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Advice on hand-me-down suit. Can it be not a costume?

post #1 of 32
10/5/11 at 9:08am
Thread Starter 

Hey all, this is my introduction to Style Forum, so please be gentle. Still learning the rules and ropes. 

 

Anyway, this is a suit passed on to me. I have a feeling it's been thrifted for several generations, so any original details are lost on me. All I can say with certitude is that it's Pierre Cardin and from some place called Field Brothers. No address or further info on tag. 

 

I quite like the color, I didn't have a light-colored suit beforehand, and I'm a sucker for a 3 piece. But, as you'll see in the photos, it's really, shall we say, of an era. 

 

As gentlemen of discerning taste, do you think this could be casually worn without drawing unwanted comments ("I hear the BeeGees are reuniting!") or are the lapels and styling just too much? Also, the pants seem pretty damn massive though fit at my waist pretty well. Worth tapering them in so they're a bit less bell bottomy? Lastly, I can't find tags on it and my sense of touch ain't great. Based on the pattern photo, does anyone have any inclination if this has any percentage polyester? It's of that moment...

 

Basically, I'm asking if this suit's a bust or not. Something about it makes me not want to let it go, but I also don't know how to rock it too much. Keep in mind I'm in my mid-20s so it's not as if I'm wearing this to a lot of formal get-togethers and I'm inclined towards looking like I could have fun, but I don't want to look like an idiot. Let me know if I should supply more info to help form opinions. 

 

Thanks guys! 

 

IMG_1358.JPGIMG_1370.JPGIMG_1363.JPGIMG_1360.JPG

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post #2 of 32
10/5/11 at 2:20pm
Your question was "can it not be a costume?" The answer is: not if you wear it as is. The enormous lapels and the very large patch pockets make it look really dated. Acutally, not just dated; a classic suit jacket would have lapels nowhere near that size. That's more of a bad fashion experiment. I suppose a gifted tailor could reshape the lapels, but the cost would be far more than the suit is worth, and results would not be guaranteed. There's no way to tell by looking at the pattern whether there's any polyester content, but search around inside the jacket and its pockets -- there may be a tag that lists the fabric content.

The pants look more salvageable than the jacket. You can find many useable items at your local thrift store, but this isn't one of them.
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post #3 of 32
10/5/11 at 2:24pm
Probably not. ^ Rolex is right on the money here.
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post #4 of 32
10/5/11 at 2:28pm
Hussein Bolt could not run fast enough away from that suit. It is even too horrible for a costume.

Sorry dude.
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post #5 of 32
10/5/11 at 2:30pm
Those lapels pretty much relegate this suit to either 'costume' or 'FU'. That said, it could just so fashion forward that nobody else has even realised it yet ... devil.gif
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post #6 of 32
10/5/11 at 2:35pm
This is a pure 'period' garment. To screw around with will be ineffective.

There is however, a market out there looking for 70's era goods that have not been altered. Look online for websites that specialize in this stuff and either learn the buzz words so you can sell it on ebay or offer it up to one of the websites.

It's actually kinda fly in it's own ridiculous/excessive way. But only for a theme party or retro night club.

Definitely not to be seen in 'real life'.

565
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post #7 of 32
10/5/11 at 2:36pm
Do yourself a favor and ignore tone76's comment.
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post #8 of 32
10/5/11 at 2:38pm
I hate to say it, but ........

......... I do not find it horribly offensive ..............

Its not something I would want to wear, but there are one or two guys in the Waywrn thread that could possibly carry it off in a "personal fashion forward sense"
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post #9 of 32
10/5/11 at 2:41pm
Pay no attention to the jokesters. Focus, noob.
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post #10 of 32
10/5/11 at 3:12pm

Some styles come and go, some are cast into the fiery depths of hell, never to emerge again except as nightmares. The popular 70s suit is in the latter category.

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post #11 of 32
10/5/11 at 3:41pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by Truism View Post

Hey all, this is my introduction to Style Forum, so please be gentle. Still learning the rules and ropes. 

 

Anyway, this is a suit passed on to me. I have a feeling it's been thrifted for several generations, so any original details are lost on me. All I can say with certitude is that it's Pierre Cardin and from some place called Field Brothers. No address or further info on tag. 

 

I quite like the color, I didn't have a light-colored suit beforehand, and I'm a sucker for a 3 piece. But, as you'll see in the photos, it's really, shall we say, of an era. 

 

As gentlemen of discerning taste, do you think this could be casually worn without drawing unwanted comments ("I hear the BeeGees are reuniting!") or are the lapels and styling just too much? Also, the pants seem pretty damn massive though fit at my waist pretty well. Worth tapering them in so they're a bit less bell bottomy? Lastly, I can't find tags on it and my sense of touch ain't great. Based on the pattern photo, does anyone have any inclination if this has any percentage polyester? It's of that moment...

 

Basically, I'm asking if this suit's a bust or not. Something about it makes me not want to let it go, but I also don't know how to rock it too much. Keep in mind I'm in my mid-20s so it's not as if I'm wearing this to a lot of formal get-togethers and I'm inclined towards looking like I could have fun, but I don't want to look like an idiot. Let me know if I should supply more info to help form opinions. 

 

Thanks guys! 

 

IMG_1358.JPGIMG_1370.JPGIMG_1363.JPGIMG_1360.JPG


Perfect to wear to screenings of "Saturday Night Fever"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturday_Night_Fever
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post #12 of 32
10/5/11 at 3:49pm
Like many here, I am not a big fan of the suit. The fabric could be a 60/40 Wool/Poly blend.
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post #13 of 32
10/5/11 at 3:58pm
Reshaping lapels shouldn't be that hard for a competent tailor. It fits well in other regards, so why not? At least get a quote. Usually the biggest challenge for that job is the buttonhole, but in the 70's, they didn't bother with those, as you can see.

Seriously- in the 60's, local dry cleaners offered lapel and tie slimming, or at least some of them did. There are photos floating around out there.

And the leg of the pants is easy enough to recut. Low budget alteration, just get a nice straight fit.

As for the fabric, the weave won't tell you that, you would have to know the feel. It's possible.
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post #14 of 32
10/5/11 at 7:08pm
I don't think SF rules or approved even comes into it. This suit is 1970s, end of. One could probably wear it in rural China though, where 1970s fashions didn't actually happen. You never know though, wide lapels and bell bottoms could be back in again next year?

You could always use the waistcoat as a layering piece.
Edited by MikeDT - 10/5/11 at 7:22pm
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post #15 of 32
10/5/11 at 7:18pm
Quote:
Originally Posted by tone76 View Post

Those lapels pretty much relegate this suit to either 'costume' or 'FU'. That said, it could just so fashion forward that nobody else has even realised it yet ... devil.gif

This.

Basically what goes around, comes around.

Hasn't RL been doing a couple of blazers with similarly shaped lapels recently?
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Edited by MikeDT - 10/5/11 at 7:41pm
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Styleforum › Forums › Men's Style › Classic Menswear › Advice on hand-me-down suit. Can it be not a costume?