Smashing Suit in Mrs. Henderson Presents

[otterhound]

I just finished watching Mrs. Henderson Presents, which is a fantastic film about a London vaudeville house in the '30s. The fabulous Bob Hoskins wears a suit in the movie which I think may be my favorite period suit ever. Here it is:

This picture doesn't do it justice, because it is a shot from the side. If you were to see it from the front, you'd see that it's the waistcoat that makes the suit extraordinary.

The suit is a single-breasted, peak-lapelled brown pinstripe. It has a matching double-breasted, shawl-collar waistcoat. Unlike some of the other DB shawl collar waistcoats I've seen on the web (which are 8-button), this one was lower-slung, perhaps a 4-button. This allows the shawl collar to be considerably longer, which I think improves the waistcoat's drape to n-th degree.

Anyone else seen this movie or similar waistcoats?

 

[Benny Holiday]

Saw the movie and loved it

Mrs Holiday & myself took a trip into the City especially to see it at one of the indie movie theatres. That suit sure is something else. If it was reproduced from an original design by the film's wardrobe team, it's incredibly spot-on. You can clearly see the fabric is the heavier 14 or 16oz wool that Golden Era suits were made from.

I'd like to read more about the actual events that inspired the film. It was a great story and very well rendered and edited.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Below is a suit made by Dunhill Tailors in New York about 10 years ago. The lapels on the waistcoat are not shawl collared, but they are rather low-slung:

 

[otterhound]

I love that suit.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Then you'll love its trousers too

 

[otterhound]

Fabulous.

 

[rubyredlocks]

I loved the movie,not only were the clothes fantastic,but so was the hair and makeup.Though,MK is more of the period makeup guru than I,he'll have to let us know his thoughts as well.

 

[jitterbugdoll]

I found the ladies’ clothing, hair, and makeup to be spot-on, especially the scene where you see the close-up of the actress with the blue eye shadow. I have read several vintage magazine articles touting this shade as very of-the-moment for the late 1930s, and as a period makeup-fanatic, thought that scene was rather striking

 

[ArrowCollarMan]

That black pin-striped suit is nearly my dream suit! If only the coat was doulbe breasted, then it would be perfect! I do have a huge thing with the double breasted vests. I want one so badly!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

In the 1920s and '30s, wearing a double-breasted suit coat with a double-breasted vest was considered overkill. Today, Ralph Lauren's "Polo" line does make double-breasted suits with double-breased vests. Here's one that sold recently, and for a low price too:


http://cgi.ebay.com/Polo-Ralph-Laur...oryZ3002QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem


.

 

[Tomasso]

That's a beautiful suit, Marc.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Thanks! Might be a fun one for Indy Magnoli to reproduce.

.

 

[Indy Magnoli]

Might be a fun one for Indy Magnoli to reproduce.

I'm game... now I just need another guinea pig! :eusa_doh:

Kind regards,
Magnoli

 

[Marc Chevalier]

We're gonna have to figure out how to get this guinea pig business going in earnest. Ideas, anyone?

.

 

[otterhound]

Correction - It's a peak-lapel vest

On further examination of the Mrs. Henderson Presents DVD, I discovered that Bob Hoskins' brown suit actually has a peak-lapel vest, not the shawl collar I originally thought. The lapels are also really wide, extending to the armholes.

 

[scotrace]

.

Can you use Mr. Screen Cap?

 

[otterhound]

Can you use Mr. Screen Cap?

Oops, already mailed the movie back to NetFlix. What software to you use to do screen captures?

 

[Baggers]

PowerDVD does frame (screen) capture.

Cheers!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

On further examination of the Mrs. Henderson Presents DVD, I discovered that Bob Hoskins' brown suit actually has a peak-lapel vest, not the shawl collar I originally thought.

In other words, it looks like the Dunhill suit vest in the photo I provided?

.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

We're gonna have to figure out how to get this guinea pig business going in earnest. Ideas, anyone?

.

Be careful what ye plan, there!

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-2130421,00.html

bk