The SwissArmySuit™: a sartorial strip tease

Sebastian · Mar 31, 2009

Originally Posted by Philosoph

I'm thinking the sleeves are detachable and can be transferred between the jacket and vest to go from SB to DB.

That would be the shortest DB jacket, we have ever seen around here.
Even the Thom Browne victims would look like wearing frock coats in comparison...

Baron · Mar 31, 2009

I'm thinking that there must be a second pair of trousers without the high back, to be worn more casually without the vest. That still doesn't get my mind to a wider gulf between formal and casual - just a similar gulf stradling a more formal part of the spectrum.

Philosoph · Mar 31, 2009

Originally Posted by srivats

I thought about that ... even if the engineering is possible, there is the problem of length on the vest. So I dropped the idea. We have to think out of the box - rather out of the suit.

Yeah, I wasn't serious about that. I really have no idea what's going on here. Manton's BlazerSuit was just usable in separate pieces. But Vox has been hyping this one as a complicated engineering project.

ysc · Mar 31, 2009

I think that suit is the most flattering thing you have posted. I don't know if it was the one button or just the shape of the jacket but it looks terrific.
After all the build up the swiss armyness better be pretty exciting, maybe the waistcoat turns into swimming trunks and the jacket is lined with terrycloth so you can go straight from the beach to the boardroom?

mack11211 · Mar 31, 2009

It would be more versatile if you had horizontal zips on the trouser legs above or below the knee, for conversion to shorts.

Blackl3232 · Mar 31, 2009

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread...37#post1862437

I think there's a hint in there somewhere...

Douglas · Mar 31, 2009

I wish I were smart enough to figure this out. Vox, your posts are always informative and entertaining. I'm dying to know what it is you do for a living.

Not that this is all that bold a statement, but I'm sure it has something to do with the jacket. He's gone out of his way not to show us any closeups of the jacket, even though we got some closeups of the vest and trousers. I am guessing that he could wear any other trousers with this to dress it down.

I can't imagine it's reversible. How the hell would you get the thing to look right? The shoulders, drape... and the sleeve buttoning would be impossibly complex. And he mentioned the lining.

The jacket could be dressed down with more casual buttons, so I'd guess that the buttons are interchangeable in some simple fashion. Still, putting gold buttons on a one-button jacket might appear odd.

But that can't be it. Trick buttons are neat, but not all that novel.

Sebastian · Mar 31, 2009

Originally Posted by Blackl3232

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread...37#post1862437

I think there's a hint in there somewhere...

So it would be reversible.
That means two patch pockets and swelled edges on the inside of the jacket...

Maybe even belt loops on the inside of the trousers...

Who knows...

Threak · Mar 31, 2009

It's probably all held together by VelcroÂ

.

UnFacconable · Mar 31, 2009

I think in addition to being able to swap out the one button shown, that the jacket can accommodate multiple buttons. Look at how the lapel rolls in his jacket open picture. It doesn't roll naturally to the one button. I can't see the button holes for the other buttons, but it's likely that instead of traditional buttonholes he just has normal slits. That or he photoshopped them out.

If that isn't the case, than I don't like the way the lapel rolls when the jacket is open.

srivats · Mar 31, 2009

Originally Posted by Blackl3232

http://www.styleforum.net/showthread...37#post1862437

I think there's a hint in there somewhere...

Good catch. So it is a suit and a blazer, all in one. The jacket is not definitely reversible. The only way then this would work is if all the compoents of the jacket "come out" and you can manually reverse them all and put it back together.

I am reminded of one of DoW's trousers where he had boxers attached by buttons. Maybe a really CRAZY arrangement of similar sorts might work here. But I still cannot understand what happens to the canvas, sleeve lining etc. Those can't stand all by themselves, can they?

srivats · Mar 31, 2009

Originally Posted by UnFacconable

I think in addition to being able to swap out the one button shown, that the jacket can accommodate multiple buttons.

Swapping buttons alone wouldn't make it SwissArmySuit. Think man, think!

I really like the lapel roll on this suit, its expertly done.

Vox, is there a prize for the person who correctly guesses how the SwissArmySuit works?

ysc · Mar 31, 2009

I don't see why you couldn't have a reversible jacket, I'm trying to dodge working so I just put one of my jackets on inside out, in the manner I would imagine a reversible jacket would be put on, and I should think if sufficient thought was put into the construction this could work.

srivats · Mar 31, 2009

Originally Posted by Threak

It's probably all held together by VelcroÂ

.

LOL! I thought about velcro too, and I can't imaging Steed using velcro - what happens when you stretch your back or arms? A rrrrripping sound and your sleeve begins to come apart? NO!

Blackl3232 · Mar 31, 2009

Originally Posted by UnFacconable

I can't see the button holes for the other buttons, but it's likely that instead of traditional buttonholes he just has normal slits. That or he photoshopped them out.

That was one of the first things I noticed...maybe it's just the picture quality, but in the picture with the jacket unbuttoned the buttonhole is nearly invisible.

The SwissArmySuit™: a sartorial strip tease

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