The Holy Grail of Suits

[Veronica Parra]

Here it is, gentlemen: a late 1920s or early 1930s vintage men?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s suit that has it all.


-- The jacket is single-breasted with peak lapels and a multi-pleated action back that?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s belted.

-- The vest is double-breasted, with peak lapels and pleats.

-- The trousers have British-style inverse pleats and a button fly. (See photos below.)



The problem? It?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s incredibly small: about a 36 or 37 R.


If I knew a very good tailor, I would purchase this suit (no, it's not mine) and have him/her copy it in my size.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Wow. And in my size (pretty much) ...

And where would that be on sale? Some of us smaller chaps might just be interested ...

bk

 

[Baron Kurtz]

okay, i found it.

My word. I'm in heaven. What a suit.

 

[Mr. Rover]

I saw that suit about 3 hours ago, just my size.
And here I was, hoping no one else would spot it. Now that it's on here, the price is going to jump a mile.

 

[Zach R.]

Thats why it is always best not to post ANY information about an auction until it ends.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Thats why it is always best not to post ANY information about an auction until it ends.

quite right, but i think this one's pretty hard to miss.

Funnily enough i was watching one of the old Sherlock Holmes episodes from the 50s with Ronald Howard (son of Leslie) yesterday, and he was wearing a three piece almost exactly like this one. I thought to myself: "Please, Lord, send one of those my way ...". That's right, people, taking the lord's name in vain does actually work sometimes

The only other suit i've seen like this was in a vintage store in San Francisco. It was made of lightish grey Donegal Tweed, but it was pretty nearly an exact replica of this one, patch pockets and all (i believe the waistcoat was SB). And it was in my size (but $600 !!!!). I'm hopeful this one won't go too nuts on the price

bk

 

[Nathan Flowers]

.

Good luck purchasing that suit now that you've posted it here before the auction was over, Veronica.

 

[Veronica Parra]

Good luck purchasing that suit now that you've posted it here before the auction was over, Veronica.

Thank you for your best wishes, Zohar! Too bad they're misplaced:


You see, I never intended to purchase the suit. As I said in my first post, I don't know a good enough tailor to copy it in my size, so ... I won't buy it.

Did I reveal anything about who owned the suit, or where it was being sold? NO, I didn't.


Let's look at the history of this thread:

-- I showed the suit, said it wasn't mine and that I wouldn't be buying it.

-- One person here publically asked me where the suit was for sale. I did not respond to the question, either publically or privately.

-- Two people here said they had found it.

-- Someone else here said that it was being auctioned.

Now that it's on here, the price is going to jump a mile.

If you think that this suit would have sold for a cheap price otherwise, you're mistaken. In my selling experience, viewers of the Fedora Lounge almost never bid high enough to win the rarest, most coveted 1930s suits on eBay. Folks who do are generally from Europe or Japan, and the ones who have won my auctions have told me (after I've asked them) that they don't know about the Fedora Lounge.

(Male) folks in the Lounge focus on hats; that's where their money goes.



You can quit your griping, now, Zohar. Isn't that a relief?

 

[Wild Root]

It's going to fit me perfect.

You know, this suit may only fit Ray. I hope he can win this! It'd be nice to see it go to a member here!

I feel that no link or mention of where this auction is needs be mentioned! It's almost a given that a suit like this would be on ebay. Also, most of the members here don't buy vintage because it does get overpriced and is 90% too small for the members who would to buy vintage. Money is always the factor as well. But, you know the old line: Money talks, BS walks.

Marc and Veronica, you didn't mention any info on this suit other then the photos however, lets not insult the intelligence of the members here OK?

Let?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s keep this civil O.K. guys?

Kind regards,
=WR=

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Let?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s keep this civil O.K. guys?

Indeed. I suggest discussion of the suit itself. That's what we're here for, right? And i'm sure that was the original intention of the thread.

It reminds me of "the suit for the young man" from about 1931-32. Someone in another thread (It may even have been Wild Root) posted some scans of catalogue pages showing suits very similar to this one. Any chance of seeing those scans again?

What about the waistcoat? I've never seen one with the front pleats like that, but as i said in an earlier post, i've not seen many suits of quite this era up-close, as it were. Was this a common waistcoat style for early-ish suits like this? The lapels on the waistcoat are great, too.

bk

 

[Veronica Parra]

What about the waistcoat? I've never seen one with the front pleats like that.

Here's another waistcoat from a '30s double-breasted suit. Note the pleats:

 

[Veronica Parra]

In the spirit of domestic tranquillity, I offer photos of a suit that is no longer being sold by anyone in any way anywhere.

I repeat: not for sale. Not available. Rest easy, folks.

In any case, it's almost a Holy Grail of suits. The pictures speak for themselves.

 

[Wild Root]

Marc and Veronica, those are some nice images of suits. I think we are all well a wear of these suits rarity and the fact that they are no longer being made lends them to costing about the same price as a modern off the rack suit. They are still cheaper then a tailor made suit (Also seeing most tailors can?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t do it right any way) it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s better to drop a little cash on an original piece but, not all of us are so lucky to find them in large sizes. Maybe I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢m misreading things but, I sense a touch of spite in your remarks. I could be wrong or miss interpreting your words but, it?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s coming off a little abrasive to me.

Every beautiful belted/pleated suit I have seen posted on here have all been 36R-39R! So, good luck to those who are of those sizes and may the best man win the current auctions and auctions to come for these rare survivors of the 1930?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s! They shouldn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t be viewed as used clothes any longer! They are over 70 years old most of them and I would consider them antique! For any member here who may fit these suits and that have the extra cash to spend on one, I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢d encourage them to do so. If you find that the suit doesn?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t fit, you?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ll not lose any money on your investments! They are the Duesenberg?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s of vintage clothes. Rare to see, and expensive to acquire!

Yes, those were my scans you saw. I?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢ll send them to ya if you?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢d like. I don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t think any one else would want to see them again.

Suits like this were common in the mid 30?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s to even 1940! They were a youthful style and were worn by the lucky young men who were fortunate to have money at that time.

This suit is great indeed! The pleats on the vest, the double breasted nature of it and the pleated pants are just fabulous! The coat is nice with its basic belted back and patch pockets. I have seen fancier coats thought and would have thought that this one would have had more pleat work on the back and maybe have been yoked.

A friend of mine found a three piece suit that just about killed every one! He found it in Santa Monica once at a vintage expo. It was dark brown, double breasted, with a gold windowpane pattern. It was a three piece; double breasted vest with peaked lapels, pants had inverse pleats as well! The coat was what made this suit special! It had FOUR pleated patch pockets with flaps and buttoned closures! The back of this coat had some very intricate pleat work as well! It was about a size 36R.

I wish I had some photos of this suit to share!

=WR=

 

[Veronica Parra]

Zohar got my goat, s'all.

 

[Wild Root]

Ok, that being said, I hope we can continue this thread on a happier note.

I love to talk about suits and these beautiful rare gems we know and find from time to time. I just want every one to enjoy it as much as we do! Over the weekend I have meet some very nice members from New York and Canada! They want vintage badly! But, they have the same problem as I do! We?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢re Viking sized! Don?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢t ask me how I was so lucky to find stuff that fits me but, I did and I wish the entire over sized male population I know the best of luck in locating original vintage.

Here is a smart chart to see some of the greatest belted back coat, vest and pant designs offered by some tailors of the 30?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s.

Enjoy.

 

[Indy Magnoli]

Although I posted this in the "Calling All Tailors" thread, I thought I'd mention it here... if anyone would like to have the suit posted at the top of this thread tailor made, I'll offer it to the first "guinea pig" for only $375. If anyone is interested in this particular suit, which I would love to add to my site, e-mail or PM me. Thanks and

Kind regards,
Indy

 

[Veronica Parra]

Here is a smart chart to see some of the greatest belted back coat, vest and pant designs offered by some tailors of the 30?¢‚Ǩ‚Ñ¢s.

That is the Holy Grail of charts, Root. It should be permanently posted somewhere in the Lounge so that we can look it up whenever we wish.

** Could you also post the chart page that shows the front styles of these coats? **


Hat charts and shoe charts would be useful, too. Something to consider!



Thanks as always, Root, for selflessly sharing what you've acquired and learned.

 

[BellyTank]

Hey! Marc/Veronica...

...gimme a close up and an explanation of the 'collar bar' thingy- I can't quite figure it out...

Thanks-

B
T

 

[Wild Root]

I'm glad you two like the chart. I wish it had a front view of these coats. I haven't found any of fronts, just backs of coats.

I'm more then happy to share my goods with you all here! I enjoy it more when others enjoy it with me.

I'll continue to post whatever I find on this matter!

=WR=

 

[Nathan Flowers]

You're right, I'll quit my griping. You agree to act like a lady, and I'll act like a gentleman from here on out.

Cheers,
Z