Vintage Wardrobe Tour · 2:59pm Dec 23rd, 2024
So, I have just completed the draft of the next chapter and am proof-reading it before sending it for editing, which means unfortunately it's not coming out before Christmas. However, while I was reorganising my wardrobe, I decided to take some photos and share the silly, expensive hobby I am now far too invested in to ever give up. These are vintage clothes that I've collected slowly over the course of about ten years now, largely from eBay, Etsy, and bought from a friends who are also into this sort of thing. I don't wear these every single day, but will wear them when going out or to specific events. On average I'd wear one of the suits about once a month at most. Most days I would wear reproduction vintage-style suits from the likes of Chester Cordite.
Late 1940s British, definitely post-war three piece suit in grey with white and red stripes. You can date it to the period 1941 to 1951 thanks to the CC41 logo on the inside, but given that it's a double-breasted style with a waistcoat it could only have been made after fabric rationing had ended.
Also late 1940s post-war suit. Burtons, in a sort of air force-blue-grey colour with a faint stripe. Again, this one has the CC41 logo
French bespoke suit dated from 1949. Though it's from the same sort of era as the previous British suits, you can see it has more of a continental style with the shape of the lapels
Finnish 1930s three piece suit. The jacket is cut very short in a fashion they referred to as the 'bum-freezer' at the time. The wool is extremely thick and heavy and the shoulders are heavily padded. Yes, I am aware of the stain on the sleeve. Unfortunately it won't come off.
American, probably 1930s but it's hard to make out the date on the union label. This one is unfortunately in a worn state so I don't wear this one particulary often, particularly the trousers, but I may keep the jacket as a sport coat.
British, also probably 1930s but there's no date label. The styling looks more '30s than '40s, with its straighter lapels. I'm not good at taking photos, but it is black. While various #menswear bloggers will say black suits are overrated, there is something very cool about pulling off a black suit.
This one is probably my favourite of the bunch. Dated 1958, so quite modern by the standards of the rest of the wardrobe, it's nevertheless made in a very conservative style for the period (even if the stripes are very bold). There is a name tag inside, which indicates that it belonged to a British Army officer who just so happened to be precisely the same size and shape as me.
Not a suit, but a navy blazer with bronze buttons that belonged to the same fellow who owned the previous suit. The buttons have the logo of the Scots Guards, which is why I'm a bit wary of wearing it in public. Still, it looks very good with a pair of grey flannel trousers and a striped club tie for that 'look at me, I'm a rich bastard' look.
The oldest in my collection, a 1931 dinner suit, or 'tuxedo' to the Americans. I tend to reserve this for truly special occasions after 6pm.
This one isn't technically a suit, though we refer to it as a 'black lounge suit' here in Britain, the Americans call it a stroller suit, and the Germans a Stresemann. Once the uniform for clerks and bankers, a black suit jacket with striped morning trousers and a waistcoat is now mostly relegated to Free Masons and butlers. Still, it's fun to indulge in a bit of national stereotyping and wear this with a bowler hat and while carrying a rolled umbrella and a copy of The Times. This example is made up of mixing a 1930s jacket, likely European given the massively wide lapels, with a set of 1940s morning trousers.
Merry Christmas.
Nice collection 👌.
Merry Christmas! That's quite a few suits!
The Finnish one being thick and heavy wool makes sense; it gets cold over here.
At this point it's historic (considering it's Finnish, maybe it's grease from a sniper rifle).
My late grandfather was born in 1931 (but nowhere near the place where this one was made).
You can't go wrong with a black suit (I have one, other than that I have some jackets in different, but rather conservative colours. I go crazier with shirts and sweaters, though).
Metry Christmas. 🥂
I don't know why I was even suprised. Collecting Vintage suits is just perfectly fitting for a classy history nerd.
Nice, I feel like you're fimfiction's answer to the Menswear guy on Twitter.