Show us your suits

[Wash In Lux]

Hello,

I won this suit on e-bay. It was advertised as a 40s/50s suit, but the lapels seem to narrow for that era. I'm very happy with the suit, but I was wondering if someone could verify the decade of manufacture.

Thank you,

cgab

I'd be surprised if it was even 50's. Mid to late 60's is my guess. The seller definitely misrepresented. Don't be sad though, everyone needs a good 60's suit. You never know when you might go somewhere that 60's fits better. How 'bout a Casino new years eve!?

 

[Forgotten Man]

Nah, lapels were that narrow by the late 50s. I've seen enough of them to know That style lasted into the 60s... seems that the wide lapels in the late 40s just started to get starved... were nothing more than strips of lapels by the 60s.lol

The look may work for some but, not my style at all! My girlfriend has suggested I get one 60s suit... *yucky* [bad] No thanks. lol I can't stand narrow tight cut pants... on me that is.

Enjoy!

 

[Wolfen]

This is my newest suit, got it on ebay last week. It is a 3 piece, double breasted. It is black with golden brown pinstripes.

 

[Wolfmanjack]

Beautiful suit, Wolfen. It fits quite well, but I would shorten the sleeves a bit.

 

[Wolfen]

Beautiful suit, Wolfen. It fits quite well, but I would shorten the sleeves a bit.

I plan on it. They were sticking out of my overcoat sleeves today.

 

[Forgotten Man]

Swell threads! I like that pattern. In the photo it looks dark brown with gold... but, digital cameras will lie some times :eusa_doh:

Yes, sleeves could be taken up a hair, other than that, I think it fits pretty well.

Give a tilt to your homburg so you'll show'em that you know yer onions!

Looks great!

 

[mike]

Not mine, sold at action this week.

Is this suit in this thread rather than the what we lost on ebay thread due to wishful thinking?! One can only hope! hahaha I was up for it to a point as I was the lucky stiff who just sold a super rare record for almost 700 bucks but in the end, I'm glad I didn't over extended myself financially on this suit as it would have broke my bank and I need to balance myself more. Or at least keep telling myself that. lol

 

[mike]

Swell threads! I like that pattern. In the photo it looks dark brown with gold... but, digital cameras will lie some times :eusa_doh:

Yes, sleeves could be taken up a hair, other than that, I think it fits pretty well.

Give a tilt to your homburg so you'll show'em that you know yer onions!

Looks great!

Hey Rob! Don't you have TWO, count em TWO new suits you were threatening to show off?! A bold look-era & a pleated/belted back...? Let em rip! (not literally)

 

[Forgotten Man]

Hey Rob! Don't you have TWO, count em TWO new suits you were threatening to show off?! A bold look-era & a pleated/belted back...? Let em rip! (not literally)

Well, the bold look suit I do need to post... but, the belted pleated number was just the coat, I wanted to take a photo or two of it before I sold it to a friend who it fit.

I will post the Bold suit soon... the holiday season has caused more of a rumpus than a mouse in a burlesque show. lol

 

[Wash In Lux]

Respectfully disagree.

Nah, lapels were that narrow by the late 50s. I've seen enough of them to know That style lasted into the 60s... seems that the wide lapels in the late 40s just started to get starved... were nothing more than strips of lapels by the 60s.lol

The look may work for some but, not my style at all! My girlfriend has suggested I get one 60s suit... *yucky* [bad] No thanks. lol I can't stand narrow tight cut pants... on me that is.

Enjoy!

 

[Orgetorix]

Respectfully disagree.

Have you seen Forgotten Man in '60s clothes? If not, how can you disagree?

 

[Tomasso]

It's likely that he was responding to the first paragraph which concerned dating clothes.

 

[s_crumb]

This came in a week or so ago. I just got it back from the alterations shop and a dry cleaning. Unfortunately the cuffs were sacrificed for my 6'4" frame. Hope you guys enjoy. Any ideas on an approximate date? Those armholes are HIGH! It's a blue and white houndstooth pattern.

 

[reetpleat]

There was a period Senor Chevaliere has called the continental look, that describes, if i undrestand correctly, that period in the late fifties that saw narrow lapel suits with fuller pleated pants and thicker fabrics than their early sixties counterparts.

Might have a relationship to the Ivy League lok that began in the late forties and was popular on campuses in the fifties, seems to be kind of influenced by military uniforms. Trimmmer cuts, three button with narrower lapels etc.

http://theivyleaguelook.blogspot.com/

Lorrimor's "Ivy League Suits", 1952



What is the IVY LEAGUE? It's a three button sack type suit with narrow lapels, no padding, easy lines, and center vent. Trousers without pleats.


I just picked up a nice italian flannel one in the continental style yesterday.

here is a pic of one i just sold on ebay.

 

[Wolfmanjack]

Might have a relationship to the Ivy League look that began in the late forties and was popular on campuses in the fifties, seems to be kind of influenced by military uniforms. Trimmmer cuts, three button with narrower lapels etc.

I would add that the Ivy League look persisted in certain circles in the New England and Middle Atlantic states well into the '80s in the form of the "preppy" look.

What is the IVY LEAGUE? It's a three button sack type suit with narrow lapels, no padding, easy lines, and center vent. Trousers without pleats.

I would add that an Ivy League suit will usually have very little suppression at the waist, giving these suits the characteristic 'boxy' silhouette.

 

[boushi_mania]

In the interest of self-promotion, here are a few pictures of me in my suit (the only one I really use at the moment). It's a made-to-measure 3-piece suit using the cheapest 100%-wool fabric I could find (final total was around $300 with the exchange rate at the time); the reason being that I'd lost a ton of weight since I came to Japan, and needed something to wear to job interviews without looking like a clown. The quality's not fantastic, but I think the details I selected help it look nicer than it actually is. Here I am at Christmas Eve dinner with my fiancée:

The only thing I don't quite like is that the jacket seems to have been tailored to be worn without anything whatsoever in the inside pockets. (Though it could also be because I ordered the suit at my very thinnest, before I started maintaining my weight at about 5 pounds above that. lol ) It looks OK when I don't have my money and my cell phone taking up space.

I got a 5-button vest, though if I were to do it over, I'd probably go for a 6-button model instead. Though the next suit I get, I intend to be double-breasted, so... [huh]

Here's the entire winter ensemble:

The overcoat is a (relatively) cheap wool/synthetic blend from Penneys. It's slightly too long a bit larger around than I'd like, but the overall classic styling once again makes up for the corner-cutting elsewhere.

 

[sproily]

This came in a week or so ago. I just got it back from the alterations shop and a dry cleaning. Unfortunately the cuffs were sacrificed for my 6'4" frame. Hope you guys enjoy. Any ideas on an approximate date? Those armholes are HIGH! It's a blue and white houndstooth pattern.

Open up the bottom button and it will fit better

 

[Forgotten Man]

This came in a week or so ago. I just got it back from the alterations shop and a dry cleaning. Unfortunately the cuffs were sacrificed for my 6'4" frame. Hope you guys enjoy. Any ideas on an approximate date? Those armholes are HIGH! It's a blue and white houndstooth pattern.

I feel it looks to fit perfect for the period of the suit. Most men did leave the bottom button un-done, just so to allow more movement. I believe this suit to have been made just after WWII. You may find a union tag in the inside pocket of the jacket... tell us what you see and that may ad a clue to the case at hand.

But, my guess is that it was made some time in 1946 and no later than 1950. Beautiful suit, I tell you, there's nothing like a beautiful period double breasted in my opinion!:eusa_clap

 

[Wolfmanjack]

In the interest of self-promotion, here are a few pictures of me in my suit (the only one I really use at the moment). It's a made-to-measure 3-piece suit using the cheapest 100%-wool fabric I could find (final total was around $300 with the exchange rate at the time); the reason being that I'd lost a ton of weight since I came to Japan, and needed something to wear to job interviews without looking like a clown. The quality's not fantastic, but I think the details I selected help it look nicer than it actually is. Here I am at Christmas Eve dinner with my fiancée:

The only thing I don't quite like is that the jacket seems to have been tailored to be worn without anything whatsoever in the inside pockets. (Though it could also be because I ordered the suit at my very thinnest, before I started maintaining my weight at about 5 pounds above that. lol ) It looks OK when I don't have my money and my cell phone taking up space.

I got a 5-button vest, though if I were to do it over, I'd probably go for a 6-button model instead. Though the next suit I get, I intend to be double-breasted, so... [huh]

Here's the entire winter ensemble:

The overcoat is a (relatively) cheap wool/synthetic blend from Penneys. It's slightly too long a bit larger around than I'd like, but the overall classic styling once again makes up for the corner-cutting elsewhere.

Nice 3-piece, boushi. Here are a couple of ideas:

1. 
   Consider a shirt with longer sleeves, so you'll display a little linen at the sleeve cuff.
2. Second, if you want to pack some gear in the inside pockets, consider wearing the jacket unbuttoned. You might even adorn the vest with a pocket watch and chain.

 

[boushi_mania]

Nice 3-piece, boushi. Here are a couple of ideas:

1. 
   Consider a shirt with longer sleeves, so you'll display a little linen at the sleeve cuff.
2. Second, if you want to pack some gear in the inside pockets, consider wearing the jacket unbuttoned. You might even adorn the vest with a pocket watch and chain.

Actually, I think it isn't so much that the shirt sleeves are too short, as the jacket sleeves are too long. I've been meaning to take it in for that. The shirt sleeves also have a tendency to ride up a bit, but are actually longer than they appear in the picture.

And now I want to go find a pocket watch, despite having already spent far too much money this Christmas.... lol