The Thread to Display Your 1930s Suits

[Monitor]

Benny Reese of Reese’s Vintage Pieces is a premier expert on men’s vintage wear.

https://www.etsy.com/shop/ReesesVP

I can message you his phone number also if you would like.

Did so and he immediately cleared things up. Thank you!

You have a nice, dated tuxedo jacket, but unfortunately it doesn't come with trousers, which isn't too bad. I think the bigger problem is that the owner had the jacket altered in the late '50s/early '60s to reflect contemporary tastes: The lapels have definitely been narrowed, which is sure to be off-putting for fans of the '30s and significantly lowers the price.

Excellent info. That's basically what Benny Reese said.
What a stupid thing to do to this jacket, though! The material is insanely thick and heavy, just doesn't make any sense anyone'd try to make it more modern. It's literally thicker than winter coats today.

There's also a vest that came with it which is really nice, though and doesn't seem altered.

Either way, I wish It'd fit me although not that many occasions for me to wear a tuxedo.

Thank you!

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

Did so and he immediately cleared things up. Thank you!



Excellent info. That's basically what Benny Reese said.
What a stupid thing to do to this jacket, though! The material is insanely thick and heavy, just doesn't make any sense anyone'd try to make it more modern. It's literally thicker than winter coats today.

There's also a vest that came with it which is really nice, though and doesn't seem altered.

Either way, I wish It'd fit me although not that many occasions for me to wear a tuxedo.

Thank you!

You're welcome!

Even if this doesn't really make sense to you, because no one would do that today, it was common practice back in the post-war 1950s to "modernize" clothing. For example, lapels were narrowed, trouser legs were tapered, coats were shortened, and so on. On the one hand, there wasn't always enough money for a new suit (especially if the old, tailored one still fit), but on the other, people wanted/needed to keep up with fashion but keep conservative (a gentleman who had a tuxedo made for himself at the age of 30 in 1938 would be 50 in 1958, certainly more conservative than the 30-year-old in 1958, and probably still couldn't show up at a dinner event in a pre-war tux).

As for the weight of the scarf, the opposite is common these days: exceptional quality is characterized by fabrics with a particularly high thread count, making them particularly thin and light. Back then, things were a little different, and, for example, particularly thick and heavy silk satin for the lapel and lining was a sign of quality. The fabrics themselves were also heavier, but still wonderfully wearable. Here again, the owner, who was 50 years old and conservative in 1958, preferred his quality pre-war fabric, had no interest in the synthetic fabrics that were currently all the rage, and wanted to show it. He wasn't an R&R youth, dancing the foxtrot at evening events or going to the theater—the thicker fabric rarely made him sweat ;-)

 

[Monitor]

You're welcome!

Even if this doesn't really make sense to you, because no one would do that today, it was common practice back in the post-war 1950s to "modernize" clothing. For example, lapels were narrowed, trouser legs were tapered, coats were shortened, and so on. On the one hand, there wasn't always enough money for a new suit (especially if the old, tailored one still fit), but on the other, people wanted/needed to keep up with fashion but keep conservative (a gentleman who had a tuxedo made for himself at the age of 30 in 1938 would be 50 in 1958, certainly more conservative than the 30-year-old in 1958, and probably still couldn't show up at a dinner event in a pre-war tux).

As for the weight of the scarf, the opposite is common these days: exceptional quality is characterized by fabrics with a particularly high thread count, making them particularly thin and light.

Aye, now that you put it that way, 1938 didn't seem so long ago in the 1950's or 60's. I mean, I still think of the 1980's being just a few years back, even though nearly half a century went by. . .

Actually, it's what I'm doing right now when I'm altering 1970's suits to fit me the way I want, as I like the heavier material but not the bell bottoms, for instance.

Back then, things were a little different, and, for example, particularly thick and heavy silk satin for the lapel and lining was a sign of quality. The fabrics themselves were also heavier, but still wonderfully wearable. Here again, the owner, who was 50 years old and conservative in 1958, preferred his quality pre-war fabric, had no interest in the synthetic fabrics that were currently all the rage, and wanted to show it. He wasn't an R&R youth, dancing the foxtrot at evening events or going to the theater—the thicker fabric rarely made him sweat ;-)

Mean Eyed, let me just thank you for the fantastic info which explains what I've been pondering on ever since I got the thing. Didn't make any sense to me why would anyone have a tuxedo made in such a heavy material - The silky satin on the tux is in all honesty substantial enough to be outer material of any kind of jacket, let alone something one'd use as a lining. Especially not in combination with this kind of wool of which is as thick as any WW1 uniform that I have had! - But now it not only makes perfect sense but it's something I relate to.

Now to figure out what to do with it. . .

 

[Mean Eyed Matt]

Aye, now that you put it that way, 1938 didn't seem so long ago in the 1950's or 60's. I mean, I still think of the 1980's being just a few years back, even though nearly half a century went by. . .

Actually, it's what I'm doing right now when I'm altering 1970's suits to fit me the way I want, as I like the heavier material but not the bell bottoms, for instance.



Mean Eyed, let me just thank you for the fantastic info which explains what I've been pondering on ever since I got the thing. Didn't make any sense to me why would anyone have a tuxedo made in such a heavy material - The silky satin on the tux is in all honesty substantial enough to be outer material of any kind of jacket, let alone something one'd use as a lining. Especially not in combination with this kind of wool of which is as thick as any WW1 uniform that I have had! - But now it not only makes perfect sense but it's something I relate to.

Now to figure out what to do with it. . .

I know these thoughts and initially struggled with the thickness and weight of the fabrics, but now a modern jacket made of very thin fabric feels strange, as if I were wearing a second shirt over my regular shirt. It's all a matter of habit!


So you're welcome, Monitor
– I'm glad I contributed a little to 'enlightenment'. And at the same time, your jacket also gave me cause to think about a suit from my wardrobe that was altered at the same time.
So thanks to you too for sharing!

 

[ragtime_joe]

Hello, I’m in search of a 1930s belted suit. Anyone have one they are looking to offload?

 

[Peacoat]

Hello, I’m in search of a 1930s belted suit. Anyone have one they are looking to offload?

You might want to post this in the Classifieds, as well.