What is this Jacket

[chloe]

Can someone please tell me what sort of jacket this is. Does it belong to a suit? I have a bunch of pants with no jackets so maybe this goes to one of them. It has five smaller white button on the inside collar and a metal latch on the collar...I tried to get a pic of it. Thanks!

 

[Salv]

It's a Nehru jacket, named for the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru who wore this style of jacket.

Here's a photo of Nehru wearing one:

 

[chloe]

How old approximately? Thanks!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

they were big in the sixties. Think late beatles.

Could also be priestly garb? But i don't think so.

Buttonholes appear to be hand stitched.

May be earlier.

bk

 

[chloe]

I think the first gentleman was right. THe reason being is that this family was close to the prime minister of india. He attended my friends wedding here in NJ in the 1950. I have alot of close from india also. I am trying to piece these pieces together.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

It does look rather like the one the guy standing behind Nehru is wearing ...

bk

 

[nightandthecity]

this certainly looks like good quality stuff....

anyone know the origin of the Nehru jacket? I'm guessing its a civilianization of the old-fashioned high-collared British military tunic?

 

[BellyTank]

That's exactly what I was going to say, BK-
Nehru is actually wearing an Arjkan, a traditional, long pyjama style shirt, or tunic, worn usually with churidar, the tight-legged trousers with wrinkly ankles and an extra-enormously capacious crotch area- MC Hammer style but invisible.

I have a set.

The 'Nehru' jacket, or, more correctly, 'Nehru' collar, was plonked onto, a suit style jacket, for an 'Oriental' look.

Hideous-

B
T

 

[BellyTank]

That collar style is way older than anything to do with Britain.

It's a traditional Oriental/Eastern style.

If you look at illustrations from even the 15thC. you will see similar styles to what Nehru is wearing in the pic., above.

Check some pics of Sikh Gurus, Guru Gobind Singh, for instance, in his classical pose.

B
T

 

[Marc Chevalier]

It's so old, Superman's dad wore one. (When he was Brando.)

.

 

[chloe]

Is anyone familiar with vintage International clothes...what is this?
I'm sure it came from the Prime Minister. Thanks

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Looks like a caftan to me.

.

 

[chloe]

how about this silk chinese robe thing? anything to concern myself with?

 

[BellyTank]

Which Prime Minister..?

It's more Middle-Eastern, even the label says so.

The Chinese silk thing is Japanese- has a few typical Japanese motifs- the Heron for instance.

B
T

 

[chloe]

I believe it was Nehru. I have to find out if the wedding photo albums are still around lots of pics with him and his familty. It was a big deal in 1950 for the wedding it made the papers, news, etc. The streets were closed and special police protection etc.
I believe her Dad became friends with him...how I don't know. Her Dad was head of a local hospital here in NJ. She married into money...her husband and his family were from Venezuela and diplomats. A lifestyle which only the rich and famous enjoyed!!!

 

[chloe]

That's exactly what I was going to say, BK-
Nehru is actually wearing an Arjkan, a traditional, long pyjama style shirt, or tunic, worn usually with churidar, the tight-legged trousers with wrinkly ankles and an extra-enormously capacious crotch area- MC Hammer style but invisible.

I have a set.

The 'Nehru' jacket, or, more correctly, 'Nehru' collar, was plonked onto, a suit style jacket, for an 'Oriental' look.

Hideous-

B
T

What do you do with the buttons inside the collar? Do they serve a purpose...does something get attached to them?

 

[chloe]

Here are measurements on the Nehru: I hope they are right I followed a guide that was given to me....Ask Andy how to Measure.

Waist: 18"
Shoulder: 17"
Length: 28"
Sleeve: 23"

 

[BellyTank]

What do you do with the buttons inside the collar? Do they serve a purpose...does something get attached to them?

Could be for a button-in fake collar/collar liner, which shows a little above the jacket collar.

B
T