to match or not to match?

[Guest]

Smoking jackets/suits are only ever appropriate for the host at home, when dining with family and close friends on High Days and Holidays - probably, these days Christmas, Easter and family anniversaries.
NJS

I should conclude, therefore, that the gentleman on the left side is the host, while the poor man on the right side, devoid of any protection to repel the fumes of his host, is the guest. But something puzzles me: what is a bartender doing in the back of the room on the occasion of a family gathering, and why does the host intend to prevent his guest from turning the newspaper into a mess?

marcelo

I should surmise that they do not live at their club (which also has a steward sans jacket) and that they beetle about, in public, in their smoking jackets and, worse, with their cigar bands on!!! -Worse still, smoking cigars with 250ml glasses ("will that be a large one, sir?") of vin rouge.
NJS

[Guest]

Smoking jackets/suits are only ever appropriate for the host at home, when dining with family and close friends on High Days and Holidays - probably, these days Christmas, Easter and family anniversaries.
NJS

I should conclude, therefore, that the gentleman on the left side is the host, while the poor man on the right side, devoid of any protection to repel the fumes of his host, is the guest. But something puzzles me: what is a bartender doing in the back of the room on the occasion of a family gathering, and why does the host intend to prevent his guest from turning the newspaper into a mess?

marcelo

I should surmise that they do not live at their club (which also has a steward sans jacket) and that they beetle about, in public, in their smoking jackets and, worse, with their cigar bands on!!! -Worse still, smoking cigars with 250ml glasses ("will that be a large one, sir?") of vin rouge. Is this a template or a warning?
NJS

[Guest]

I should surmise that they do not live at their club (which also has a steward sans jacket) and that they beetle about, in public, in their smoking jackets and, worse, with their cigar bands on!!! -Worse still, smoking cigars with 250ml glasses ("will that be a large one, sir?") of vin rouge. Is this a template or a warning?
NJS

Might the "vin rouge" be port? Not that that would make it any more acceptable as it would ruin the port, imho. (I am a long-reformed former smoker)

As to smoking jackets being worn today, on my latest visit in July there was a completed or almost completed smoking jacket displayed in the shop at Meyer & Mortimer, in bottle green, I think. I had previously been shown the frogging in the making: it uses two different thicknesses of strand (silk?) assembled by hand (I had innocenty assumed that such things were purchased ready-made!). It looked rather splendid. One would think the customer intends to wear it.

I seem to remember that John Gielgud wore one in one scene of Brideshead Revisited (the 1980 or so television version), as Charles Ryder's father on one of the latter's vists home. Would that be Hampstead in the twenties?

Frog in Suit

[Guest]

FiS - I considered whether it might be port - but the glasses are far too big for a clubland measure of port and, as you say, it would ruin the port - need a spirit with a cigar.
NJS

[Guest]

NJS,

An Armagnac, perhaps....

Frog in Suit

[Guest]

Exactly. I have had two glasses of Armagnac which made me feel that I was drinking bottled sunlight - one (a 1898) in the old Grill Room of the Cafe Royale and the other (1914) at Crockford's. Spirits indeed. Made me truly awful - in a literal sense.
NJS

[Guest]

...Spirits indeed. Made me truly awful - in a literal sense. NJS

Really? The inhabitants of Gascony are supposed to live five years longer than the average French.

[Guest]

...Spirits indeed. Made me truly awful - in a literal sense. NJS

Really? The inhabitants of Gascony are supposed to live five years longer than the average French.
marcelo

[Guest]

...Spirits indeed. Made me truly awful - in a literal sense. NJS

Really? The inhabitants of Gascony are supposed to live five years longer than the average French.
marcelo

Maybe it is because of the preservative powers of the drink!!
NJS

[Guest]

...Spirits indeed. Made me truly awful - in a literal sense. NJS

Really? The inhabitants of Gascony are supposed to live five years longer than the average French.
marcelo

Maybe it is because of the preservative powers of the drink!!
NJS

Most amusing to think that they may be pickling themselves alive!

pvpatty

[Guest]

Really? The inhabitants of Gascony are supposed to live five years longer than the average French.
marcelo

Maybe it is because of the preservative powers of the drink!!
NJS

Most amusing to think that they may be pickling themselves alive!

pvpatty

It beats drowning in a butt of Malmsey!
NJS

[Guest]

The photo was, presumably, taken before the smoking ban. I have a friend who lives in his Mayfair club. He is one of several members who do so during the week and head for the country at weekends. They dine and smoke on the terraces outside in the summer. I believe that they should feel able to wear a smoking jacket in and around the club.

[Guest]

Here are three pictures of Edward VIII (Edward Fox) in the TV series “Edward & Mrs. Simpson” (1978) donning a – in my opinion – beautiful black smoking jacket. Guests to the King are: Winston Churchill (Wensley Pithey) and Walter Monckton* (Nigel Hawthorne) There is a previous scene where He wears the same garment having PM Baldwin as a guest.

http://us.share.geocities.com/marceloeva/Edward_1.bmp

http://us.share.geocities.com/marceloeva/Edward_2.bmp

http://us.share.geocities.com/marceloeva/Edward_3.bmp

Giving the function of a smoking jacket, I assume that the sleeves are always long enough to encompass the shirt cuffs. But it had not occurred to me that a smoking jacket may well be adorned with a handkerchief. No cigar bands are visible this time. But what are they drinking in addition to coffee – some Vintage Armagnac?

*Who Walter Monckton was : http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/2702371.stm

marcelo

PS: For some reason the pictures will not appear with the tags

e.g. :

[Guest]

Dear Marcelo,

Thank you for the pictures (and the information). Great clothes, and also great furniture and decor. Exactly what one would wish to be accustomed to!

Frog in Suit

[Guest]

Marcelo,
I agree with FiS. I remember this series when it was first shown - well acted and produced - the sets and costumes were spot on - I am not sure whether they had use of the actual Fort Belvedere for the filming but, whether they did or not - it was all extremely well done. Can I now trace the future possibility of re-acquainting myself with this splendid series?!!
best,
NJS