Gentleman's Emporium

[Slouch-Hat]

I'm considering buying a couple of inexpensive hats from Gentleman's Emporium. I just ran across their site a few weeks ago. Any opinions on them and their merchandise? I appreciate anything helpful you have.

Thanks.

Michael...

 

[J.T.Marcus]

I checked out the site. They specialize in authentic Victorian, Dickens, and Western clothing. Some pretty impressive outfits. The hats are wool, and reasonably priced. If the quality of construction is as good as it looks, then they are good wool hats. One reason you may not have gotten much response is that, in this club, there is a general resistance to the idea that well dressed gentlemen from that era were wearing wool hats. My research has suggested otherwise.

 

[Slouch-Hat]

Thank you J.T. I appreciate your comments. I can certainly understand those in the Lounge who want to make sure their headgear is as authentic as possible, but my tastes tend to run more toward look and design rather than material-accuracy. If I like the way a hat looks, I'll buy it, no matter the style, fabric, or otherwise. I'd just never dealt with Gentleman's Emporium before and wondered if their merchandise was of good quality for the price. I really thank you for your input.

Michael...

 

[Leacock]

Does anyone have much experience with this company? I have been particularly interested in their smoking jackets and waistcoats, but am still unsure whether they offer quality formal clothing or something more along the lines of costume wear.

 

[theoldnorthwest]

Hello,

I bought a four button Victorian style tweed coat from them a few years back, they called it a "sack coat". It resembled a sport coat only it had more pronounced shoulder pads and four buttons reminiscent of what a businessman would have worn around the turn of the century. It was very well made and seemed authentic, I would say it was quality formal clothing and not similar to costume wear. I sold it on eBay a while back and wish I would have kept it. Hope this helps.

 

[fedoracentric]

Just by the prices, it would seem to me that what you have is costumery, not "reproductions." Properly reproduced vintage clothing is quite expensive and the wares at this shop seem quite reasonable by comparison. I'd have to say that what you'll get will look fine from a distance but might not quite hold up to very close scrutiny... if you are a very educated person on vintage clothing, that is.

Granted I have never purchased anything from the place, but the prices bespeak of mass production (probably in China) and not researched, vintage clothing.

So, you have to decide just how authentic you want to get, I suppose.

 

[theoldnorthwest]

The coat I purchased was made by Wahmaker and was made in the USA, it cost around $200 at the time, not expensive by most standards but not cheap either.

 

[fedoracentric]

Wahmaker makes sturdy, serviceable clothing, certainly. Not authentic by any standards, but "like" vintage in style and looks.
Like I said, you'll just have to decide how true to authentic you want.

 

[KingAndrew]

I purchased a frock coat, double-breasted waist coat, and striped trousers from Gentleman's Emporium to wear in my wedding. Their service was quick and the clothing (as fedoracentric suggests) was sturdy, attractive, and comfortable (and affordable--which was important to me, since I'd just paid for engagement and wedding rings on my teacher's salary). Could the clothes be more accurate to the period? I'm sure they could be more detailed in one way or another. My knowledge of this period is not deep enough for me to give a detailed analysis of what was period-accurate and what wasn't.

I can say the clothes were quite wearable and all the pockets worked. Although they emulated an earlier historic period than today, in quality they felt no more like a costume than mid-priced contemporary clothing.

I have not bought a hat from them. But I would not hesitate to do business with them again if I needed an item they carry. If you like the look of one of their hats, and don't object to wool construction, you ought to give them a try.

Their formalwear is certainly competitive with the stuff at your local tux rental place. I'm sure that you could get much nicer wares from some specialists or a custom tailor, but not at the prices they offer. So it's a question of balancing your concern for period detail, quality construction, and price. Only you can decide which parts of that equation are most important for you and where you are willing to compromise and where you aren't.