Dec
1930s De Pinna white linen suit — Beyond the fact that this suit is nearly eight decades old, there’s a story to go with it:
The man who gave me this suit told me that it belonged to his father. His father purchased it at the De Pinna department store on 5th Ave. in NYC. De Pinna is a now-defunct department store that was known for its high quality, conservative clothing and was owned (along with Brooks Brothers) by the parent company of Julius Garfinckel & Co. out of Washington D.C.
Here is what the man recalls of the suit’s history:
“On Friday June 28, 1940 my Father dressed in this linen suit and his best friend - both newly minted physicians - steamed away from Pier 32 in NYC on the American Republics Line S.S. Argentina bound for a great adventure to South America. For two months they ventured by ocean liner, train, private car, donkey and dugout to ‘Rio, Sao Paulo (the Chicago of Brazil), Montevideo, Buenos Aires, the Great Lakes way to the south hidden amongst the Andes, Arequipa and the Quinta Bates, Cuzco and Macchu Picchu on the swift waters of the Urubamba, the myriads of flamingos resting on the shores of Lake Titicaca and Lima the ‘City of Kings.” These were the days where each accommodation was preceded by a letter of introduction, one dressed for dinner, and the world unfurled before you.”
You don’t really want to know how much it costs to own this suit, but it’s definitely something to admire — especially being so clean after all these years.
Jul
Vintage Lubiam 1911 Prince of Wales check sport coat — If this silk-wool blended jacket was in my size, I’d be all over it. Size 40R, $45. What a steal!
ADDING: If you wanted it, then it’s too late. Like a hawk, theodinspire beat you to it.
Oct
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s briefcase.
This would top the Antique Roadshow Top 5 list for sure!
Paging itsworn.
(via theatlantic)
Sep
Prince Charles gets a column in VOGUE and talks about upcycling vintage clothing
Good column, but Vogue only posted an edited-down version online. To read the whole thing you’ll need to grab their September issue.
Aug
WWII Japanese officer googles — Those side shields are nifty.
Aug
WWII Japanese army winter tunic — I’ve spent the afternoon browsing eBay to see if there’s any WWII-era Japanese military stuff I’d like to snag. Sadly, this jacket’s arms are much too short for me (21”), but someone should definitely copy this style and sell it. I really dig the look.
Aug
Found on Etsy: Playboy waistcoat
Until I snagged this, I didn’t own any vests. Now, I’ve got a unique piece that’s dying to be worn without a jacket.
I’m not completely sure of the backstory behind this Playboy-licensed waistcoat, but I found it on Etsy for $20 and knew instantly that this would probably be the one and only vest I’d ever need.
I don’t feel entirely comfortable wearing just a vest to work (as I’m more of a tie and jacket kind of guy), but for going out this seemed like worth having in the arsenal. The infamous bunny logos are subtle throughout the lining on the inside and on the back, with a dark charcoal front with a thin, widely-spaced chalk stripe.
I don’t know much about this product, as it’s a vintage piece, but I did find this listing on eBay that claims the suit is from the 1950s (take that date range with a grain of salt).
My best guess is that the waistcoat is part of a three-piece suit like this ensemble, but who knows how many were made, who distributed them and such. While I couldn’t afford that 3-piece suit, I was stoked to find this vest for a mere $20. Add in another $25 in tailoring and I think it’s time to call it quits on finding the perfect waistcoat.
Aug
Vintage denim suit — You’d have to be fairly bold to rock this thing, definitely down with the “western” aesthetic. Not something I’d wear (ever), but I do believe someone could pull it off and make it rock.
At Etsy for $49 + shipping.
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