1910s Suits help

[Cobden]

I was wondering if anyone had, amongst their collections, any photos of British men (middle class, mid to late 20s-ish in age) in informal daywear from around 1910-15? Really struggling to ascertain the men's fashions from the time - have only come across American images (which I believe would be rather different to their British counterparts ),fashion plates - which merely demonstrate an ideal on men with impossible figures - or head and shoulders shots. If anyone has any other helpful info (trouser width at the ankle and knees would be quite useful, for example - though a long shot!) it would be much appreciated. Workings mens clothes I have plenty of images of, but the more middle class stuff...not so much.

 

[herringbonekid]

the first four were illustrating the big jacket phase of the early 1910s.
but not all jackets were that weird; the tennis one is 1913

 

[Two Types]

Circa 1914 (I believe)

 

[herringbonekid]

Cobden, you need this book:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Menswear-Vi...=sr_1_6?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1362311759&sr=1-6

...lot's of photos from that era.

 

[Cobden]

Many thanks gents. The big jackets seem rather common in photos of men joining up in 1914 (which is why I am inquiring - I freely admit I do not exactly find the look particularly stylish; I'd go as far as to say it's pretty hideous!)- great to see such things in detail!

What surprises me is that I always assumed this was something of a working class fashion - but your pics (and the following pic I found when it occurred to me to look up Titanic passengers) confirmed that it may merely have been an exaggeration of the middle and upper class fashion.

Still, I wonder why Downton Abbey/Upstairs Downstairs/Titanic etc. always seem to have the men in the more 1900s style of clothing

 

[Qirrel]

Still, I wonder why Downton Abbey/Upstairs Downstairs/Titanic etc. always seem to have the men in the more 1900s style of clothing

Because most men wore more conservative styles. Below is an example from 1914. A fashion plate, yes, but not in any way an impossible figure.

 

[Qirrel]

As for trouser widths, waists 30-34 inch: 16-18 inch bottoms, 1-2 inch larger at knee.

 

[Cobden]

Because most men wore more conservative styles. Below is an example from 1914. A fashion plate, yes, but not in any way an impossible figure.

Thanks for that; as I say, I understand that those plates show a somewhat exaggerated version of the fashion - even with that plate, though, the jacket appears to have little shaping at the waist, and the bottom of the jacket is below the trouser crotch, both features seem very much to be the norm for the period (but don't appear in TV/films). In fact, I've not come across pictures showing anything but whilst thumbing through books and googling historical events of the period.

 

[Two Types]

It is difficult to be certain of the date for these photos but I estimate them to be roughly in the right period. To be best of my knowledge all the photographs show what might be referred to as the skilled working class of the period: engineers. They were all ( as far as I know) employed at Allens engineering works in Bedford and these were Trade Union outings. Indeed, one of the photos is taken outside the union building (it's still there and has hardly changed).

Cycling trip:

The following pics show examples of the popular style of jackets with low pockets on both breasts:

Flat caps:

Fishing trip (photographed outside the Sun Inn, Felmersham):

jacket with very long lapels:

 

[Two Types]

A Trade Union outing:

very short ties:

my great-grandfather dressed up for the occasion, but failed to tuck in the 'dicky' shirtfront:

Outside the Trade Union club, about to go on a cycling trip:

More of the jackets with the low double pockets:

a very small bow tie:

long jacket without breast pocket - with a very skinny tie:

 

[Fastuni]

Great photos Two Types! :eusa_clap

Also quite a number of chain-watches for breast pockets.

 

[Cobden]

Those are fantastic pics - thank you very much! Timeframe certainly appears to be wartime (judging by the soldier outside the union club); shame flat caps (as opposed to newsboys) are hard to find in true ecky thump proportions these days

 

[Two Types]

For an oversize flat cap try Oliver Brown:
[IMGhttp://www.oliverbrown.org.uk/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/m/e/mens-caps-oversized.jpg

[url]http://www.oliverbrown.org.uk/oliver-brown-tweeds/tweed-oversized-cap.html[/url]

I'm wearing one of mine today.

Or try Johnny J, he can make you one.