History's Runway: A Gentleman's "Teddy Boy" Ensemble, 1951

Suit, 1951
The Victoria & Albert Museum

This three piece suit is made up of a single-breasted jacket, waistcoat and pants of dark grey herring bone wool. The jacket features three buttons, and an inside pocket. It is lined in dark gray twill rayon. The trousers taper to turn up and have buttons for braces. The waistcoat is single breasted with six buttons, stepped lapels and four pockets. It is lined with striped silk and has a dark gray silk back. It was meant to be worn with a bowler hat and waisted overcoat with a velvet collar. This was the epitome of men’s fashion in England in the early 1950s and was adopted as the preferred style of dress by a particular group of fashion-conscious men known as “The Edwardians” because of this throwback to the styles of the early Twentieth Century when Edward VII was reigning. These fashionable men were also known as “Teddy Boys.”


This particular suit was made for a young man in 1951 who ordered it to be an exact copy of one worn by Winston Churchill in 1911 at the end of the Edwardian Era and the accession of King George V.

Antique Image of the Day: A "Vanity Fair" Cover by "Spy", 1900

Winston
"Spy," 1900
The Victoria & Albert Museum

We’ve talked about “Spy” before. The son of two of my favorite artists (E.M. Ward and Henrietta Ward), Sir Leslie Ward used the name, “Spy” when he created his famous caricatures for the cover of “Vanity Fair.”


Here, we see a print entitled “Winston” depicting Winston Churchill, which graced “Vanity Fair” in September of 1900. This is one of a series of portraits published by “Vanity Fair” under the title “Men of the Day.”

Obscure Book of the Day: Winston Churchill

Here’s another Pitkin Guide. It chronicles the long and interesting life of Winston Churchill and is titled, “Tribute to Churchill: His life, His passing. His State funeral..” This one’s easy to date since it includes photos from Churchill’s funeral which are said to be “recent,” thereby making the publication date 1965.

Among the usual images of Churchill looking grim amongst other politicians and at the scene of battles, it is also peppered with casual images of a jolly Prime Minister with celebrities, Royalty and, as a young man, with his bride. It’s an interesting look into the life of one of the most famous men in the world.

Let’s take a look inside…