The Thread to Display Your 1940s Suits

[Dinerman]

The pockets, lack of cuffs and jacket cuffs are saying '70s to me.

 

[thunderw21]

Double breasted pinstripe number with a 1939 union tag. Doesn't fit me right so now it's in the classifieds.

 

[Red Leader]

Wow! I thought it was going to be a long time before I joined this thread, but I stumbled across this today:

Union tag, can very faintly make out '1939':

Very subtle pattern:

Pants:

 

[Red Leader]

What it looks like on me:

When I first picked it up, I was thinking 'Oh please let this fit me!'...and it does - just barely! The jacket gets a little tight across the upper back, but the sleeve length seems spot on. Also, the pants, which I haven't yet measured to confirm, can't be any bigger than a 30. I'm thinking more like a 28. They are tight! The good news is that when pulled up to the the slimmest spot around my waist (probably where they should be) they look to be the right length also. I'm thinking whoever had this suit made probably was exactly my height, but a beanpole.

I'm really excited by this because it is my first '1940s' suit, albeit formal wear I suppose. The jacket does have 3 tiny blems on the the back - a small mark that isn't quite through the fabric enough to be a hole, a pin-head sized hole, and then a hole about 1/2 the size of an eraser head. I'm going to see what the options are to get it fixed professionally. I part of me wants to get it tailored to fit just a little bit more loosely, but another part of me wants to see if anyone who would fit this suit right would want to trade if they have a suit that is slightly on the bigger side for them.

In any case, another one saved! Oh, and here is the best part - rummaging through pockets after the sale I found this:

...which is what you see in the above photos

 

[SteveAS]

Congratulations on a that one. The grosgrain bow tie in that shape is a nice plus, too. I've had trouble finding, despite having looked, a self-tie version of it.

 

[Johnny J]

1946 Bond Clothes DB Suit

Nov 23 1946

I tried to take a pic of the Union Label but it was too hard, like if the inside pocket is a little smaller. But the label is crisp, like if it was made yesterday. Looks like the copyright date is 1939. Can anyone tell me what "SBU" stands for? Its on the Workers of America Union Label.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

The grosgrain bow tie in that shape is a nice plus, too.

Not to quibble, but that bowtie is barathea, not grosgrain.

 

[SteveAS]

Not to quibble, but that bowtie is barathea, not grosgrain.

Thanks for correcting my misunderstanding. Could you point me to a photo that would show the difference, by any chance?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Thanks for correcting my misunderstanding. Could you point me to a photo that would show the difference, by any chance?

Sure!


Barathea: http://media.photobucket.com/image/...Gaelic%20Themes%20Jackets/BlackBarathea-1.jpg

Grosgrain: http://www.picklenosebows.com/760_427_csupload_17862258.jpg?u=3267662304

Faille: http://www.blacktieguide.com/Classic/Neckwear/polo_faille_tied.jpg

 

[SteveAS]

Thanks! So, basically, grosgrain has very pronounced ridges whereas barathea has relatively subdued ridges, which run on the bias?

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Thanks! So, basically, grosgrain has very pronounced ridges whereas barathea has relatively subdued ridges, which run on the bias?

Not exactly. Barathea has a pebbled surface, and grosgrain has a ribbed surface. When the ribs are thicker, it's called grosgrain; when the ribs are very thin, it's called faille.

 

[Red Leader]

Found another one:

Unfortunately I cannot wear it as it is too big for me (size 44, I'm a 39)...let me know if you have a smaller jacket you'd like to trade!

 

[GoldenEraFan]

Completely overlooked this thread!
Late '40s bold look suit.

 

[resortes805]

Not mine for long, for sale in the classifieds.

 

[resortes805]

 

[DamianM]

Im keeping an eye on this one

 

[resortes805]

1940s or 1930s?

 

[DamianM]

thats a pretty high gorge, sturdy cut, stiched edges......so maybe 30s..late

 

[The Rag And Bone Man]

A recent thrift shop find.. now I have two suits made by Timely Clothes, they are identical in every way, one purchased in America, only a few short months ago, and this one I found only two days ago at my local op shop.

I will upload the other later as there is a slight difference in labels..

 

[mimesis2nemesis]

That looks like a great find, and the fit looks really good! Congratulations!