History of the Belted back jacket?

[skillbilly]

I've seen some great example of this jacket both in the lounge and in film, which got me to thinking.
Does anyone know the history of this jacket?
When it first appeared?
How long was this trend lasted?
Was it considered to be more sportswear that business attire?

so many questions

 

[Marc Chevalier]

It evolved from a style of coat known as the "Norfolk jacket", whose belt extended all the way around to the front. Around World War I(?), military jackets began to appear with half belts in the back. As WWI ended, manufacturers of civilian clothing began to offer sporty suits with belted-back jackets.

Here in the U.S.A., the style was popular throughout the 1920s and most of the '30s. By 1940, however, the belted back was disappearing from suits and sportcoats. It lasted for a while longer on gabardine "Hollywood" ("Ricky") jackets, then pretty much disappeared until the early '70s, when it popped up again on polyester sportcoats and suits. (Remember those nasty polyester "Angel's Flight" suits made by Levi Strauss?)

The belted-back jacket or suit was considered sporty attire. It could be worn to work by certain professionals (such as reporters and theatrical agents) and not by others (such as bankers and lawyers).


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[skillbilly]

I remember leisure suits. Same thing?
I had a few of those as a child. Navy with burgandy stitching......

I wonder what the view of belted back jackets in todays work place would be?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I remember leisure suits. Same thing?

Not really. Leisure suits look more like '40s-'50s Ricky jackets with matching trousers.

Something like an ugly, double-knit polyester version of this '50s piece: http://cgi.ebay.com/RocknRoll-Pink-...8QQihZ013QQcategoryZ52394QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

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[Marc Chevalier]

I wonder what the view of belted back jackets in todays work place would be?

Frankly, it would be considered eccentric and perhaps inappropriate. Even in the '30s, bankers would never wear belted-back jackets to work.

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[Speedster]

Did the blazer exist as belted-back???

 

[Matt Deckard]

Well I think I might dissagree on bankers... well at least US bankers wearing belted back suits. Perhaps in the UK it would not be OK. In the US I can easily imagine a broker of banker sporting a pinstripe three piece to work behind a desk... late 30's West coast.


Too bad it's harder nowadays to find a good Norfolk suit. Back in the late 1800's they were pretty common even on the streets around town, though it was truly a sporting outfit, it caught on like the track suit with hip hoppers. Men riding Hi- Wheel bicycles and wearing norfolk suits... it must have been quite a sight.

 

[Absinthe_1900]

When advertising had some style:

 

[herringbonekid]

Frankly, it would be considered eccentric and perhaps inappropriate. Even in the '30s, bankers would never wear belted-back jackets to work..

would that be more or less appropriate than jeans, trainers and t-shirt ?
i suppose we need to define what sort of workplace, but i can't imagine anyone today, even in the smartest environment objecting, unless they thought you were OVER-dressed.

Well I think I might dissagree on bankers... well at least US bankers wearing belted back suits. Perhaps in the UK it would not be OK. In the US I can easily imagine a broker of banker sporting a pinstripe three piece to work behind a desk... late 30's West coast.

belt-back suits were still categorised as 'sport clothes' so i think their use as business attire would have been very rare, if not as Marc suggests, non-existent.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Did the blazer exist as belted-back???

If you're referring to the navy blue jacket with gold-colored buttons, then the answer is no. If you replace the brass buttons with navy blue or black plastic ones, then the answer is yes.


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[Speedster]

If you're referring to the navy blue jacket with gold-colored buttons, then the answer is no. If you replace the brass buttons with navy blue or black plastic ones, then the answer is yes.


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Thanks. I was referring to the navy blue jacket with gold-coloured buttons. I am on the lookout for a Blazer and i like the belt-back style jackets.

 

[Pembo]

"Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder"?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

"Absinthe makes the heart grow fonder"?

Ernest Dowson, the British poet, claimed that "absinthe makes the tart grow fonder."

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[Micawber]

I have several tweed belted back jackets that are part of sporting suits that I wear for shooting. The jackets also have belows 'action' shoulders to ease gun mount & swing.

 

[cookie]

When advertising had some style:

Banned for a hundred years - killed Oscar Wilde and now the new fashion drink!