1920s suits

Two Types · Jan 30, 2015

That's a beautiful suit. I love the button stance.

Papperskatt · Jan 30, 2015

A close to perfect example of one of my favourite styles.

Dostioffsky · Feb 1, 2015

^I saw that jacket on Etsy! But sadly it was already gone. It's really beautiful.

And now for something completely different:

From 1927 film Underworld. It is a silly costume of course, but still quite remarkable I thought. The silhouette looks a bit 30s/40s.

Dostioffsky · Feb 2, 2015

Archive.org is great, these are all from some publication called Picture-Play, 1922/1923:

Patrick Hall · Feb 3, 2015

Man, that diamond-patterned suit is amazing. And I love the closely grouped buttons on the jackets. Really elongates the figure.

volvomeister13 · Feb 17, 2015

Was watching Fritz Lang's "Dr. Mabuse the Gambler", made in Germany in 1922. I really love the suits in this, especially the slim-cut model worn by the prosecutor, the hero of the picture.

...and the titular villain in a great suit with a more casual air to it

Two Types · Feb 17, 2015

There's some great stuff in that film. Lot's of boldly patterned waistcoats, if I remember correctly.

herringbonekid · Feb 17, 2015

1920:

1925:

Rudie · Feb 17, 2015

herringbonekid said:
1920:

Very interesting. Pin-stripe jacket with peak lapels and a Buster Keaton waistcoat paired with corduroy trousers, heavy work shirt and one of those tiny novelty bow ties. I like it! BTW, can anybody give me some background about this waistcoat style? To me it is utterly useless, leaving the chest exposed and basically adding no extra warmth.

herringbonekid · Feb 17, 2015

Rudie, it's a 'full dress' style waistcoat, normally associated with evening / formal wear, but the shape was often used with the adventurous 'jazz' type suits of the late teens and early 20s.

Rudie · Feb 17, 2015

What is the purpose of this shape? I mean, it leaves exactly that part of the body exposed where you normally want the waistcoat to have an effect. Is this just fashion?

In his late teens films Harold Lloyd sports some very crazy jazz suits.

Qirrel · Feb 17, 2015

It is simply a fashion thing, yes. For full dress waistcoats it had the effect of showing off and framing the starched bib front of the shirt. I guess it served a similar purpouse for the colourful fancy patterned shirts that went with the jazzy suits of the period.

Claudio · Feb 17, 2015

on a side note, this is a terrible matching and wouldnt try this now days (suit jacket, work shirt, formal waistcoat and cords!). Please remember many of these people were dead poor and so would wear whatever they could afford/find. They would always do their best to look tip tops and make due with what was passed down to them of what they could afford. DO NOT make the mistake of trying this today as will look s**t

Rudie · Feb 17, 2015

Unless you are going for this kind of poor man's look on purpose. I think it has charm, as do the often daring combinations on the Romanian pics.

Dostioffsky · Feb 17, 2015

I do think the jacket and waistcoat belong together. The fabrics seem the same and the jacket has some fairly jazzy features. Narrow sleeves, wide lapels, link button...

-

A few pictures I found on ebay:

Dinerman · Feb 17, 2015

Claudio said:
on a side note, this is a terrible matching and wouldnt try this now days (suit jacket, work shirt, formal waistcoat and cords!). Please remember many of these people were dead poor and so would wear whatever they could afford/find. They would always do their best to look tip tops and make due with what was passed down to them of what they could afford. DO NOT make the mistake of trying this today as will look s**t

At that point, that type of vest was not a formal thing- that was just the fashion for suit vests.

DamianM · Feb 17, 2015

I have a friend with a full suit including this full dress vest cut. It was found a lot in young men's suits.
And it can be worn with cords and a work shirt. It looks great and "10s-20s casual"

I do hate trying to look like an illustration.

DamianM · Feb 17, 2015

Something I just acquired

Its late 10s through early 20s
Its a full suit in a size 36 for study since it has issues.
Low rise slim trousers.

herringbonekid · Feb 17, 2015

very nice Damian. what sort of fabric is it ?

DamianM · Feb 17, 2015

herringbonekid said:
very nice Damian. what sort of fabric is it ?

A light summer wool.

Here is the original non-faded color found under the lapels

1920s suits

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