Questions about vintage? Just Ask!

Vintage expert, Celeste Hong answers your vintage questions!

Hi Celeste,


I saw your email address about vintage questions on the Betty Boo blog.


I have a question. My husband and I want to dress vintage, but I am not sure about how to decipher between the decades for men's suits. What are the distinctions between a suit from the 20's, 30's, and 40's so I will know what to look for when I shop for him?

Thanks for your help!

Tina
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Dear Tina-


The thing with men's vintage is that it's harder to find than women's vintage, and it's a matter of whether you and your husband want to dress in vintage or in vintage reproductions. However, here are a few guidelines:

Men's suits in the 1920s had a softer shoulder line on the jacket, with a slimmer, tapered trouser leg, single breasted jackets were more common. 1930s men's suits were cut slim to the body, and often had a "belted back," a piece of fabric at the waist in the back of the jacket to define the waist, the trousers were fuller than the 1920s, often were cuffed, and "broke" just above the top of the shoes. 1940s men's suits had a stronger shoulder line, which was more square, the trousers were high waisted, full as they were in the 1930s. A visual guide is the best way to educate yourself, and the local library is the best place to start, here are a couple of titles with images of men's clothes from the 1920s-1940s:



Everyday fashions of the Twenties: http://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Fashions-Twenties-Pictured-Catalogs/dp/0486241343/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275979127&sr=8-1

Everyday Fashions of the Thirties: http://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Fashions-Thirties-Pictured-Catalogs/dp/048625108X/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275979155&sr=8-6



Everyday Fashions of the Forties: http://www.amazon.com/Everyday-Fashions-Forties-Pictured-Catalogs/dp/0486269183/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1275979196&sr=8-1

You can also check out The Fedora Lounge:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/

Celeste