Vests

[zeus36]

I have a question aout vests, is there a practicle use for labels on a vest.

Just watch a few episodes of "The Wild Wild West" and see how useful the backs of those lapels can be. Jim West kept a lockpick in his jacket lapel on the matador jacket, but that could be duplicated on a vest lapel if you sewed on a piece of material.

Like maybe a handcuff key that you could pull out with your teeth....???

or a small pen, pipe tool, cigar cutter, wood matches, toothpicks, etc...

 

[Badluck Brody]

When did vests start to fade out?

I was watching LA Confidential and I noticed that hat's weren't worn often and vests wern't really worn at all. I know it's a sore subject about when hats started to fall from favor. But when did the vest start to fade out??

Brody

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

I would say the postwar years. You start seeing fewer and fewer vests after the war. Part of the reason is that menswear in general was becoming more casual. I would bet that heating and air-conditioning also helped kill it off, along with the influx of the "continental" look.

Of course, in the 1970's the vest came back but in a very bad way.

 

[The Wolf]

Where did they go

I'm amazed that I:
a) can hardly find a vest for sale
b) if I do it has non-functional pockets and
c) can't find a four-pocket vest for sale at all!

I personally like vests so you brought up a sore subject.
I promised I wouldn't cry. I'll be strong. I'll be strong. I'm sorry, I gotta go.

The Wolf

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

I just realized that low-rise pants also helped to eliminate the vest. Most suit companies (other than Ralph Lauren) realized that vests just don't work with low-rise pants.

 

[BellyTank]

Vests continued to be widely used in Europe until probably the '80s- business and banking- European climate, British formality...

Plenty of vests on eBay.co.uk

B
T

 

[Vladimir Berkov]

That is really interesting about the hats. It is funny how in so many period films, directors will give up the pretense of historical accuracy for their "artistic vision" or to give stars more face time.

For instance, in most movies where the cast should be wearing helmets, you will see everybody wearing a helmet except the star. It is really sort of funny.

 

[Renderking Fisk]

In the extra material on the LA Confidential DVD, the director Curtis Hanson says that he did not want to make a film that was overpowered by hats. I think he wanted the drama/story to be easy to relate to, even if were set in any era (not just the early fifties).

I think he really made a big mistake by not having enough fedora's in that film. I think it's actually DISTRACTING not to have enough of them in a film of that period.

I personally really missed the hats in this film (and also no suspenders!). I prefered the imagery of the hats and suits in Mullholland Falls - but some might say that the clothes became more important than the story in this film.

What are my chances of seeing a review of that film and the threads for The FC?

 

[Flitcraft]

Demise of The Vest

Vests died out in WWII- 1942, to be exact. With war rationing, material for troop uniforms took precedence over civillian wear.
If you watch movies from the Thirties, Maltese Falcon , for instance, you see men wearing suits with vests. Spade's friend, the hotel detective, even wears a vest with a double-breasted suit.
In the post war years, with the advent of central heating, more casual lifestyles, etc., vests never really made much of a comeback. The exception was the European continent, particularly Great Britain.
If you remember back to Goldfinger, Sean Connery wears an odd vest with his dark suit when in London, and he wears a vested suit in Kentucky while a 'guest' of Mr. Goldfinger. Part of the reason for this was to establish Bond as a symbol of pre-war values, and his taste in clothing reflects this.

 

[BD Jones]

Where can you find vests?

I've looked all over (both in retail stores and on the internet) and have not been able to find a good selection of good quality vests. Is there a place that anyone knows of where 1) the selection is fairly wide 2) the quality is fairly good? I'd like to start wearing vest in the fall, but can't seem to find a place to get them.

 

[Biltmore Bob]

Try some of the old west type outfitters, reinactors, Cowboy Action Shooting, etc...I have no links right now...looking.

 

[Biltmore Bob]

Heres a couple

http://www.tombstoneoutfitters.com/store/vests1.htm

http://www.gentlemansemporium.com/store/vests.html

 

[Biltmore Bob]

And another...

http://reps.scullyleather.com/catalog/items.asp?BRN=RAN&DIV=MEN&CAT=VS&page=0

 

[Badluck Brody]

Try these places also

River Junction Mercantile (They'll tailor em for you)

WIld West Mercantile

ALso check out various CW sutlers

Blockade Runner

Coon River

Upper MississippI Mercantile

 

[The Mad Hatter]

I've gotten a new 3-button vest in "Gordon Red Ancient" from Burnetts-Struth.

I've also had MyCustomTailor.com do a camel colored tweed knockoff of my Canali blazer.

I am now having Bunetts-Struth do a Jabobite (yellowish) vest while MyCustomtailor.com is doing a dusty-red knockoff of the Canali.

 

[jsecunda]

Source for vests/waistcoats?

Hi folks -
I like the look of a "dress" vest with no suitjacket. Plus, I can get away with it in my office, as well. It also accomodates pocket watches, another plus.
Do any of you know of a quality on-line supplier (need not be vintage)?
Thanks-
js

 

[Johnnysan]

I like this site...

Some interesting alternatives here: http://www.fantasywaistcoats.co.uk/

 

[DanielJones]

Harris Tweed Vests/Waistcoats... Help!!!

Well folks I've been having a heck of a time trying to find a variety of Harris Tweed vests. I had found the Harris Tweed Shop and they make a respectable vest but in only two models & limited tweeds. Then I had found a Japanese site (Rakuten), but much to my chagrin the site is in kanji and I can't read a lick of it. And no english version of the site to be had. They have a wonderful selection of Traditional Messenger Harris Tweed vests, but if I can't read the site it makes it a tad hard to shop.

So I am looking for some help from you folks in where to find some nice vests like they have on the Rakuten site.

I take it there pricing is Yen but am not savvy on exchange rates to know what they would be in the US dollar. Who knew that something so common would be so darned hard to find on the net. Go Figure.

Well, I thank anybody that has any solid suggestions and leads to go on and for all of your help.

Cheers!

Dan

 

[Nick Charles]

Dan have you tried looking for english shooting stores like this http://www.bobparratt.co.uk/acatalog/Waistcoats.html

then theres always the old stand by orvis http://www.orvis.com/store/product_...=885&group_id=2696&cat_id=5569&subcat_id=7247

 

[moustache]

Delightful waistcoats!!!!

JD