How can you tell if a suit is recent?

[crashoran]

I found some decent Zegna suits today, but I'm not sure if they are considered 'recent' or not.

 

[Maccimus]

Carbon 14?

 

[SuitMyself]

Originally Posted by crashoran

I found some decent Zegna suits today, but I'm not sure if they are considered 'recent' or not.


Where did you find these suits? I assume in a secondhand store?

These are some of the features to look for if they are relatively recent (by the way, how would you define recent, though?):

- notch on lapels are placeD higher, closer/nearer to the top of the shoulder line

- handkerchief breast pocket is also placed higher

- button stance on front of jacket is a bit higher (around mid torso)

- jacket shoulders should be relatively narrow--they should NOT sag off your shoulders and make you look like a football player wearing extra shoulder pads

- jacket's fit around the waist should be suppressed or pinched in

- jacket should have side vents or center vent in the back

- pants should be flat-front, not pleated

- pants should have a lower rise (a short fit in the crotch)

- pants should fit a bit lower on the waist

- general silhouette of pants should be trim, not full around the thighs and the bottom leg width should not be full, as well


Please feel free to add to this list, folks. Thanks.

 

[amplifiedheat]

Originally Posted by Maccimus

Carbon 14?

Damn, I was going to say that.

 

[crashoran]

Thank you for the replies. I found them at a thrift store.

 

[MyOtherLife]

Originally Posted by SuitMyself

Where did you find these suits? I assume in a secondhand store?

These are some of the fetures to look for if they are relatively recent (by the way, how would you define recent, though?):

- notch on lapels are place higher, closer/nearer to the top of the shoulder line

- handkerchief breast pocket is also placed higher

- button stance on front of jacket is a bit higher (around mid torso)

- jacket shoulders should be relatively narrow--they should sag off your shoulders and make you look like a football player wearing extra shoulder pads

- jacket's fit around the waist should be suppressed or pinched in

- jacket should have side vents or center vent in the back

- pants should be flat-front, not pleated

- pants should have a lower rise (a short fit in the crotch)

- pants should fit a bit lower on the waist

- general silhouette of pants should be trim, not full around the thighs and the bottom leg width should not be full, as well


Please feel free to add to this list, folks. Thanks.

 

[crashoran]

One more question, I found an Armani suit that looks brand new, pockets still closed, additional buttons in breast pocket, but no size tag with information on either the pants nor jacket. It doesn't look like the tags were cut out. Have you ever encountered this?

 

[alliswell]

Could be made to measure that a customer didn't pick up. Are you getting this stuff from Neiman Marcus?

 

[Nicola]

Could have fallen off the back of a truck.

For the first question check the label thread.

 

[crashoran]

http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/z...als/photo5.jpg
http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/z...als/photo4.jpg

Is it possible to know which year these suits were made by the label?

 

[k4lnamja]

Originally Posted by SuitMyself

Where did you find these suits? I assume in a secondhand store?

These are some of the features to look for if they are relatively recent (by the way, how would you define recent, though?):

- notch on lapels are placeD higher, closer/nearer to the top of the shoulder line

- handkerchief breast pocket is also placed higher

- button stance on front of jacket is a bit higher (around mid torso)

- jacket shoulders should be relatively narrow--they should NOT sag off your shoulders and make you look like a football player wearing extra shoulder pads

- jacket's fit around the waist should be suppressed or pinched in

- jacket should have side vents or center vent in the back

- pants should be flat-front, not pleated

- pants should have a lower rise (a short fit in the crotch)

- pants should fit a bit lower on the waist

- general silhouette of pants should be trim, not full around the thighs and the bottom leg width should not be full, as well


Please feel free to add to this list, folks. Thanks.

Does an unvented suit mean it's "older"?

 

[SuitMyself]

Originally Posted by k4lnamja

Does an unvented suit mean it's "older"?

No, not necessarily, I suppose.

Generally speaking, the last time closed vented jackets were in style was from approximately 1987 to approximately early 2000ish.

All I can tell you is that if you're looking for suits in a thrift store and you find suits with no vents, then you can be pretty sure those are older, outdated suits from around that era (see above dates). There are certain exceptions, of course, such as Armani who is famous for nonvented jackets, but, still, you couldn't pay me enough money to wear nonvented jackets ever again. EVER.

 

[Despos]

Originally Posted by crashoran

http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/z...als/photo5.jpg
http://i821.photobucket.com/albums/z...als/photo4.jpg

Is it possible to know which year these suits were made by the label?

Look for the expiration date

 

[k4lnamja]

Originally Posted by SuitMyself

No, not necessarily, I suppose.

Generally speaking, the last time closed vented jackets were in style was from approximately 1987 to approximately early 2000ish.

All I can tell you is that if you're looking for suits in a thrift store and you find suits with no vents, then you can be pretty sure those are older, outdated suits from around that era (see above dates). There are certain exceptions, of course, such as Armani who is famous for nonvented jackets, but, still, you couldn't pay me enough money to wear nonvented jackets ever again. EVER.

What is it about nonvented that you despise? Aren't nonvented more for casual looks. Ie using one as a blazer. I read it's possible and foolish to turn a nonvented initial a vented via tailoring.

 

[Matt S]

Originally Posted by k4lnamja

What is it about nonvented that you despise? Aren't nonvented more for casual looks. Ie using one as a blazer. I read it's possible and foolish to turn a nonvented initial a vented via tailoring.

Vent-less jackets are more formal and more old-fashioned, and they are least appropriate on sports coats and blazers. Vents are sporting in origin. Ventless coats cannot be converted to vented.