Chester Cordite

[Edward]

www.chestercordite.com

Does anyone have any experience with these folks? I picked up a flyer last weekend, looks interesting. OTR Jermyn Street type money; wondering as to the quality of the cloth?

 

[Two Types]

The suits bear those ominous words 'wool blend' and the shirts are poly-cotton.

 

[Chrome]

Safari jacket is wool. Nice jacket, but safari jacket it isn't.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Not even close, and certainly no cigars.

These are, as always, simply modern jackets with slightly wider lapels. That does not a vintage style make. Another far Eastern take on tailoring.

 

[Edward]

Bums. I figured it was probably too good to be true...

 

[LoveMyHats2]

Taking a good peek at the trousers they make, I am half tempted to make a purchase of a pair of the black pinstripe for my Husband. He owns a few sports jackets those pants would go very well with. If I do buy a pair, I will sure post up some pictures and see how much quality they have. But if they are not wool or a wool silk blend, then I would not proceed in any purchase. We here in my home have a strict rule, nothing purchased from the likes of recycled plastic pop bottles. So most synthetic materials do not see use by us and neither of us finds synthetic very comfortable.

 

[Fastuni]

I am half tempted to make a purchase of a pair of the black pinstripe for my Husband. He owns a few sports jackets those pants would go very well with.

Are the sportcoats black pinstripe suit jackets? Even so - only if the pinstripes, color and cloth are absolutely identical would they work together. Otherwise solid-colored pants are certainly better for odd combinations.
Pinstripe trousers are (at least in a "golden era" appropriate sense) the hardest to combine garment.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Their trousers, IMO, are particularly bad. Absolutely NOTHING like 1940s trousers from any continent.

 

[Two Types]

Also, I looked at the weight of the cloths: the pinstripe double breasted suit is in a 10oz cloth. Not a very 'vintage' weight.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Yes, they look lightweight, too. Good for fancy dress parties, though! Get yourself a stick-on moustache and you're sorted.

 

[S.E.]

Hello Fedora Loungers, I have been lurking for a while and coming across this thread I thought I would sign up to contribute

As a noir fan I have found it difficult to find decent period menswear in larger sizes, so, having a background in the industry launched Chester Cordite, a small North London operation, working to bring some well-made period style, ‘off the rail’ the garments into the world. These suits are a modern take on classic styling with influences from the 30s and 40s.

Some of the points raised here have been taken on board and also addressed on the website; such as the ‘Safari’ jacket being more of a sports coat and it has been renamed.

The suit cloth has been specifically selected for the vintage feel, some are old stock discovered at a London fabric merchant and unfortunately they have lost their content composition information. We estimated the wool content on the pinstripes is 80%, after burn testing.

Regarding the cloth weight.
The black and grey pinstripes were originally weighed at 280 grams (10oz) per sq metre.
The weight of the cloth measured per running linear metre is 420 grams (15oz) which is why it may have initially seemed rather light.

Thanks for the feedback, it is good to have and appreciated from fellow enthusiasts and aficionados.

S.E.

 

[GHT]

Edward, did you ever buy anything from Chester Cordite? I'm seriously considering one of their suits for a wedding.
http://www.chestercordite.com/store/p91/single-breasted-pebble-grey-twill-suit.html

 

[Benny Holiday]

Some groovy-lookin' new suits added, beltbacks with pleated patch pockets.

http://www.chestercordite.com/store/c2/suits

 

[Edward]

Edward, did you ever buy anything from Chester Cordite? I'm seriously considering one of their suits for a wedding.
http://www.chestercordite.com/store/p91/single-breasted-pebble-grey-twill-suit.html

No, I held off on finding out about the cloth component. THat said, I have seem some bitssomeone elsed bought in more recent years that had addressed t least some of the concerns raised above.

Best similar option I've seen recently in the UK were those guys on Etsy making very nice 40s style DB suits for about £300, but unfortunately they were all in 100% cashmere, which I'm not convinced would last may wears with me, trouser-wise.