What are you wearing today??

[billyspew]

On my way out to the Third Grand Anarcho-Dandyist Ball, Saturday past:


At the event itself:

Very nice, Fez-O-Rama by any chance?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Out of curiosity, do you ever wear two pocket squares with that suit (or other jackets with two breast pockets)?

No, but that extra outside breast pocket is perfect for storing reading glasses, sunglasses, or nice fountain pens.

 

[WH1]

Marc, great vest the detail work is amazing.

 

[Edward]

Very nice, Fez-O-Rama by any chance?

Yes indeed - the limited edition Silver Screen Cthulu model. Working on having a custom run done for the New Sheridan Club.

 

[billyspew]

Yes indeed - the limited edition Silver Screen Cthulu model. Working on having a custom run done for the New Sheridan Club.

They're great quality and very comfy, have the Robot Overlord one myself. It's a great idea for an NSC one.

 

[hailey greenhat]

Miss Sofia aw thank you
Marc - i love your striped tie and the yellow with the gray suit.
Edward - Your fez looks amazing that picture is fantastic!

 

[Yeps]

Casual clothes for a dreary, tired day. New peacoat (from Costco) is fantastic though.

Breaking from tradition by wearing a blue shirt. Couldn't resist white by the face though, so a white cotton neckerchief it is.

 

[Mr slick]

Really nice outfit marc....My good lady talked me into having my photo's taken, otherwise i wouldn't bother.

.
I very rarely do this, because I feel ridiculously self-conscious when taking my own photo.


Here's today:


-- A two-piece patch pocket Donegal tweed suit from the late 1940s. Note the two outside breast pockets.

-- A late 1940s rayon knit tie.

-- A 1920s eight-panel cap by 'Waverly'.

-- A pair of 1950s dark brown suede shoes.

 

[Mr slick]

Wow....I want that waistcoat and trousers, actually the whole outfit, looks great. Are those 30's captoe's you are wearing marc?

Thanks! No one I know is willing to do it.


Here's an exception: a fashion shoot several weeks ago. The waistcoat is a reproduction of a vintage piece of mine.

 

[Mr slick]

Looking sharp Edward!!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Wow....I want that waistcoat and trousers, actually the whole outfit, looks great. Are those 30's captoe's you are wearing marc?

The good news is, every item in that outfit (except for the tie and shoes) is available for purchase in a range of sizes.


The shoes you see in the photos were made in England for "Paul Stuart", a high-end traditional clothing store, in the 1990s. Here's a close-up image:

 

[Mr slick]

QUOTE=Marc Chevalier;1362595]The good news is, every item in that outfit (except for the tie and shoes) is available for purchase in a range of sizes.


The shoes you see in the photos were made in England for "Paul Stuart", a high-end traditional clothing store, in the 1990s. Here's a close-up image:

[/QUOTE]Thanks marc...where can i purchase the clothing from?[

 

[Miss Tuppence]

Not sure what I was aiming for, but at least it’s warm and practical even if a little :eeek:!
Slacks and blouse made from 40’s patterns.

 

[Mr slick]

Not sure what I was aiming for, but at least it’s warm and practical even if a little :eeek:!
Slacks and blouse made from 40’s patterns.

Nice slacks, did you make those yourself?

 

[Miss Tuppence]

^Made by my personal seamstress….otherwise known as my Ma! I could make them myself, but they would never get finished!

 

[rue]

^Made by my personal seamstress….otherwise known as my Ma! I could make them myself, but they would never get finished!

I need one of those! The slacks are great and so is the whole look

 

[Swing Motorman]

.

Marc, the first thought that came to mind when I saw your photo was "complete." And that seems to describe it perfectly. Clearly you thought out every detail of this outfit, and ensured that the fit and match were exact. The ensemble looks amazing!

Perhaps a few decades and a couple grand later, I'll have something close to that. Thanks for sharing, and giving us relatively new sharp-dressing folks something to aspire to!


-Steven

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Perhaps a few decades and a couple grand later, I'll have something close to that.

Thank you!

You don't need money, you need time. (Though time is money too, so make it count.)

For instance, here's approximately how much each item in that photo cost:


-- 1940s Donegal tweed suit: $16 from a Goodwill thrift store in Glendale, California.

-- 1920s newsboy cap: about $35 on eBay.

-- Late 1990s "Banana Republic" spearpoint collared dress shirt: $4 from a Goodwill thrift store in Glendale, California.

-- 1940s rayon knit tie: about $5 on eBay.

-- 1950s suede shoes: $30 at a used clothing store in Pasadena, California.

-- Vintage pocket handkerchief: 25 cents at an estate sale.

-- Vintage leather pocket watch strap: about $12 on eBay.

-- Vintage pocket watch: inherited from my grandfather.


Grand total: $92.25

 

[Mario]

I'm in awe of the US thrift shops. In Germany it is virtually impossible to find vintage stuff like that in thrift stores - and defnitely not at those prices.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

I'm in awe of the US thrift shops. In Germany it is virtually impossible to find vintage stuff like that in thrift stores - and defnitely not at those prices.

In the 1980s, when I first began to go to U.S. thrift shops, it was much more common. The very first time I went to a thrift ("Disabled American Veterans" in Glendale, California, 1987!), I found and purchased a three-piece single-breasted suit with peak lapels that had been custom made in 1933. Mint condition. My size. $12 !!! And this was a fairly typical find!


Today is a different story. Southern California thrift stores have less and less great vintage -- and donations are down in general, due to the lousy economy. Still, sometimes I get lucky. Goodwill has been good to me: I found that Donegal tweed suit there about a year ago. More recently, Goodwill yielded me a suit jacket custom made for Frank Sinatra.


Until a few years ago, the most glorious thrift shop in Los Angeles was a hard-to-find little place on La Brea Avenue called the "Cinema Glamour Shop". It had been founded in the 1930s by Mary Pickford to help provide funds for a rest home for old movie people. MAJOR Hollywood folks donated their unwanted clothing to that store. I bought vintage suits made for Henry Fonda, Joseph Cotten, Darryl Zanuck, and others. The prices for these suits were never more than $50. Once, I bought a large-sized 1930s Austrian three-piece tweed suit with plus-fours, mint condition, for $12! Its price had been marked down three times!