Custom Mao suit

[Kent Wang]

I am contemplating having a Mao suit made. I would wear it primarily as a costume, not really as serious wear. I have a friend in Shanghai who can have a tailor make one to my measurements. He expects it would cost less than RMB 300. Those of you in Shanghai, is there a low cost tailor you would recommend? Including shipping, the cost to me would be less than USD 100, which is quite reasonable. What material is typically used, cotton or wool? I suppose olive is the archetypal color. I generally think of the Mao suit as more flattering for a portly fellow; would it work for a svelte person? Perhaps my perception of that is heavily influenced by images of Mao, who was quite plump through most of his life. He was slender in his earlier years:

Sun Yat-Sen also looks quite dapper here:

It really has a very military quality to it. The four pocket design is not unlike the M65 which, when well-cut, is an excellent streetwear jacket.

 

[mack11211]

Looking at the design of it, the only thing I don't like is the placement of the hip pockets. They're on the side, so if you put anything in them you will look hippy.

With pockets empty, a Mao should look fine on such a svelte thing as yourself.

 

[texas_jack]

I am guessing a heavy cotton twill would be traditional but a heavy linen might be cool too.

 

[Film Noir Buff]

Don't forget the finishing touches.

http://www.theeastisred.com/cufflinks/cufflink3.htm

 

[Sator]

Given the fact that Mao was responsible for the deaths of millions of Chinese isn't this about as tasteful as getting a Nazi SS uniform made up?

 

[Kent Wang]

Many people still wears these suits in China.

Mao suit, the name, is a foreign mistranslation. In Chinese, the suits are called Sun Yat-Sen suits as he is the claimed inventor.

This is quite a different situation than Nazi uniforms. You also should not vilify Mao as much as you would Hitler.

 

[Sator]

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

This is quite a different situation than Nazi uniforms. You also should not vilify Mao as much as you would Hitler.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mao_Zedong

Many people now hold Mao to be responsible for more deaths than Hitler.

This is not a political forum so this will be my last post on this subject.

 

[Kent Wang]

I've defended this point in other threads before. If you wish, you may search for them and reply there.

 

[LabelKing]

I have a bespoke Mao suit--made by the famed Baromon tailors--that was my uncle's. It is in a wool fabric. I believe it's from the '70s.

 

[luk-cha]

Originally Posted by Kent Wang

Many people still wears these suits in China.

Mao suit, the name, is a foreign mistranslation. In Chinese, the suits are called Sun Yat-Sen suits as he is the claimed inventor.

This is quite a different situation than Nazi uniforms. You also should not vilify Mao as much as you would Hitler.

well i dont know where you get this misconception from, perhap you have spent too much time in the villages where the water bufflow roam freely! but i have been to some many place in CHina both the big and small cities, also i have been to countless village too in Mao home town and i have never seen an large amount of people wear the "MAO" suit, suit yes western suits but never these!

 

[Film Noir Buff]

Originally Posted by LabelKing

I have a bespoke Mao suit--made by the famed Baromon tailors--that was my uncle's. It is in a wool fabric. I believe it's from the '70s.


Do you wear this?

If you do, then get the cufflinks!

 

[Kent Wang]

Originally Posted by luk-cha

well i dont know where you get this misconception from, perhap you have spent too much time in the villages where the water bufflow roam freely! but i have been to some many place in CHina both the big and small cities, also i have been to countless village too in Mao home town and i have never seen an large amount of people wear the "MAO" suit, suit yes western suits but never these!
They are mostly worn by the elderly. The neighbors of my grandmother in Shanghai were wearing them when I visited them earlier this year. They are certainly not wear by the majority but have hardly disappeared entirely.

 

[luk-cha]

on the building site in shanghai have you ever seen the workers wearing suit to to the labouring?

also the only time i have seen the Mao suit is in BeiJing in navy blue, i think this is 1 reason why i am not a fan of navy!

 

[luk-cha]

also sorry i should add also the Mao should be in Navy poly-wool! with plastic buttons!

 

[acidboy]

The Mao suit should be comfortable enough to be worn while doing glorious hard labor, like harvesting rice and mining. They should also not be taken in at the waist.