1930s/40s Orphaned German Jacket – “Frey”

I found this jacket in Paris a few years ago, but I’m pretty sure from the lapel style, interior pocket treatment (strip of fabric at pocket mouth extending from front facings) and tailor’s name, that it’s a German jacket from the 1930s or 1940s. I’m also pretty sure it’s been shortened, but when I took apart the bottom seam I couldn’t find evidence of shortening so it’s been done professionally.

In all a very nice orphaned suit jacket that’s easily useable as a sportscoat paired with light coloured trousers that pick up on the shade of the chalk stripe in the jacket.

1920s (1923) Sri Lankan White Wool Twill Jacket

As if 1920s gear wasn’t rare enough, 1920s Colonial wear is rare to the nth degree, especially in good condition. This jacket is fashioned out of white twill wool, and lined in white silesia. It was made in Colombo, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) 1923 (see label in last pic) for one H. V. Stroud, by the major department store “Cargill’s”. It has a typically early 1920s silhouette and style with 2 closely set and rather high positioned buttons, and high gorge “fishmouth” peak lapels. The shoulders are unpadded, the only shaping being provided by some cotton sleevehead wadding. The arms are cut to an older pattern, the shoulder seams are extremely backward sloping as is typical of older tailoring, and the front facings extend into the upper chest & shoulder area, another feature that appears increasingly more as you go back in time.

This perfectly wearable jacket will form a solid part of my summer wardrobe.