Other Magazines

[Guille]

As many other members, I love the illustrations in Apparel Arts and Esquire magazines from the 30s. However, I have also interest in other magazines from before, and I have equally liked the illustrations that have been posted on the forum from earlier periods (end of 19th and start of 20th centuries) or from other places (German magazines, for example).

Searching on the internet I have come across this webpage:
http://www.the30sstyle.com/
Although I can't read Chinese (or is it Japanese?), I can tell it is the webpage of a group of Asian men who dress in the style of the Golden Age and meet dressed like that. The thing is, that their 'links' section is a very good source for illustrations of the era.

Particularly the ones that lead to the webpage costumes.org contain many illustrations from different magazines, such as:
Men's Dress Spring and Summer 1935 designed and custom tailored by J.L. Taylor & Co. New York & Chicago
J.L. Taylor Catalog of Men's Suits 1936-1937
Chicago Woolen Mills Co. 1937 'Fashions' Catalog

Scroll down those pages and you'll notice many many worthwhile illustrations. I must admit (and I think you will all agree) that these magazines lack the originality, the creativity, the innovation of AA/Esquire. They do not offer such perfectly, fantastic, astonishing and marvelous clothes. The clothing (and the men) aren't quite as elegant. But I will say some things in favour of them: they feature many different styles (many that you can't see at the AA/Esquire magazines, like 6x3 double breasteds, odd styles of waistcoats, many many types of coat backs), and more importantly, as they are mainly magazines from tailors, they depict different kind of men (with different kind of bodies, I mean) so that men would know what the tailors' solutions are for them. You can see shorter men, heavier men, but also tall ones and thin, and some with short extremities and some with wide faces and many other differences. This is most helpful, I believe. The AA/Esquire illustrations are good, but they often feature the same kind of bodies and even the same faces (there are about 8 faces, and there are very small variations done to them so that they look different), sort of like nazi propaganda seeking an ideal measurement (by the way, has anyone noticed that they are nearly always quite tall, have wide shoulders, thin waists and long legs...? Or perhaps they don't, and the reason we see this is how the illustrators are telling that the clothes they wear make them improve any aspect of their bodies?). In any case, the illustrations are useful to know about style in those times and feature personal favourites (mess jackets, 'prince Albert' frock coats...), and this is why I wanted to let you all know about them. I hope you enjoy them as I do.

[Milo]

Searching on the internet I have come across this webpage:
http://www.the30sstyle.com/
Although I can't read Chinese (or is it Japanese?), I can tell it is the webpage of a group of Asian men who dress in the style of the Golden Age and meet dressed like that. The thing is, that their 'links' section is a very good source for illustrations of the era.

.

It is Japanese. The text has some interest but also a fair amount of oddities. I get the impression that it is more about dressing out than dressing. The links to illustrations (and movies) are as good as you say, though - thank you for sharing!

Milo

[Guille]

It is Japanese. The text has some interest but also a fair amount of oddities. I get the impression that it is more about dressing out than dressing. The links to illustrations (and movies) are as good as you say, though - thank you for sharing!

Milo

I thought it would be japanese because it seemed too western-oriented as to come from China. I agree, they seem more interested in looking like the 30s than having the elegance of the 30s now, i.e. they wear costumes. About the illustrations, I'm happy you liked them.