1920s suits

[Burma Schave]

Most likely a result of that being where the topstitching ends, and an unpressed hem which has "rolled".

I think that's right.

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Am I seeing things, or are there rear darts? See 3rd stripe in from side seam at waist level.

bk

 

[Fastuni]

Indeed, four rear darts.

 

[Qirrel]

Indeed, four rear darts.

I only see two.
Combined with the sloppy cutting work they make the back look like a mess. I'm inclined to think that they are not original. On one of the pictures on a previous page it looks like they have been cut through, exposing the raw edge. All the other seams are taped.

 

[Two Types]

Some photos of British holiday wear in the mid to late 1920s:

Ordinary working men - nothing fancy about their outfits.

 

[Burma Schave]

I only see two.
Combined with the sloppy cutting work they make the back look like a mess. I'm inclined to think that they are not original. On one of the pictures on a previous page it looks like they have been cut through, exposing the raw edge. All the other seams are taped.

Qirrel, the darts are not original. We must keep in mind that these suits had been in a movie studio's wardrobe collection for 80+ years. How many times they have been altered, unaltered, and re-altered by wardrobe seamstresses is anybody's guess.

 

[Burma Schave]

Here's one final photo of the first 1920s suit in action.

Below is a middish 1920s suit (1924-'26, maybe?) that is not part of the film studio wardrobe collection. Seems to be a plum color.

The lining is made of an alpaca wool blend, which was typical of 1920s American suits. British suit makers continued to use alpaca lining for a decade or so longer.

 

[Burma Schave]

Notice how wide the trouser legs apparently are.

 

[Two Types]

By the look of the writing inside the waistband, the suit was at some point in the collection of this company:

http://www.marlenesheirlooms.com/historical.html

 

[Two Types]

How wide are the trousers? The width makes me think that the suit would be from post 1925 when the wide-legged look became popular.
(That said, press reports that i have seen from the USA talk about wide legged trousers spreading from the UK in late 1925. However, I have also seen other reports talking about wide trousers being popular in the USA prior to 1925, with some sources claiming that the 'Oxford bags' fashion was actually inspired by an early twenties wide-legged fashion in the USA. Sometimes fashion history is just too uncertain and confusing).

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Great suits and pictures, Burma Schave and TT. Thanks for sharing.



If you every wondered what to do with the belt when wearing the jacket open...

1927

 

[Fastuni]

Do you by coincidence know something about the context of this photo?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Not sure, but I'd say he dresses to the left!:eeek: A warning to those who favour tight trousers …

 

[Flat Foot Floey]

Title says: "Claudette Colbert & Norman Foster in the 1927 Broadway play The Barker"
The gal from "It happened one night", you know?

@ Baron: I say so too but nobody listens.

 

[Fastuni]

"Claudette Colbert & Norman Foster in the 1927 Broadway play The Barker"
The gal from "It happened one night", you know?

Thanks. She looked familiar - but didn't recognize immediately it's her. The photo looked "actorish".

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Another non-suit, I'm afraid, but dated 1924, and British. My lilac boating blazer. I'm not sure if Angels made it, or acquired it sometime later. I got it from a small theatre wardrobe dept, via eBay. I hope the picture of the button gives an idea of how soft and fuzzy the fabric is!

The bottom label here looks like another wardrobe department label. The BBC wardrobe dept. labels are similar in style/code-type etc.

I think these arm liners are later additions. Under them, the arms are lined in the same material used for the pocketbags. [EDIT] through a hole in the liner, I see that the whole jacket is done like this, with each panel backed by this cotton twill. So, no evidence that the arm liners are replacements.

 

[Two Types]

I bet you get some looks when you wear that one!

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Would that I had he guts to wear it more often! The East End is no more ready for this stuff today than it was in the 1920s! At least there's no razor gangs now, though … just *** gangs, so that's aright then.:eusa_doh:

 

[Mr. Speakeasy]

Is that blazer signed by Jim Byrnes?

 

[Baron Kurtz]

Jim Byrne, I don't see an S on the end.