Tag Archives: Suits

The Latest Styles for Men & Young Men, Autumn & Winter 1942-43, Ferris Woolen Co. Chicago

This catalog of Men’s and Women’s Tailored Garments would have been published about 6 months after the US joined World War II in December 1941.  It is the sort of thing a store would keep on hand as a guide for ordering semi-custom made garments, even though with rationing on wool being rather severe, the trade in civilian garments would have been considerably curtailed.  Therefore, unlike pre-war catalogs of similar type, there are pages of officer uniforms and women’s work wear suits shown as options.  This type of catalog was usually used to order suits that were 90% mass manufactured, that were later finished to size on the cuffs of jackets and hems of trousers at the store where they were purchased after a fitting on the wearer.

Interestingly, the color images appear to all be printed using only 3 colors of ink: black, bright red and deep blue, which are cleverly used to create the browns, grays and dark blues of the woolen styles.  This makes for all the pops of color having a patriotic flavor, as well as ties in with the theme of “All American Styles!” which is featured in the catalog text and illustrations.  It also likely saved on ink, which would be viewed as both patriotic and practical.

1910 Spring-Summer Great Western Tailoring Company Catalog, Chicago

Cover image of a cowgirl and her horse

Scene from Theatrical presentation of Ceasar

Four Button Sack Suit

Three Button Sack Suit

Two Button Double Breasted Sack Suit

Straight Front Sack Suit

Actress Leslie Carter in a Play, c. 1910

Three Button Sack Suit with fancy details

Two Button Sack Suit with Long Lapels

One Button Sack Suit with Long Lapels

Five Button Sack Suit with Fancy Detailing

Three Button Double Breasted Sack Suit and One Button Sack Suit with Long Lapels

Three Button Double Breasted Sack Suit and a Four Button Sack Suit with rounded corners

Actress Miss Talliaferro in “Polly of the Circus” Stage production c.1910

Long Roll Lapel Sack Suit and a One Button Sack Suit

Norfolk Jacket Sack Suit, and a Three Button Sack Suit with Fancy Details

Two loose swatches from the catalog
Page with two loose swatches

Two Button Sack suit, Two Button Outing Sack Suit, and Three Button Double Breasted Sack Suit
Swatch page with missing swatches

English Walking Frock coat suit, Three Button Frock Coat Cutaway jacket and Morning Stripe Pants, and One Button Frock Coat Suit
swatch page with missing wool swatches

Scene from a theatre performance of “The Fighting Hope”
Swatch page with missing swatches
Formal evening dress (left) and formal day dress (right) for 1910
Formal wear for men in 1910, L to R: Tuxedo with Shawl Collar (Evening wear for all male gatherings), Full Dress “White Tie” and tailcoat for formal wear in evening gatherings in mixed company, a Single Breasted Prince Albert suit for formal day occasions, a Tuxedo suit with peaked lapels for Black Tie evening wear, a double breasted Prince Albert coat for formal day occasions like weddings.
swatch page with missing swatches

A large group of 1910  white men in formal dress and blackface makeup arrayed in a row on stage for a blackface minstrel show.
“Lambs Gambol” Minstrel show
Swatch page with missing swatches
Page of choices for available pocket and cuff details
Choices of cuff and pocket details
Cuff and pocket choices, detail
Cuff and pocket details
Cuff and pocket details
Swatch page with missing swatches

Coats: Fly Front Overcoat, Top Coat
Chesterfield Overcoat

Styles of trousers
Styles of Trousers: Regular, Half Peg, Full Peg
Swatch page with missing swatches

swatch page with missing swatches
Vest Styles
1910 Vest Styles
Swatch page with missing swatches
swatch page with missing swatches
stray loose swatch
What to Wear advice for men in 1910 for all occasions
What to wear in 1910 for men: advice for all occasions