Palm Beach Suits 1930-40s

[Baron Kurtz]

You're right. Take large 30s suits, add a pinch of super rarity (PB) and mix thoroughly. Bake for an hour and whaddaya get?

No chance. It ***** for the big guys, but that's the way the market is. Rest assured that i envy the size 38-42 people also. Below 38 is pretty rare, too, and 35S is very hard to come by. Most of my stuff - at 36 and 37 - is a bit too big, though not too big to be overly noticeable.

bk

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Did the uniform come to you with insignia or did you add it? What material is it?

Um, it's Palm Beach cloth, silly. :eusa_doh:

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[Fletch]

Oh. Right. That cotton/mohair blend. That was good stuff for a uniform because it didn't rumple too readily.

I wonder if anyone will ever try reproducing it now that the mo is endangered. (Or is it? All I know is I never see 'em around.)

BTW Baron, 3 stripes and a star is a commander, 4 is a captain.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

If I recall correctly, Palm Beach cloth was produced by one mill, and production stopped in the late '50s or early '60s. Turns out that nyon and dacron blends became more popular (and cheaper?).

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[Tomasso]

I wonder if anyone will ever try reproducing it now that the mo is endangered. (Or is it? All I know is I never see 'em around.)

IIRC, the Mo is now off the endangered species list; came off together with Vicuna. BTW, they seemed very friendly so it wouldn't surprise me if we see some little Mocunas in the not too distant future.

 

[Fletch]

And if corporate SOP was followed, when the mill went belly up, the secret blend went up in smoke. Probably take a chemical assay to figure it out now. Then loads of experimentation to get the weave and finish.

Then you'd have a super heavy goods that costs several times more to make per yard than anything available now, and which most people today would not wear in any season.

:rage: Aaarggg, I hate the basic laws of economics.

 

[Marc Chevalier]

Lest we forget, Palm Beach suits were made for women, too:


http://dmla.clan.lib.nv.us/docs/museums/cc/russellexhibits/exhibits/decades1-6/exhibit4/e40004a.htm

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[Fletch]

A little staid. I see a children's governess wearing this with very heavy round glasses and clunky white shoes.

 

[Mojave Jack]

Man, i've got that EXACT Lorraine jacket. They never seem to come with trousers, do they? I have some ads from Aparel Arts from the 30s which show that they made full suits - even with waistcoats! I also once passed on a 1938 dated PB navy officers jacket in a Goodwill (had one star on the arm above the yellow stripes (3 or 4) at the cuff - what rank is this?). Went back next day and, surprise, surprise she was gone.

Three would be a Commander, and four would be a Captain. All line officers have the star on the sleeve; medical, legal, and other non-line duty officers have other insignia about the rank stripes.

Back on topic, great PB suit, BK!

Luckykat, That officer's tunic is awesome! It would actually be Army Air Force, rather than Army Air Corps. The 20th AF was constituted in 1945; not that the jacket isn't any older than that, of course, but that's a great find, regardless! Congrats!

 

[Orgetorix]

IIRC, the Mo is now off the endangered species list; came off together with Vicuna. BTW, they seemed very friendly so it wouldn't surprise me if we see some little Mocunas in the not too distant future.

Y'all are pulling our legs, right? Mohair comes from a goat. [huh]

 

[Tomasso]

Y'all are pulling our legs, right? Mohair comes from a goat. [huh]

Yes, it was a quip in response to this comment by Fletch which I took to be in jest as the Angora goat has never been on the endangered list. (The Vicuna was recently removed from the endangered list.)

I wonder if anyone will ever try reproducing it now that the mo is endangered. (Or is it? All I know is I never see 'em around.)

 

[cookie]

Angora Goats

There's thousand of them critters Down Under Ellie May - they gather round all the ceeement ponds aka dams.

 

[LuckyKat]

Man, i've got that EXACT Lorraine jacket. They never seem to come with trousers, do they?

I have the pants to go with them!

 

[Marc Chevalier]

SURPRISE!

Swatches of Palm Beach Cloth for suits, circa 1935. Note the variety:

 

[Alan Eardley]

Palm Beach material

What extraordinary weaving! Look at No. 5503.

Alan

 

[Tomasso]

How about those prices!

Note the variety:

...............

 

[Fletch]

Banker's Grey has gotten a LOT lighter since 1935:

 

[cookie]

1930s PB style suits

This has a nice big lapel and is linen - any observations?
The jacket

The vest

The Pants

 

[Fletch]

Sharp. Definitely 30s. But 4 patch pockets on a vest is too many unless you're going after duck.

 

[reetpleat]

Anyone pick up tha sweet three piece on ebay last week? I suspect the sizing was off and it was actually about a 34 or 36.

Are those pics of it above?