28 September 2011

All the Details

An urbanized country jacket from the early 1960s, this little number has all the details:
"Urbanized"  because it's sleek and trim, fashioned of a soft lightweight tweed...not thick and heavy and thorn proof, and clearly not for shooting birds in the wet high grass. Killer cool nonetheless.
Hacking pockets (you know, the kind set at an angle)...

...a throat latch, for cold days...
...a flap breast pocket. The button is a fake, and will have to go...
...single button cuff tabs, unusual but I can dig it....

...admittedly, the full Norfolk belt may be a tad much, even for me..

...fortunately, the front and back are separate, attached by buttons at the side, giving the option of wearing only a half belt in back....and a hooked vent for good measure.

The cheesy grey fake leather buttons will have to go. For some reason, in the early '60s, so many great things were adorned with bad buttons. No matter, it's a small fix. I'm thinking dark brown real braided leather, or maybe even wood.

I've got the charcoal flannels and wide wale cords covered. All I need now is a cashmere turtleneck in tan, cream, or dark charcoal. Better keep the attitude in check, though. The line between stylish and unbearably pretentious is razor thin with garments like this, but I'm willing to have a go on the tightrope.

The generous gift of Mrs. G., bought at a thrift shop for less than eight bucks.

Thanks, Hon.

14 comments:

Young Fogey said...

That is an incredible find. What a wonderful, thoughtful, caring wife you have!

gentleman mac said...

Leather buttons would be expected; go with the wood. I agree, the front belt is a no go.

Anonymous said...

I don't know, although it looks well made, it's a little costumey.

Roger v.d. Velde said...

I really like that coat. Detaching the belt, as you described, it could be worn around town on an autumn day. I have a similar one in a greenish tweed, but the back belt is fixed and the pockets are flapped patches. Yours is nicer.
The buttons were almost identical , but brown. Like you plan to, I swapped them for leather buttons.

You're such a lucky sod in your thrifting.

Yankee-Whisky-Papa said...

Horn buttons might look good. It would shift it towards a more Tyrolean look.

Sheik of Araby said...

Speaking of Tyrolean looks, you must wear this with your Alpine hat.

cammie said...

that's a fabulous blazer. I may duck hunt more than you, but I think you can pull it off. Bad buttons have to go

ADG said...

You know I revere and respect you...for numerous reasons. But that jacket is some wrong shit. Irreparably so...the fabric is too flimsy for the Norfolk that it's trying to be. Shut up.

Giuseppe said...

Trust ADG to be the one who steps up to trash talk a bells-and-whistles laden piece of clothing such as this.

Wait and see, brother. It' sgoing to kill with the Tyrolean hat and this tan corduroy vest I just picked up.

Unknown said...

Loving it. The belt in front adds a British late-40s military flair; fun, but you're probably right to ditch it. Unless you're commonly addressed as 'Major' or something.

Jho78 said...

What an amazing find, congratulations! AND she bought you a sweet jacket!

Yankee-Whisky-Papa said...

Don't listen to any of these sayers-of-nay. Wear it with a bow tie and a pith helmet if you want to.

Anonymous said...

Sorry, but it really comes off as silly and rather dated.

For the most part, I enjoy your posts, but when I see something as dated and sad as this somehow forwarded as something new and interesting, it comes across as bad salesmanship.

The jacket strikes me as a bad cloth version of a Vega or a Pinto -- interesting in its time, but completely retarded in 2011.

Sometimes its good to step back and realize not everything from '72 or whenever-the-hell-it-was is compatible or applicable to modern times....

ADG said...

Ok. Sorry. Apologies mostly to your wife...mother of those lovely kids. Now go burn that mutha futha jacket.