A question of vents...

[pchong]

I recently managed to get around to viewing the DVD set of Jeeves and Wooster...marvellous set...and enjoying the wonderful humour, and especially Hugh Laurie's clothes in character as Bertie.

I noticed that he almost always wears a double breasted suit with a waistcoat when in town. And all his suits seem to be vent-less. I thought that traditional English coats had side vents and going ventless was an European affectation.

Would learned members please enlighten? Much thanks.

[Concordia]

Fashions were different in the 20s and 30s.

[couch]

Especially for Bertie's double-breasted gray city suits. Ventless DB coats were quite usual, I believe.

[HappyStroller]

Could it be because they were DBs, i.e., it's more traditional for DBs to be ventless?

[pchong]

I am keen to find out too...my first ever DB was ventless, but every one after was side vented...

Could it be because they were DBs, i.e., it's more traditional for DBs to be ventless?

[RWS]

Could it be because they were DBs, i.e., it's more traditional for DBs to be ventless?

Certainly it's not traditional for SB coats to be ventless -- nor to be double-vented, for that matter. Single-vented only, for me.

[Cufflink79]

[/quote]Certainly it's not traditional for SB coats to be ventless -- nor to be double-vented, for that matter. Single-vented only, for me.[/quote]

Side vents look great on both SB & DB jackets, but that is just my opinion.

Best Regards,

Cufflink79

[sartorius]

I remember that jackets without vents were fashionable in the 80s when I was a teenager and starting to think seriously about clothes. It was a difficult time for the style conscious adolescent, as will be apparent if you check out Don Johnson in his Miami Vice heyday!

Apparently jackets with side vents tend to drape better on those with "a more pronounced seat" (I do so enjoy the capacity of the english language for euphemistic understatement).

[The Doctor]

If like me you put your hands in your trousers pockets, with side vents it still keeps a clean line at the back.

[Dragon]

Both look good (ventless or side vents) but I think the traditional for DB jackets is ventless.

[pchong]

what ho! chaps! (hmm, quite dangerous viewing these videos...one tends to end up speaking like those chums there)

For my own coats, I have always used double vents...either on SB or DB. I simply prefer that...for hands in pocket stance as well as to allow some protection to the um...pronounced seat.

I saw Bertie in Season 1 Episode 3 - and spied a very nice town suit in SB, peak lapal with matching DB peak lapelled waistcoat. The SB was also ventless.

[HappyStroller]

Yes, the English language can be so diplomatic. For instance, about not playing pocket billiards. Perhaps that's the reason why the Duke of Edinburgh and Prince Charles always seem to clasping both hands behind their backs while strolling or standing still. It just does get more difficult to hold such a pose as more and more fat deposits grow on both the front and back of one's body.

[pchong]

Ah right, pocket billiards...of course you are right, Happy to note that the royals take great care not to put their hands in their pockets...but their coats do sport double vents, eh, both Charles and David.

[HappyStroller]

Both Their Excellencies, the Duke of Edinburgh and the Prince of Wales, are role models for proper dressing. PChong, Sir, I beg your pardon, but who is the David you refer to? Prince Albert (George IV?).

Might interest some of us to learn that Alan Flusser in his book DRESSING THE MAN - MASTERING THE ART OF PERMANENT FASHION mentions "the British side vent" and refers to the centre-vented back as "an American predilection". I was under the impression the British invented both ventless and vented, whether side or centre, jackets; the centre vent descended from horse-riding tradition while side vents were a Savile Row "predilection".

[DFR]

Ah right, pocket billiards...of course you are right, Happy to note that the royals take great care not to put their hands in their pockets...but their coats do sport double vents, eh, both Charles and David.

David?