Are sharkskin suits popular again?

[neato]

In the past, I've always associated sharkskin suits with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. However, lately I've noticed quite a few modern celebrities wearing sharkskin suits. Some look way too shiny/flashy, while others have a very slight sheen that look decent. Is it just my imagination, or is sharkskin in style again? If so, do you think it's just a fad, or does it have some staying power?


.........I guess what I really want to know is if sharkskin suits are okay to wear to the office, or only out to a bar?

 

[Twotone]

I bought a blue/teal sharkskin suit a few years ago -- a good, but not great suit. Sharkskin can still work for a suit, provided it does not have a shiny luster to it. The rat pack sharkskin suits of the 1960's would look dated today. Mine has gotten relegated to informal wear -- not something that would be appropriate for the boardroom or an interview. At best, sharkskin would make a fourth or fifth suit fabric choice.

 

[ColdEyedPugilist]

Never went out of style for me, but I don't follow trends so what do I know?

Here's mine anyway:

 

[charliebrown2]

man, i sure hope they're not out of style. just placed an order for the navy sharkskin from indochino (it doesn't look too shiny to me)

 

[facet]



Never went out of style for me, but I don't follow trends so what do I know?
Here's mine anyway:

That suit looks very good, imho. Where did you get it?

 

[ColdEyedPugilist]



That suit looks very good, imho. Where did you get it?

In Sydney (where I live)

A hand-finished made-to-measure from P Johnson Tailors.

Fabric is Loro Piana Navy Sharkskin (from their All Seasons Book).

 

[ryoneo]

I never knew it went out of style. Not all sharkskin fabric have a high sheen to them. It's very durable though.

 

[Dib]



I never knew it went out of style. Not all sharkskin fabric have a high sheen to them. It's very durable though.

+1 on both counts

 

[Holdfast]

Is it just my imagination, or is sharkskin in style again? If so, do you think it's just a fad, or does it have some staying power?

I think a general current interest in suits with something of a sheen was sparked by Cruise's blue MI4 suit earlier this year. I don't think it specifically was sharkskin but nonetheless I think it's resulted in a few people wanting to wear slightly shiny suits again. This sort of popularity comes and goes.

In and of itself, sharkskin can be a nice fabric if it's made of natural fabrics (eg mohair/wool blend). It's been around for ages and won't be going anywhere I suspect, regardless of peaks & troughs of wider popularity. Personally, I not massively keen on it - if I want a very slight sheen, a little silk in the blend but without a typical sharkskin weave would be my preference - but still, I can see the appeal.

 

[Patek]

I think it is a good use of the sharks besides just making soup out of the fins and throwing the rest away.

 

[Kaplan]

Isn't sharkskin just a type of weave (AKA Pick n' Pick) and doesn't have to be shiny at all?

 

[Cantabrigian]



Isn't sharkskin just a type of weave (AKA Pick n' Pick) and doesn't have to be shiny at all?

It is among people who would be inclined to know that sort of thing.

I imagine John Q. Public would associate it with shine since most (recognizable) examples are shiny.

 

[Ebichuman]



It is among people who would be inclined to know that sort of thing.
I imagine John Q. Public would associate it with shine since most (recognizable) examples are shiny.

Exactly. I have a light grey sharkskin and it has no shine but texturally it is very smooth, the other end of the spectrum from donegal or something similar.

 

[JLibourel]

I never knew there was anything untoward about sharkskin (aka pick and pick). I had Chan make me up a suit from a VBC 110 gray sharkskin a couple of years ago. Truth be told, I didn't even know it was sharkskin until Patrick Chu told me it was. That suit will always have a special place in my heart because one day, while I was wearing it, a lady--a complete stranger, I might add--volunteered that I looked just like Cary Grant! I had never fancied there was a resemblance, so I think it must have been the gray suit!

 

[Grammaton Cleric]



I think it is a good use of the sharks besides just making soup out of the fins and throwing the rest away.