ITEM OF THE WEEK A thick pipe is held in your hand, you sit in a large comfy chair with wooden legs by a roaring fire, on the mantel sits various trinkets collected over the years, and smoke wisps up from the open end of the pipe as you contemplate what the future may hold. The quiet is only interrupted the inaudible ticking of the pocket watch that sits in your left pocket on the vest you wear. It would be great to return to the 1850's just to see the fashion and one of those pieces of history was the smoking jacket. It was strictly used for the use of tobacco usually in the forms of pipes and cigars or for simple leisure. It has very strict guidelines because it must be made of velvet, cashmere, plush, merino, or printed flannel. Usually it's tied at the waist with a belt but modern variations use buttons so that the jacket itself can be used for a variety of purposes such as a fancy dinner, a party, or for simple lounging on a day off. A gentleman would don his smoking jacket after dinner, enter a smoking den (or room) and light his pipe or cigar. The jacket's purpose was to absorb the smoke from the tobacco and protect his clothes from the falling ash and embers. It was quite popular all the way into the 20th century, in 1902 it became synonymous with comfort. However after 1950 it declined in popularity but recently it has been wanted back as an alternative to formal wear. Many famous people have worn smoking jackets, Frank Sinatra, Hugh Hefner, Dean Martin, and Fred Astaire was actually buried in one. It has two patch pockets at the bottom of each hip, one on the left breast, and all are trimmed in beautiful satin. The sleeves are line with a striped fabric but the exterior is full velvet to give it a plush feeling of comfort and sophistication. The sleeves have buttons at the cuff so that you can choose to close them for a formal evening or open them for a more casual feel but this jacket is a must to have in one's collection even if you wear it only a few times a year; you'll be known as that guy with the cool jacket! Did we mention that it's made in Italy? No? Well it is! That's a plus to it as it is handcrafted in Italy by the finest tailors so look no further for a beautiful jacket to add to your collection. You won't regret this decision and simply ignore the price tag because it's well worth it and will soon be priceless! Need to locate one for yourself? Here you go: Velvet Jacket |
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AuthorOver a decade of hands-on experience in the Vintage Denim & Fashion Industry for Men and Women. Categories
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August 2015
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