1920s suits

[Two Types]

A couple of years ago, who'd have thought there be more discussions of pre-1930 suits than any other period here on the FL?

How things have changed.

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Yes. I think some TV series and the sydney mugshots helped to raise some interest.
Plus a lot of 30s-40s people left the Lounge. There is some of them on Facebook now. But even there the 1920s get more attention.
"People come, people go. Nothing ever happens."

 

[Fastuni]

I think it may have to do with 30-40's clothes being widely discussed here already.
The older stuff provides occasion to find hitherto less noticed details and therefore new discussions.

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Jack Trevor, 1928-9:

I like this one. Looks like a perfect suit/outfit. Maybe there are no odd details, bells and whistles but I don't think it is boring.

 

[herringbonekid]

Maybe there are no odd details, bells and whistles but I don't think it is boring.

agreed. i love the lapels. the fabric looks like a tight, heavy worsted; better for a minimal elegant suit rather than a feature-heavy sporty suit.



Maurice Ravel, 1925:

 

[Fastuni]

The last one is very lovely. I wonder what color it was.

 

[Qirrel]

And the lapel on the first one. Mmmm.

 

[DamianM]

I like this one. Looks like a perfect suit/outfit. Maybe there are no odd details, bells and whistles but I don't think it is boring.

True. No bells and whistles but its the cut and cloth that make it so perfect.

 

[herringbonekid]

today we often bemoan the fact that the sexes dress too alike, especially in youth sub-cults where the clothes are often completely unisex.
well, they worried about it in the 20s too:

 

[herringbonekid]

HBK: you are right about female fashions from the twenties. I cannot abide the flapper look.

depends if you only mean 'flapper' as beaded dresses and headbands. there was much more to flapper fashion, and it was more of an attitude than a specific dress code.
these young ladies are all 'flappers':

Louise Brooks was a flapper:

as were the wearers of more 'mannish' styles:

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

The illustration and the last photo show the influence of sportswear on the gender thingy. Having time for leisure did change quite a few things.

I find it interesting that at the same time as the "mannish" styles for flappers the men's suits were also more feminine (small shoulders, nipped waist). I wonder if this was a coincidence.

 

[herringbonekid]

I find it interesting that at the same time as the "mannish" styles for flappers the men's suits were also more feminine (small shoulders, nipped waist). I wonder if this was a coincidence.

i think it was something 'in the air'. the late teens and early 20s idealised a type of youthful, pretty boy (some theorists think it was in part a lament for the lost young men of WW1).
then there were men in eye-make up and powder for silent cinema. and (slightly later) there were the gender-bending 'bright young things' in England. but really i think it was all just the spirit of the times; the loosening of morals that came with the jazz age.

 

[Two Types]

depends if you only mean 'flapper' as beaded dresses and headbands.

I'm not that much of a fan of female clothing from the twenties anyway (I prefer more of a 'womanly' look, chest - waist -hips etc, a bit of sauce and swagger, you might say). I suppose I am specifically referring to the 1920s/flapper beaded dress, headband look, especially more modern reinterpretations of that look.

 

[Two Types]

i think it was something 'in the air'. the late teens and early 20s idealised a type of youthful, pretty boy (some theorists think it was in part a lament for the lost young men of WW1).
then there were men in eye-make and powder up for silent cinema. and (slightly later) there were the gender-bending 'bright young things' in England. but really i think it was all just the spirit of the times; the loosening of morals that came with the jazz age.

This is covered in Jon Savage's book 'Teenage': he refers to how the cinematic influences included men such as Rudolph Valentino, whose male fans were highly influenced by his look. It's a book that's well worth reading.

 

[herringbonekid]

It's a book that's well worth reading.

i recommend it too.

 

[Two Types]

i recommend it too.

A documentary based on his book is showing at the BFI on the 22nd, with a 'Q&A' session with Jon Savage following the screening. Myself and Barmey have got tickets for the event.

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Dada group 1922

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Quite some cool suits in the early René Clair movies

Excerpt from La Proie du Vent (1927) Look at that fabric! Beltback too.
[video=youtube_share;JcPCUIjRuY0]http://youtu.be/JcPCUIjRuY0[/video]

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Paris qui dort (1925) is a full short movie. It's silent so never mind the french and russian title. The story is charming and there are quite some beltback / norfolk variations. HBK will love this.
[video=youtube_share;BYm4WKa4LJo]http://youtu.be/BYm4WKa4LJo[/video]

 

[herringbonekid]

interesting films Floey, thanks for posting.

more dadaists (and/or surrealists) 1921:

don't know who these are: