Heavenly Madras Morning Suit Score

[HarpPlayerGene]

Got this for $35 at an antique mall over the weekend.

PLEASE, give me your opinions. Many of you know a vast amount more than I about these sorts of things. I could just tell it is quite heavy, well-made and obviously old.

Oh, and by odd coincidence, it FITS my 6',1" thin frame nearly perfectly.

Tag inside coat reads, "Men's Wear Specialists , Wrenn Bennett & Co. Ltd. , Madras".

Let's start with some detail on the trousers. (Not sure about what shirt to wear with this suit.)

More in next post...

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Here's the 'heavenly' part. It appears to me that the waist coat is particular to the clergy:

So here it is with frock coat and all:

More in next post...

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Both the coat and the waist coat have thread weakened from age, so a couple buttons were missing from sleeves when I got it - and a couple buttons have dropped off the waist coat from me fastening them. The suit has one small hole and a couple weak seams, but mostly it's in amazingly good condition. Fantastic construction throughout.

Details of coat:

One last post coming...

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

It happens that I have a vintage waist coat of a more typical style, so here's how the ensemble looks if I were to wear it to a function (of course, I'd have to sort out what shirt and neckwear is appropriate as well as procuring a topper, I suppose.):

 

[Dinerman]

By odd coincidence I took a photo of an old ad for a vest like that at an antique store today. Very cool. Wish I could find one like that.

 

[2manyhats]

Looks great on you Harp!

 

[dhermann1]

I hate you skinny bastards! Hate! Hate! Hate!!!! lol
But seriously, you look sharp as all get out in that suit. Perfect.
I thought you were referring to those actual Madras cloth cutaway coats that Brooks Bros came out with. There was an entire thread dedicated to them recently. Appalling.
This is a merely perfect suit. Presumably made in Madras, India. A relic of the British Raj, no doubt. I wonder how much fire and brimstome was vented from under that stiff collar.
Now you HAVE to get the topper to complete the look! And maybe a nice landau with a pair of fine white carriage horses.

 

[dhermann1]

Google is amazing, isn't it?
http://books.google.com/books?id=8W...#v=onepage&q=wrenn bennett and co ltd&f=false

And in case you need alterations:
http://chennai.justdial.com/wrenn-bennet-and-co-india-ltd_vwhehnkPjaq-ONXF.htm

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Google is amazing, isn't it?

Thanks for the kudos and links!!

 

[Tomasso]

I thought you were referring to those actual Madras cloth cutaway coats that Brooks Bros came out with.

Me too.


Nice rig, Gene. Not sure I could wear the preachers vest.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Me too.


Nice rig, Gene. Not sure I could wear the preachers vest.

Ha! Well, I'm quite SURE that I can't, but it's interesting anyway...

 

[Vintage lover]

My Lord, what a find lol In all seriousness, it's absolutely superb. I would wear a cravat with it, gray spats as well.

 

[cookie]

It happens that I have a vintage waist coat of a more typical style, so here's how the ensemble looks if I were to wear it to a function (of course, I'd have to sort out what shirt and neckwear is appropriate as well as procuring a topper, I suppose.):

Don't get curried away wearing that around town.....lol lol

 

[Chasseur]

:eusa_clap Very, very nice! Excellent find!

Add a high waisted waist coat, a french cuffed shirt with a spread collar, a McClesfield tie, a black silk topper and you'll be ready for Royal Ascot!


Or you can keep the Clerical waistcoat and dress like Jack Hawkins in "Zulu":

 

[Benny Holiday]

That's sure a neat fit, Gene. Hats, shoes, now morning suits - you've got an eye for the fine stuff bud!

 

[Edward]

My guess would be that this is either early Edwardian or late Victorian, the period in which men of a certain social class still dressed in formalwear daily basis. Much as a present day cleric will typically, outside of the corporate rituals, wear a lounge suit with a clerical shirt and collar, this would be a logical adaptation of the normal male formal style of the day.

For your own use, I'd suggest a formal wing collar shirt (most correct would be a separate collar, though I personally am happy with a suitably stiff attached collar for convenience) with single cuffs (the single cuff, well starched, designed to be used with cufflinks was traditionally considered a step more formal than a doubled over cuff). Cravat would be the most formal option with that, though a four in hand tie is also an option.

 

[Qirrel]

I would say 1890 to 1910 or thereabout. In the beginning of the 20th C. there was a shift towards peg-top style trousers. When less tapered trousers came into fashion again i think a clergy would be wearing a lounge suit instead of a morning coat.

 

[HarpPlayerGene]

Yes, in person this one has that decidedly 100+ years old vibe about it.

-----------------

Thank you all very much for the specific feedback/info. I'm thrilled to be the present custodian of this piece and I appreciate being able to share it here and learn from the members of The Lounge.

 

[Prof Branestawm]

Some clergy still wear rabats (clerical waistcoats) like that today - they also look rather smart with evening tails.

 

[Mario]

Gene - this is very, very good! :eusa_clap :eusa_clap

And I really dig those pants. I guess you had to sacrifice the cuffs for length?