Vintage Guilty Pleasures?

[Captain Lex]

As sort of a counterpoint to this thread, what items of vintage clothing do you admire, despite others (or yourself) telling you they're hopelessly gauche?

For me? The sort of corduroy business-casual leisure suits popular in the '70s as exemplified for me by Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman in All the President's Men:

Screencaps of both of them at their harried best are not forthcoming; but I especially love the collar-over-the-lapels look.

So how about you guys?

 

[Twill]

Sock Garters. I love them.
Also, it didn't hurt that my girlfriend at the time when I got into them thought they were hot.

Ascots/cravats. Flair... just pure flair.

Loud socks.

Also, I was unaware that bow ties were considered garish until I read that thread you linked to. I wear bow ties almost everyday, so I suppose I should mention that as well.

 

[Undertow]

Love sock garters but can't find a proper pair that don't cost a...forgive the pun...arm and leg.

I don't think bow ties and suspenders are lame, but apparently everyone else in the modern world does. Regardless, love them.

Costume jewelry quality cufflinks. You know the ones; those nasty things from the 60's and 70's with bright "jewels" and garish wrap around links.

Loud socks are amazing. Can't ever find anything in my size (14) that isn't ridiculously expensive. (They're socks, for goodness sake, not handstitched silk foot-robes.)

Florsheims...the new ones. lol Well, only a few of their newer line. I have a pair of their Veblen's in bone that I really like.

Obnoxious pocket squares. Enough said.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

I've always been a fan of that, too. No idea why, as I think most of the 70's stuff looks very outlandish.

I especially love the collar-over-the-lapels look.

Bow ties and suspenders are both cool, though I can't bring myself to wear them.

Loud socks are also awesome!

I don't think bow ties and suspenders are lame, but apparently everyone else in the modern world does. Regardless, love them.

Loud socks are amazing. Can't ever find anything in my size (14) that isn't ridiculously expensive. (They're socks, for goodness sake, not handstitched silk foot-robes.)

 

[Undertow]

Here's a picture of those cufflinks. How can't I like them? That's the question...

 

[Chasseur]

Nothing really tacky, but stuff I really do not have a good reason to wear and that looks a bit odd frankly on this side of the pond (and more so in the middle of the Pacific):

Tailcoats of both the morning dress and white tie varieties. Really it was the tailcoat that brough me into vintage clothing. I guess too much time watching old movies with my mom when I little but I wanted a set of white tie and tails when I was about 5 or 6...

Country/shooting clothing like heavy tweed plus fours, shooting jackets, long socks, etc.

 

[Two Types]

White trousers with white shoes: My normal clothing is rather subdued and my wife tends not to comment on my clothes. But she thinks white trousers are too much. Then, when I walk around in my area (suburban London) people look at me as if I am wearing something truly outlandish (despite the fact that load of people will be wearing white track suits and there will be plenty of Africans wearing shiny white suits or full white robes). But I love the summer sports look.

 

[herringbonekid]

i'm a bit confused by the opening question of this thread. are you asking:

-what items do i secretly like (but don't own) despite them being 'bad taste' (but would wear them if i had a secret identity).

or

-what items do i own and wear despite others telling me they are bad taste.

 

[Shangas]

Anyone on this forum who knows me, will know that it has to be a nice waistcoat.

 

[Captain Lex]

herringbonekid: feel free to answer either--or both--interpretations of the question.

 

[herringbonekid]

herringbonekid: feel free to answer either--or both--interpretations of the question.

well i don't own anything 'bad taste' so can't answer that one.

however, although i'd never wear it, i can't help but admire the chutzpah that went into the creation of a jacket like this by Tommy Nutter, the late rebel of Savile Row:

perhaps it's because it takes the 30s belt-back features that i like and exaggerates them to the point of no return ?
it almost seems inevitable that someone had to push things this far, and that person was Tommy Nutter.

 

[DesertDan]

I'll second the corduroy suit, I had one back in the day.
Still love "cords" and could probably get away with wearing pin-wale slacks, at least in the winter...hmmm.

 

[Captain Lex]

HBK: That thing is AMAZING, though I can't see myself wearing it except for going clay-pigeon shooting in England. I find it unlikely anyone within a Saville Row tailor's price range is the market for such a creation.

 

[Gene]

I absolutely love these sportcoats, I'll make no bones about it

 

[Gin&Tonics]

What I find fascinating about this thread is that it seems to highlight the elusive and mysterious fine line between bad taste and flair/chutzpah/boldness/whateveryouwanacallit. It seems that for some people, a certain style, color arrangement or item is just hopelessly tacky and lame, yet somehow others might wear it in just the right way, with just the right accoutrements or with just the right attitude and pull it off with fantastic style.

Yet it seems that there is a murky zone where we have gone beyond the pale and once that line is crossed, we are well and truly mired in the land of horrible groan inducing tackyness.

 

[AtomicEraTom]

I thought Draper was one of those guys who could pull off any type of jacket, but this episode proved me wayy wrong lol

I absolutely love these sportcoats, I'll make no bones about it

 

[Gene]

I thought Draper was one of those guys who could pull off any type of jacket, but this episode proved me wayy wrong lol

His jacket in particular is awesome!

 

[AtomicEraTom]

I actually like the jacket, it just isn't 'Don' to me. Perhaps it's all those grey suits he wears!

His jacket in particular is awesome!

 

[herringbonekid]

I thought Draper was one of those guys who could pull off any type of jacket, but this episode proved me wayy wrong lol

that type of classically handsome masculine face is actually quite limiting. try to picture Don in the Tommy Nutter jacket above and you'll see what i mean. Mick Jagger, with his more unconventional face and long hair could wear it, but Don couldn't.

 

[esteban68]

Here's a picture of those cufflinks. How can't I like them? That's the question...

Ihave a square pair with a smokey amber coloured stone, I love em and everyone else always comments on them, soooooo tacky 60's 70's kitsch but everybody loves them, they look really great with my 1968 18ct Omega Constellation! no really they do.
other pleasures well I love velvet jackets but own none, cord suits and especially safari suits oh and sheepskin coats...the velvet jacket thing I can pin down to being very small and at pre school, I seem to remember being ill and getting to lie down in the school nurses room on the couch next to her desk/chair she had a burgundy/red? velvet jacket hung over the chair and I remember stroking the jacket as she fussed over me...it's stayed with me for life...I must get a velvet jacket soon....I nearly bought a bottle green velvet suit last year from 'Space' in Harrogate but it was too small!