Lapel buttonhole on wrong side of Bogart's suit

[shadowrider]

Hello gentlemen. I'm watching The Big Sleep (1946) and noticed Bogey is wearing, about halfway through the movie, a single breasted suit where his lapel buttonhole is on the right side. I've never seen that. Was that a period thing? Mistake on the tailor's part?

 

[Fastuni]

In my opinion just a quirky bespoke deviation from the rule.

 

[Edward]

Didn't Bogey wear his own suits on this? In which case, yes, I'd put it down to a bespoke deviation. I've heard of some guys who like to wear a flower on the right if they're wearing a pocket square, as otherwise they think it's too much all on one side.

 

[Fading Fast]

What's odd though is that since the lapel button hole evolved from the time when sport coats were true sporting / outdoor wear and there was a need to fully "button up" the jacket, the lapel button hole should be on the same side as the other button hole as a nod to its origins.

That's just my quirky drive for logic, to be fair, since no one uses that buttonhole (and there isn't even a matching button), it doesn't matter, but it still bugs me.

 

[MisterCairo]

Bogey being Bogey.

Works for me...

 

[Evan Everhart]

Hello gentlemen. I'm watching The Big Sleep (1946) and noticed Bogey is wearing, about halfway through the movie, a single breasted suit where his lapel buttonhole is on the right side. I've never seen that. Was that a period thing? Mistake on the tailor's part?

View attachment 55448

Hi, that may be an Oviat suit, if memory serves from a discussion in another section up here someplace. They were a clothing establishment in LA that Bogey frequented, and they were situated within the landmark Art Deco Oviat building, within which the Cicada club now operates. Look up Oviat on here, and you should find the appropriate discussions on this stuff. Good eye!