Show us your suits

[mikepara]

Those would be copies of Apparel Arts, right? I haven't seen any Esquire's Encyclopaedias for sale for a while. The ones on amazon range from $415-$2,143.

I got a photocopy of the pre-70s pages.

bk

just picked one up for £5.00 Great or what!

 

[Jovan]

It's actually not all that uncommon for hats to shrink a bit. You can stretch them back out with a hat stretcher like this one.

That would explain a tonne. My hat is just a bit tight, and easily slips off. Here it is, in action.

While I'm here, I thought I should show my Matt Deckard avatar homage.

I suppose the shirt pattern isn't very Golden Era, though I thought the tie might work for you guys. I usually don't wear it all that much, save for interviews that require conservative attire.

Before I get the thread too fftopic:, back to the suits!

 

[Matt Deckard]

I do like the double breasteds guys... companies need to start putting them back on the racks, though that would mean brining back fit as well...

Jovan, you look good in hats.

 

[Jovan]

Thanks. That one isn't the greatest quality, but I thought it looked smart. I'd be a bit self conscious to go out in public wearing it, because I'm always reminded of the episode of Seinfeld where Jerry makes an "Indiana Jones" remark about George's new brown fedora.

 

[Rooster]

Thanks. That one isn't the greatest quality, but I thought it looked smart. I'd be a bit self conscious to go out in public wearing it, because I'm always reminded of the episode of Seinfeld where Jerry makes an "Indiana Jones" remark about George's new brown fedora.

That's one thing you worry about at your age, what other people may think. Now that I'm an eccentric funny looking older fellow, I'm not concerned so much what other peole may think anymore. Which is great, because I can wear loud plaid suits and Tom Mix styled cowboy hats and not have a care in the world....

 

[mikepara]

Agree...

One of the better things about growing up is not giving a hoot about peer pressure.

 

[Jovan]

I could do that, except I prefer the muted stylings of James Bond a la Connery. I always loved how the cut of his suits, (the "Conduit cut" as per the street his tailor worked on) and shirts made an impact, rather than what colours he wore. He could be wearing a standard grey worsted with black tie and white shirt with black shoes and still look stunning. But alas, this is a subject for another thread.

Point is, it's not that I don't have the confidence to wear louder things, it's just not my style. [huh] As for the hat, I guess I could give that a try sometime and just ignore the rude passersby... of which there are a lot in this college town.

 

[Benny Holiday]

What hat are you wearing in the DB suit pix? I like it a lot.

It's an Akubra Stylemaster, Fletch. I ordered it especially with the contrasting black ribbon from Everything Australian. Incidentally offtopic: ), I ordered a bluegasss green Stylemaster from them a month ago. There's a three month wait on that colour, but in due time we'll have an answer to what that colour looks like!

Upr Crust, you are too kind, sir! You have an exceptional wardrobe!

 

[upr_crust]

Too Kind? Hardly - accurate, certainly in terms of . . .

. . . chronology (you are many years my junior), and as for our respective levels of handsomeness, I leave that to the disinterested bystanders .

I will be curious to see your bluegrass green Stylemaster - I have a dark green fedora myself, which I wear with camel or brown overcoats. I find the combo stylish and attractive. Best of luck with your new hat.

It's an Akubra Stylemaster, Fletch. I ordered it especially with the contrasting black ribbon from Everything Australian. Incidentally offtopic: ), I ordered a bluegasss green Stylemaster from them a month ago. There's a three month wait on that colour, but in due time we'll have an answer to what that colour looks like!

Upr Crust, you are too kind, sir! You have an exceptional wardrobe!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Here's one just about to go to mothballs for the summer months. It's a very heavy tweed - someone's wedding suit from 1949 (the only suit i've ever felt really bad about getting for pennies. it was clearly a well loved family heirloom , and the person had to sell it).

here she is, diagonal brown/taupe striped tweed. the shoulders are really too big so until i get it altered i can't wear the jacket really. But it's definitely one to get altered! This is a keeper.

The fabric:

Full length. Jacket wide in the shoulders and big through the chest.

Better detail of the jacket. It's a 3-button front with patch hip pockets but standard breast pocket.

Waistcoat and trousers.

bk

 

[Baron Kurtz]

^^ that one ^^ i've had for a long time, just never got around to posting it.

This one i've just brought into the fold. And unbelievably, it's actually too small for me. See how tight it is when i fasten the jacket. I can barely fasten up the waistcoat, but it seems like both the jacket and waistcoat have been made smaller though the chest and waist at some time. And i'm carrying a few too many pounds around the waist right now so it's even tighter than it should be. It was made in 1940 by a tailor in Portland, OR.

It's that same incredible teal green colour as one that wingnut posted a while ago. great stuff . . .

bk

 

[herringbonekid]

very nice suits BK.
that tweed jacket looks like it would fit me perfectly !
(trousers wouldn't though)

are you going to try and let out the teal one in the chest ?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

hbk, yes i'll be taking out the jacket in the chest and waist, and the waistcoat too. I might even get bold and do it myself. eek.

The tweed jacket has 18.75" shoulders. Those, i'll need to get professionally reduced. Know any good alterations tailors around here?

bk

 

[herringbonekid]

i've never used an alterations tailor in London i'm afraid, only in Brighton.

 

[GBR]

As a guide how high above the navel are these?

They look stunning.

Here's the suit i got from Bertie Wooster last week. Dated 23-3-54, a wonderful British tweed, proving how hard it is to date a suit by cut alone. This cut would have been seen at all times between the 30s and 60s. I shortened the legs a tad - without trimming off any fabric, of course.

Here's the fabric of the suit; A double windowpane in white and blue on top of a standard light-ish brown tweed (light colour, that is, this is super heavy fabric).

And here's how it looks on. I think i got the legs to a good length, eh? As always the arms are too long, but there's plenty fabric to shorten 'em.

And do you like high waisted trousers? I certainly do, and these are a pair of lower rib huggers!

The classic British back to the trousers:

Looking at the pic above, i should say that for some reason i dopped my right shoulder. The legs really do both end at the same point of the shoe (note the left one looks shorter in the last image). Whoops, i need a haircut, too.

bk

 

[Feraud]

a couple of modern suits.
Linen double breasted for the summer

#2

 

[upr_crust]

Speaking of summerweight D/B suits . . . .

. . . my D/B Polo, bought for a formal wedding some six years ago. Possibly not retro enough for this forum, but an attractive suit (IMHO) and very lightweight.

 

[Feraud]

. . . my D/B Polo, bought for a formal wedding some six years ago. Possibly not retro enough for this forum, but an attractive suit (IMHO) and very lightweight.

It is double breasted. What is not to love?

Are we that critical? Wait, do not answer that!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

As a guide how high above the navel are these?

In front they're 3" above the navel. Rising about another 1.5" in the back.

bk

 

[RAF Man]

Certainly has the look about it, and would be pleased to own it myself.