What about the classic White Suit?

[Wild Root]

My apologies, I am not quite sure what fabric I was thinking of...

James

No worries, it's quite alright... I'm sorry if I came off kind of rough... gabardine today is mostly polyester... so, it makes no sense to make an ivory suit out of modern gabardine today... but, if you find a good wool gab... it's all good!

Just here to help and make sure the truth is spoken.

=WR=

 

[Baron Kurtz]

http://www.juliensauctions.com/auctions/Autumn-2005-Auction/lot179.html

-dixon cannon

My dad had a suit just like that ...

bk

 

[Tomasso]

Root, It's All Good!

it makes no sense to make an ivory suit out of modern gabardine today... but, if you find a good wool gab... it's all good!

There's some great wool gaberdine out there. Available in white, as well.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

A 1940 COLOR photo of some guys wearing cream suits at a wedding. They could be Palm Beach Cloth, or perhaps a light gabardine:


http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/collections/cushman/full/P02647.jpg


.

 

[JamesT1]

No worries, it's quite alright... I'm sorry if I came off kind of rough... gabardine today is mostly polyester... so, it makes no sense to make an ivory suit out of modern gabardine today... but, if you find a good wool gab... it's all good!

Just here to help and make sure the truth is spoken.

=WR=

No harm done, I still wish I could think of the fabric I had confused with gabardine.

James

 

[Tomasso]

Fresco?

I still wish I could think of the fabric I had confused with gabardine.

Wool fresco is the quintessential summer suiting.

 

[Wild Root]

Wool fresco is the quintessential summer suiting.

Say, I have a coat made of that stuff I think... is it kind of light weight but, tough? It's kind of itchy, tough and well... cool to wear? I kind of like that fabric... it's very hard stuff but, it does breath well.

=WR=

 

[Marc Chevalier]

This is (and was) also called "tropical worsted" wool.


.

 

[Wild Root]

No harm done, I still wish I could think of the fabric I had confused with gabardine.

James

Hey, I think I know what you have in mind... is it Blue serge? That stuff doesn't breath much at all and it's kind of like gabardine... and if you slide around on your butt, the seat gets real glossy. lol

=WR=

 

[JamesT1]

I think I was thinking fabric weights and confused myself.

As for blue serge, it is almost impossible to keep the stuff in good condition.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

And old, used blue serge tends to be VERY shiny from frequent pressings. Looks awful.

.

 

[Wild Root]

Yes, it doesn't have very much going for it but, it is a very tough fabric!

=WR=

 

[Vermifuge]

I know this is more of a vintage site, but i thought i would chime in and point out the zootsuitstore.com makes a "white Suit" and a classic dinner jacket.

 

[Forrestal]

Just as an FYI.

I believe Sam Clemens suits were not really white, but the lightest of gray. It is mentioned to be such many times in newspaper reports of the day including the New York Times report of 12-10-1889.

Even in a letter written to his wife Livy, Clemens comments on dressing for the evening in "the lightest of gray suite".

In photos taken from December 1989 when he started wearing this type of suite, until his death, it appears white. However, if you ever get a chance to visit Hannibal, Missouri, go to the boyhood home and museum and you can see that they’re light gray

Regards,

Forrestal

 

[cookie]

This one isn't white, it's definitely the cream that Marc speaks of. It's also a very unusual herringbone Palm Beach fabric. Never seen any other like it, although I've heard rumors of other herringbone PB suits. The fabric is almost a gauze, and the slightest breeze goes right through it.

Interestingly I was looking at eBay and Palm Beach fabrics. A woman had some interesting fabric for sale and informed me her great grandfather had worked as the colour guy at Goodalls in Maine and how that great institution just evaoprated and died after being the heart and soul of the Maine fabric industry. Of course the same thing happened in Australia in Victoria as everything migrated to Italy and now China. I cannot believe that the Goodall Palm Beach fabric cannot be replicated by somebody and brought back to life.

 

[PADDY]

Summer has shown its face (flittingly) in my Summer Room (photos)

"The sun has got his hat on...HIP-HIP-HIP-HOORAAAAY..."

I feel like an extra in The Painted Veil or Out of Africa!! as long as the sun keeps shining!

I had a very rare opportunity for March to delve into my old blanket box and don my 1930's cream linen DB belt back summer suit today.
Stats: Unlined with 6x4 mother of pearl button config. Two front patch pockets with internal ticket holder. Belted back.
Pocket watch/or change holder in my case to the front of the pants. Two back unbuttoned pockets. 1 1/2" cuffs to pants.
I have an old original Plantation Chair in mahogany in the Summer Room which is great to stretch out on like an old colonial watching the birds in the garden.

For Reference:

Shirt: Florence and Fred spear tipped collar shirt (from George of Asda - UK)
Tie: Claret coloured silk.
Socks: Cream and grey Argyles from Wolsey of England.
Shoes: Vintage cream and tans.
Panama: Failsworth Hatters, England.

NEXT ACCESSORY: Been on the lookout for a roundish pair of sunglasses to top it off for the summer. Think I'll have to settle for some John Lennonish ones which look pretty 30'ish, just without the nice wire legs around the ears.

 

[PADDY]

Be good to see more photos of member's summer suits

If you have a vintage summer suit, then it would be great to see some photos of 'you' sporting it

Let's start bringing a bit of that vintage summer sunshine into the Lounge here :eusa_clap

 

[Mr. Rover]

Dang! That is a sharp colonial look for you, Paddy! I'm envious of you- I was outbid on an auction on eBay for a DB 6x2 Palm Beach suit just 2 weeks ago.

To compare: my Sam's Tailor oatmeal linen belt-back, vtg. ca. April 2007. Shirt by Sam's Tailor with special lower, longer point collar, post-war Arrow tie, J. Crew off-white bucks.

On the beach on Long Island, New York on the threshold of a storm:
Blazer- 4x1 early 50s,natural canvas Keds Triumphs, linen slacks.

Not white, but another option for summertime- the wool fresco. I'm wearing a 1933 dated wool fresco herringbone amonst the other well-dressed NYC gents. Photo from Feraud, taken by MrBern

Same early 30s Mallory- starting to show wear in the sweatband. Anybody know who can install a whipstitched sweatband? Art doesn't have the machinery, unfortunately.

 

[Orgetorix]

Same early 30s Mallory- starting to show wear in the sweatband. Anybody know who can install a whipstitched sweatband? Art doesn't have the machinery, unfortunately.

If I ever manage to get to Batsakes in Cincinnati, I'll ask Gus Miller if he can do it. I tried to go last weekend, but got there a few minutes after he closed up.

 

[Dixon Cannon]

Here's mine!

with trousers to match.

-dixon cannon