the sleeves. It almost looks to me like the lapels are so heavy they're pulling the seams to the collar!

As soon as I get my camera working and get a good oppurtunity, I'd post in the 'show us your suits thread', but all the digital pictures of me right now don't show my suits well at all. I've got 3 40's suits now, the black, a brown with white pinstripe, and a grey with a blue windowpane, and many more 50's and 60's stuff.