Dandy Style in St Paul

November 23, 2004 7:24 PM

More clothing-related japery!
So I'm an English major and pretty queer for most things Victoriana, and have been desirous of obtaining some natty duds in the Dandy style for... years now. The problem is that I'm something of a failure at all this fashion stuff. I am just no good at it. I don't dress like a slob, but I have no idea how one would go about obtaining, you know, waistcoats. Especially at reasonable prices, since I really don't have all that much discretionary income.

So: enlighten me! Where do you find these sorts of things for real bargain-basement prices? If you have specific regional advice, I live in Madison, WI and have easy access to Minneapolis/St. Paul. Otherwise, specific ebay strategies might be helpful? I find browsing the listings tedious, and although I have bid on things occasionally, there's always someone willing to pay more than me. Are there other sites worth looking at for this sort of thing?

Thanks in advance!
posted by kavasa to Shopping (11 answers total)

Well, there's a place in uptown Minneapolis called Via's Vintage Wear. Can't vouch for it though, I've been meaning to check it out myself.
posted by squidlarkin at 8:00 PM on November 23, 2004

This isn't of much immediate use to you, but there were waistcoats (and other appropriate things) aplenty when the Lyric Opera in Chicago held its costume sale. So I would check out when dramatic or operatic companies sell their excess costumery.
posted by kenko at 8:11 PM on November 23, 2004

You might want to check out the J.Peterman catalog for something like this or this. These items are expensive, but most of Peterman's stuff goes on sale after Christmas. (Last time I checked, there was a link on the site for items on sale. Maybe they took it down for the pre-Christmas season.)
posted by sophie at 8:45 PM on November 23, 2004

Start browsing historical costuming sites. Learn, if you don't know already, the period-specific names for the costumes (sack suit, morning suit, etc.) and search for those terms.

A lot of sites are sort of off-the-shelf civil war reproductions, but many are also tailors and prices can be very reasonable based on the materials you choose.

If the price still isn't right, you could also hunt down patterns you like and go from there (scroll down for waistcoats).

Theatrical second-hands are an idea, but the clothing may not be very servicable for everyday wear, as it only has to look good from a distance. Quick seam fixes between acts and hours of wear under hot stage lights take their toll very quickly.

On the plus side, a lot of traditional men's costuming does appear in modern catalogs from time to time. Shoes, for example, are the easiest accessory to find.

Note - aside from owning 2 pairs of the boots (they are awesome) in the last link, I haven't indulged in any of the products from the above sites, so shop around, first.
posted by Sangre Azul at 10:00 PM on November 23, 2004

You need to haunt thrift shops looking for old dead guys' suits. Hats and accessories will be harder to come by and you'll probably have to resign yourself to paying for them from vintage clothing stores or modern specialty mens' shops.
posted by i_am_joe's_spleen at 12:43 AM on November 24, 2004

Try searching ebay for "goth" clothing, if you just want the look without paying for real vintage or historical accuracy. I have my list of goth clothing bookmarks at home, although I think most of them only do women's clothing.
posted by JoanArkham at 5:01 AM on November 24, 2004

Don't laugh, but sometimes the International Male catalog has stuff like that.
posted by mimi at 6:07 AM on November 24, 2004

The International Male waistcoats, however, are hideous quality (I ordered some for a theatrical production and had to send them back).

On eBay, look in the "Reproduction" section of the "Clothing/Accessories" section.

And what everyone else said about finding out when theater companies and costumers are selling excess stock.

Also, tuxedo rental companies often sell excess stock, and you might be able to find a not-too-battered morning suit (though note that you should take the braid off the trousers, as braid is not properly worn on the trousers of a morning suit, no matter what the tuxedo rental people think).
posted by Sidhedevil at 6:50 AM on November 24, 2004

Estate sales are good for this type of thing. The downside is that you'll spend a lot of time going from sale to sale looking for what you want. Most estate sales start on Thursdays and run through the weekend. You'll want to be there as soon as they open on Thursday morning. You can get a listing of estate sales in the Star Tribune online classifieds (requires registration). Click "Auctions & Antiques," then "Estates Sales."

Try these shops too. Madison isn't that far from the Cities, but it's still a hike. Try calling the shops first to find out if they have stock that you'll be interested in before you drive all the way here.

You can find some great deals on Ebay. Try lurking on the Vintage Clothing & Accessories board. The people there are dedicated to everything vintage. They'll help you find what you're looking for and also give you an idea of what to pay. The regulars often post pics of their "finds" before they list them. Sometimes you can contact the seller and buy directly.

Good luck.
posted by Juicylicious at 7:55 AM on November 24, 2004

There's a UK-based webshop called The Dark Angel that has coats for men. I can't vouch for the quality, though; I've never purchased from them.
posted by departure lounge at 9:23 AM on November 24, 2004

There are quite a few good costume and clothing portals with this kind of bend. One of the better is costumes.org and also, any one of the recent Goth Clothing link lists.
posted by milovoo at 12:57 PM on November 24, 2004