Vintage coat joy!

[Lokar]

At one of the thrift stores I visit, I saw a morning coat a few months ago. I was unfortunately in a hurry, and didn't try it on. After that, I stopped visiting the stores for a while as my wife and I were saving every penny we could for our wedding.

Now that life is back to normal, I popped back in to have a look. I tried on the morning coat, and it was an amazingly good fit. The shoulders were perfect, the length of the coat was perfect, the position of the front button was perfect. The only real problem is that the arms are a little too long, but that's obviously something I can get fixed.

Behind the morning coat, I found something even more interesting. Unless I'm mistaken, it's a frock coat. As far as I know, a frock coat is a tailcoat that doesn't cut away, but just goes all the way down. Assuming that, then it is indeed a frock coat. They were both owned by the same gentleman, and the frock coat also fits perfectly on my chest, shoulders, etc., and the length of the arms is the only problem.

I snapped both up instantly (And got a very nice black six button single breasted waistcoat which is wonderful, and some trousers that don't fit me at all in the deal).

Here are some quick pictures of the coats. When we get some good light, I'll get some better pictures of the coats, along with pictures of the waistcoat and trousers.

I manipulated the images to be lighter to show off more detail, but it also makes the coats appear bluer than they are. In the flesh they are of course, black.


Morning coat:



Frock coat:



Frock coat button detail:

 

[Slim Portly]

Tremendous find!

 

[Charlie Noodles]

There's something to make the Frock Coat Fiends jealous.

 

[Forgotten Man]

Those are early... and yes, the second coat is a frock coat. I'm going to say that those coats are from about the early 1900s... maybe no later then 1915 or so. The cut of the tails on the morning coat are very interesting... I have a morning coat from 1932 and is a totally different cut.

Congrats on the find! Too bad you didn't have the time to try the morning coat on the first pas through... you could have worn for your wedding!

 

[Chasseur]

Wow!

Great finds!

A man can never have too many tailcoats.

 

[Warbaby]

Great score! I'm currently searching for a morning coat and I am green with envy.

 

[Chrome]

Very nice ones. Love the button detail.

I found morning coat for me too in a thrift shop sale lol . Dated december 1921 and cost three bucks, it is too big for me below arms and I'm uncertain will I try to alter it or will I just keep it as is. Not much use to it anyway.

 

[Shangas]

You got a black waistcoat thrown in with the rest of it? Lucky bugger. I wish I had a black waistcoat.

 

[Lokar]

Thanks for the replies! I'm still so happy I found them. I'm also very happy that the Fedora Lounge exists - I've never felt so at home, and everyone's always so friendly. On top of that, it's great knowing there's a place where people will be interested in my purchases!

You got a black waistcoat thrown in with the rest of it? Lucky bugger. I wish I had a black waistcoat.

I have two black waistcoats now - One is modern, with five buttons, showing about as much shirt as a regular two button suit jacket does. The one I just got with six buttons is very high up, it's about the same as the one Jeremy Brett often wore as Holmes.

 

[Lokar]

Bump! New photos! I'd put them in the first post but I can't edit it. They're all of the frock coat, which has become my favourite item. It's a little large on the chest/stomach, so I'm actually wearing it as an overcoat. It fits perfectly then, slightly waisting appropriately. It's easier to wear as an overcoat, too. Less strange looks.

As always, the photos link to my Flickr where you can see larger versions.

Anyway: First, two new photos of the coat itself, and a better one of the button detail. I persuaded my wife to help me with her expensive SLR camera, so they're much sharper. I still manipulated them to add light, so they're blue.





Next, the lining of the arms. The lining of the body of the coat feels like a silk satin weave. I'm not sure about the arm lining, however. The first photo is closer to the real colour.



Last, the pockets. It has the most singular pockets. The right breast pocket is a regular jacket/coat breast pocket.


The left breast pocket, however, is unlike any I have ever seen. At first I thought the stitching between the lining and the inside of the lapel had come loose, but I was mistaken. The pocket goes along the line of the lapel. This lets me slip my hand into the pocket with such ease - I can have all three buttons done up, and this coat closes up extremely high up, and still reach into the pocket very elegantly. You can see the opening directly left of my hand, where the lining and lapel meet.


Lastly, there are two hidden pockets on the inside of the tails, again, where the lining meets the wool. I've only taken a photo of one as they are identical, just on alternate sides.