Oxford shirts?

[Mossyrock]

How "correct" are oxford shirts with button down collars for the mid 1930's?

 

[Fletch]

I don't think you saw them much outside upperclass WASP enclaves and occasionally the movies. They really didn't catch on until the 50s.

 

[Tomasso]

Cary Grant wore them with suits in the 30's, on and off screen.

 

[Forgotten Man]

Correct me if I'm wrong but, Bartenders isn't this a more "General Attire" question then for the suit room?

Oxford collars existed in the 30s, weren't seen as much in the working classes I'd have to say... then again, we can't really say for sure since we weren't there. We only can go off of original photos, movies and catalogs of the period. I have said this once and I'll say it again... if one wants to dress like they did in the 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s or even 60s, find your self old family photos and study them closely. Look at how they wore their clothes, and what they wore... some things today carry over but most things don't.

I'm not a real big fan of the Oxford collars my self, the darn buttons get in the way when I want to tie a tie. lol

Hope that helps.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

They've been worn with suits since the 1920s ... and were quite popular in the mid to late '30s, if Esquire illustrations and ads can be trusted.


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[Matt Deckard]

I don't know if they can Marc. I know I used to go to the library just to draw buttons on shirt collars.

 

[Tomasso]

 

[Marc Chevalier]

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From Apparel Arts, Fall 1934:

 

[Edward]

I don't know if they can Marc. I know I used to go to the library just to draw buttons on shirt collars.

lol


Sounds to me like the OP wants to wear the Oxford shirts (either by preference or because that is what is available), but also wants a fairly acurate 30s look.... IMHO, if they were available then, and you're not interested in a typical or common 30s look (assuming that, as is said above, they weren't common on the average man), then go for it. I like them myself, though I also tend to wear a collar bar with them too (which is, I know, a bit belt and braces...).

 

[Marc Chevalier]

... if they were available then, ... then go for it.

What do you mean by "if"? See here: http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showpost.php?p=820511&postcount=8


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[Marc Chevalier]

Ta daaaa ....

 

[Matt Deckard]

/\ Okay we need a caption contest.

Winner gets a ... well something

"Johnny... I swear I didn't eat that much at the Tam O' Shanter".

 

[dhermann1]

So, does this mean I now have to wear my button down collar shirts with no undershirt and the top 3 buttons unbuttoned? I'm not sure I can pull this look off convincingly.

 

[Matt Deckard]

So, does this mean I now have to wear my button down collar shirts with no undershirt and the top 3 buttons unbuttoned? I'm not sure I can pull this look off convincingly.

Is there another way to wear them?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

And with the collar points unbuttoned, too!


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[BruceTracy]

Ta daaaa ....

Caption entry:
"You have a lot more chest hair in this picture."

"I've been getting waxed"

 

[BruceTracy]

Ta daaaa ....

IIRC I've never seen suspenders like that before. Incidentally, is the story true that this scene, showing Gable not wearing an undershirt, caused a lot of men to stop wearing undershirts at that time?

 

[BruceTracy]

Is there another way to wear them?

You could fully unbutton it and put it on inside out.

 

[The Wolf]

Actually I believe it was the scene in It Happened One Night with Claudette Colbert that ruined the undershirt market.

Sincerely,
The Wolf

 

[Dr Doran]

"This note from the future says you shouldn't wear button-collars."

"Harumph. Better change the shirt then. Luckily I've already unbuttoned it."