12 December 2009

Formal Week: The Tartan Dinner Jacket

Tartan Dinner Jacket from 1944

Altered by Chris Despos of Chicago

Pattern matching at pocket

I have to admit this wasn't the tartan I went looking for. I really wanted a subtle Black Watch but they're hard to find and this appeared on eBay just when I needed it. It was listed as a 44 Long so I had bespoke tailor Chris Despos of Chicago take a look at it. Chris doesn't do alterations anymore but he did me a favor and shortened it.

The wool is whisper light and perfect for a hot and crowded charity auction. I did get a lot of ribbing at the auction. I thought I might. It was Chicago after all but I had this sense of wearing history. Chris had found a tag putting the jacket's manufacture at 1944. I can't find it now but I know it's in there somewhere. It really doesn't matter. I know and that's enough. Tomorrow we'll wrap this up with formal accessories.

11 comments:

  1. ADG- I'm often mistaken for being in the band.

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  2. Now THAT's A JACKET !!!

    Love that it's from the 40s - Wear it in good health!

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  3. http://books.google.com/books?id=wUkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA123&dq=plaid&as_pt=MAGAZINES&ie=ISO-8859-1&output=html&cd=1

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  4. Do you wear the jacket or does the jacket wear YOU? ME

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  5. Richard M - Thank you for that link. Great stuff.

    ME- You tell me.

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  6. Funny, I was at an event around Halloween where they thought I was in the band as well. I like to think it's because they were the only other well dressed (ish) people there...

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  7. Anyone who was ribbing you was just jealous that they didn't have the stones or the creativity to wear something like that.

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  8. One of my fondest memories was going with my father to Chips, and hiding under the carousels, while he was being fitted for a black watch tux. I'm showing my age!

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