What to look for?

[MissQueenie]

Hey fellas, help a lady out here.

I'm looking for some sharp suits for the men in my life, but while they are keen to wear the threads, they are not so keen on helping me dig through piles of old clothes (go figure -- isn't that the best part?!). Can you folks offer me any advice regarding what to look for in a 30s-40s suit -- cuts, how many pieces (2 or 3?), fit, how to tell the difference between a true vintage suit and a similarly styled suit made in the 60s or 70s. It'd help a lot ya know, since I'm not exactly up to speed on all this boy stuff; as long as they look sharp and smell good, women don't normally care how men do it.

Except, well, in cases like this.

~ Queenie.

 

[Wild Root]

Vintage men’s suits are getting hard to find. I find them where ever I can. Most fine vintage shops in the Hollywood area have some. You should try Jet Rag and you’ll find a few there. In the 60’s and 70’s you’ll never find a suit that will look like a 30’s or 40’s suit! They’re just plane ICH!

You'll find more two pieces then three! Some were three pieces but have since lost the vest over the span of 60-70 years. If you do find a three piece, you're lucky! The three piece suit was very common in the 20's to the early 40's. But, after WWII most men wore two pieces and that depends on who the man was and where the man lived. Different strokes for different folks you know.

A man’s suit from the 30’s to the early 50’s will be heavy! And, will look like the ones you see in the old movies. Once you see a vintage man’s suit, you’ll know what I mean. There are plenty of threads in suits already that I have given advice on this matter. I’d advise you look them up and read over and view some of the photos that have been posted.

If you are unsure about men’s vintage still, I’d tell you to go to Play Clothes vintage in Studio City and ask to see a 40’s man’s suit. They can help you out! When you see it, feel the fabric, lift it and feel the weight. Look closely at the construction and cut. Also vintage men’s suits will have a union label in the inside pocket that will have a small copyright date like 1939 or 1949. Some will have a tailor tag with a date and name if you’re lucky.

Any way you look at it, it’s not as hard as you might think. Most men’s suits were made of the same fabric as the women’s suits of that time. If you can identify a women’s suit from the 40’s, you can sure do the same for a man’s suit!

Good luck!

Root.

 

[MissQueenie]

Thanks Root!

I'll definitely pour over some of the old threads here, and check out the places you mentioned. You're a saint

~ Queenie

 

[crazylegsmurphy]

Hey,

Do a search for posts by me. I am ALWAYS asking the same questions over and over until everyone snaps!

I had been asking what to look for-for months, and finally scored one....so there is a lot of info about whats what.

later.

 

[MissQueenie]

Thanks Legs!