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Macintosh Hollywood Studio clothes Lounge, you dissapoint me.

reetpleat

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,681
Location
Seattle
Years ago, livin in San Francisco, I was introduced to Macintosh, Studio Clothes. They did clothes for the studios, and also custom tailoring in Southern California, Had a shop in San Francisco on Powell, and, possibly in Seattle. (On google, I found an old scanned union newspaper with an advert concerning a new store opening in Seattle, with preorders being taken by a rep in a hotel)

It was Roberto, City Vintage who introduced me to the wonders of this amazing line. They were not only impecably tailored, but the fabrics were often quite unique and high quality. But their most distinct feature was an extra dart in the front side of the waist and a very pinched waist that gave that classic big chested, slim waisted fit.

I have seen a few, and owned a few, but never in my size. I found a beutiful tuxedo with the telltale extra dart and sold it to a guy in a bar for $150.

The tag is distinct, with a green plaid back ground.

In a search of google I found afew references to auctions of movie cosdtumes worn by John Wayne, Fred macMurray, and others. But on other info. Worse yet, a search of google with "fedora lounge" reveals only one mention in the whole forum by Marc.

So, what gives. How can any forum dedicated to vintage style not discuss this fine line of clothing. I know Oviatts is one of the finest, and Sy Devore, et al. But let's give Macintosh their due.

what say ye?

I was put in mind as I came across a beautiful double breasted blue jacket. I looked through the pants but no luck. I will go back tomorrow and do it again. Keep your fingers crossed for me. I will post pics soon so you may all wonder at the glory that was Macintosh Studio CLothes.
 

Marc Chevalier

Gone Home
Messages
18,192
Location
Los Feliz, Los Angeles, California
.



Reetpleet, your wish is my command. This is a good start: http://books.google.com/books?q="studio+clothes"+macintosh&btnG=Search+Books


I've sold a few, including an amazing double-breasted tuxedo from 1946: rope shoulders, and triple darts from the chest to the hips. (It went to someone in Milan, Italy --perhaps a fashion designer?-- for nearly $400.)


In January, I'll be selling a patch pocket, BOLD black & white houndstooth sportcoat of theirs from the later '40s.


.
 

sailorkea

New in Town
Messages
1
Location
france
anybody knows about other companys making clothes for studios? i own a 30's beltedback jacket, with a stamp of the western costume company, hollywood..anybody has heard about them?
image5xt.png

By brunokea at 2009-12-30
 

resortes805

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,019
Location
SoCal
Macintosh!

All of the Macintosh items I have run across were always far too small for me. I believe La Rosa in San Francisco has an orphaned Macintosh black double breasted jacket on their racks right now.

If anyone has ever believed that real-life suits from the '30s and 40's could never have looked as good as they do in the illustrations in vintage catalogs; then you must see a Macintosh!
 

reetpleat

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,681
Location
Seattle
Marc Chevalier said:
.



Reetpleet, your wish is my command. This is a good start: http://books.google.com/books?q="studio+clothes"+macintosh&btnG=Search+Books


I've sold a few, including an amazing double-breasted tuxedo from 1946: rope shoulders, and triple darts from the chest to the hips. (It went to someone in Milan, Italy --perhaps a fashion designer?-- for nearly $400.)


In January, I'll be selling a patch pocket, BOLD black & white houndstooth sportcoat of theirs from the later '40s.


.

Wow, I didn't know about google books. Not much info from the afficianado's perspective. Am I missing something. They are obviously great maker, so why is there no info on them anywhere in the whole world wide web, or at least info on them in regards to their clothes?
 

Forgotten Man

One Too Many
Messages
1,944
Location
City Dump 32 E. River Sutton Place.
sailorkea said:
western costume company, hollywood..anybody has heard about them?
image5xt.png

By brunokea at 2009-12-30

Has anybody heard of Western Costume? lol I'll say! :eusa_doh:

They are one of the largest film industry costumers in Southern CA. They have been around since the early 1900's... they have served the movie industry for many, many years! They have in their archives clothes worn in big movies of the 30s and 40s such as "Gone With the Wind" and many others that I can't think of at the moment.

I once had a pair of wool stripped pants found at AAARDVARK's with a Western Costume tag... name typed on the tag was Ray Bolger, the actor who played the scare crow in the Wizard of Oz! Nice pants, from the 30s I'm sure, too small for me but, I picked them up and sold them to a friend... they're safe now!lol

Macintosh clothes… the closest you’ll find in vintage that have a strong Zoot influence. Ever so Californian in style but, rare and hard to find in any reasonable size. I once was offered a single breasted belted back sports coat, hounstooth, pattern with patch pockets… only a two button front… had an NRA tag and was made by Macintosh… A rare coat, it fit me, however didn’t fit quite right, didn’t have the same cut as the 40s ones do… so, I passed on it.
 

Nonchalant

One of the Regulars
Messages
108
Location
Pasadena, CA
reetpleat said:
It was Roberto, City Vintage who introduced me to the wonders of this amazing line.

Quite a few "Macintosh Studio Clothes" suits have passed through his hands, I think. He seems to possess an uncanny ability to find them -- why can't I do that? The last Macintosh suit I came across was one of his, a gorgeous 1938 dated navy blue, double breasted, 3 piece. It had roped shoulders, lovely hand stitching on the lapels, and of course, the distinctive Macintosh third dart on either side of the waist.

It was quite small however, I wear a size 36, and it was tight on me. Of the four other Macintosh pieces I've handled, two of them were tiny sizes - 34S and 35R.

I do have one 1941 dated SBPL Macintosh tuxedo in my collection.

Unfortunately, It's hard to photograph this one well because of the color.
l_d8b3c59b8aba542d6f93df0759dca21f.jpg


Macintosh clothes had such unique tailoring details that made them stand out from all others. Just as Resortes says, they really did manage to capture the exaggerated silhouette of the period illustrations that you rarely see in the actual clothing.

Once you've seen a few of these pieces in person, you will be able to spot another one immediately.

If I ever get a good dress form, I will take some decent pictures of mine, and post them here for whoever is interested.
 

normanpitkin

One of the Regulars
Messages
171
Location
London,England
Ha ,
I just got a beautiful black/white/red check jacket from ebay,quite the best shape with great padded shoulders ,paid $40 and am amazed that such bargains can still occur! The seller will remain my secret!!!
 

resortes805

Call Me a Cab
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2,019
Location
SoCal
normanpitkin said:
Ha ,
I just got a beautiful black/white/red check jacket from ebay,quite the best shape with great padded shoulders ,paid $40 and am amazed that such bargains can still occur! The seller will remain my secret!!!

Let's see some pic's!
 

Nonchalant

One of the Regulars
Messages
108
Location
Pasadena, CA
normanpitkin said:
Ha ,
I just got a beautiful black/white/red check jacket from ebay,quite the best shape with great padded shoulders ,paid $40 and am amazed that such bargains can still occur! The seller will remain my secret!!!

Are we talking about a Macintosh jacket here? We want to see what it looks like!
 

reetpleat

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,681
Location
Seattle
Based on the comments about small sizes, I have a theory to propose. the advert I saw about opening in Seattle was in a union paper. It seems odd to post there. I am not sure what union it was, but perhaps it was cannery workerss or some such. Photos of six new officers were all Philipino.

the name on the jacket i bought was johnny Mina. A google search reveals that this is most commonly a Phillipino name.

the cut is one that would look particularly good on slim guys, and also has a kind of hipster, zooot suitish look. And also, the cut may be a little too flashy for an office worker or executive. Perhaps better suited to a night on the town.

I know there were some makers that catered predominantly to black buyers.

is it possible macintosh took a strong foothold in thePhilipino community, and many of ther suits sold were to phillipinos?

Just a theory, but it might explain all the slim sizes.
 

resortes805

Call Me a Cab
Messages
2,019
Location
SoCal
Marc Chevalier said:
I've come across the same thing.

Yes, Macintosh were the suits of choice for Fiipinos during the 1930s. I don't know how that relationship started, but amongst that generation of Filipinos, Macintosh's are remembered fondly. I had heard this as a youngster and I always wondered what exactly a "Macintosh suit" was...I always figured it was a style of suit. It wasn't until later that I discovered it was a clothing company.

During that era, Filipino men were recruited as laborers, but because of immigration law Filipina women were not allowed to migrate. Not only that, but miscegenation laws prohibited Filipino men from courting certain women. So when it came to dating, the young Filipino men were fighting an uphill battle! The Filipino's secret weapon was the Macintosh suit, which, according to the Filipino old timers, was guaranteed to make any woman swoon!
duyungan%20rodrigo%20mislano%20espiritu%201934.jpg
 

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