Just a few HATS. Does the first one look familiar? It was born in 1939:
And finally, some BELTS, SUSPENDERS, WATCHES, SUNGLASSES and even a TANNING LIGHT:
Fifty years before “Swatch” watches were a hit, there was …:[COLOR="Black"].[/COLOR]
Here's a catalogue from a 30s british tailors i recently picked up. A nice little quarto volume put out by Willerby & Co. Ltd. Willerby promote themselves as "the largest credit tailors in the country". Lay away suits for the less well off. They were based on the Tottenham Court Road in London, but had multiple London and "Provincial" branches. This particular example of their catalogue i suspect to be from the middle 1930s, but i'm not sure for certain. Note how peak lapels on a single breasted jacket (see model "The Berkeley") are described as "Double Breasted Lapels"bk
Of 19 models, 15 are smoking cigarettes or pipes.bk
[COLOR="Black"].[/COLOR]It's been way too long since 1930s menswear catalog images have been posted around here. Time to rectify that.These pictures come from three different catalogs, ranging from the early to later '30s. I don't own any of the catalogs, unfortunately. Enjoy the visual education!
More pages available on request.
[COLOR="Black"].[/COLOR]It just doesn't get better than this!A pamphlet published in 1927 by ROGERS PEET CO., a long gone menswear store which was like Brooks Brothers, only better.Read the text. Scrutinize the accompanying cartoons. Marvel at the creativity and sheer clever fun of it all. Ask yourself why a superb store like Rogers Peet could relax and take itself less seriously in 1927(!) than Brooks Brothers does today. Mourn for what we've lost.[COLOR="Black"].[/COLOR]
The photos below were taken from 1916 to 1921 by Clement Kieffer, Jr., a pioneer in the store window display field. Mr. Kieffer played a very active part in professionalizing a type of work that never been taken seriously in America. He was a co-founder and Executive Committee chairman of the “International Association of Display Men.”Clement Kieffer designed the window displays for WEED, arguably the most prestigious men’s haberdasher in Buffalo, New York. Mr. Kieffer took photos of nearly every one of his displays from 1916 to 1921. He pasted these photos in a book, which is now in my hands. Take a look at the variety of suits. On some jackets, the breast pocket has a flap. Lots of VERY early double-breasteds, including a few with notch lapels. Some belted backs, too – a nod to WWI uniform designs. Note the rounded shoulder (what today is called a “Neapolitan shoulder”) and the rolled lapels. There are even a few Palm Beach Cloth suits! And check out the so-called “odd waistcoats.”
[COLOR="Black"].[/COLOR]In another thread, we asked ourselves about the wardrobes of (male) collegiates. What did they wear? What was sold to them? How did they choose their clothes? What influence, if any, did they have on men's fashion? Here to help is a fascinating article from the advance Fall 1934 issue of good ol' Apparel Arts. The topic? How to sell clothes to college boys. Have fun!
