Smoking Jackets for Swingin' Grade Schoolers!

January 11, 2013 11:16 AM

Youngest Nephew (age 8) has declared that for his birthday party next week, he only wants his favorite adults to attend. We will be listening to his favorite vinyl records (he is mainly into Sinatra's Capitol years these days) and dining on omelets that he will cook for us, featuring the fancy salt and umami paste I bought his mom for Christmas. Apparently, he enjoys cooking while chomping on a bubble pipe and wearing a bathrobe that he calls his smoking jacket. This is, of course, outrageous: he must have a real smoking jacket, and his doting aunt must be the one who presents it to him. Help me help him to be Too Marvelous for Words.

The swingin' shindig in question is next Sunday evening, so either I need to be able to order something online to arrive by Saturday, or to find a bricks-and-mortal store in L.A. where I can buy it in the next week. Googling "kids smoking jacket" just brings up adult-sized versions.

posted by scody to shopping (24 answers total)

Sorry, forgot to mention: any leads on any child-sized trench coats other than Burberry would be much appreciated as well. (And just to answer the question I'm sure is on many people's minds: no, he has not asked for a fedora at this time.)
posted by scody at 11:17 AM on January 11 [4 favorites]

Etsy? You might have to dig around a bit to find someone who has the right size jacket, or who could make one quickly.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 11:20 AM on January 11

Maybe look for a women's smoking jacket in an XS? I am in love with your nephew, btw.
posted by amoeba at 11:23 AM on January 11

You can get a fez cheap from Archie McPhee. I don't see it online, but you could give their store a call to ask about size and availability.
posted by Blazecock Pileon at 11:25 AM on January 11

Hmm, what if you were to get a velvet kid's blazer (which seem much more common than smoking jackets) and trick it out with satin accents? I don't really know how kid sizes work, but here's a small trench coat. There are many more trench coats being marketed to juniors (mainly girls) but presumably the sizing is pretty much the same at that age, so if it were in a neutral color, it might work.
posted by jetlagaddict at 11:27 AM on January 11 [1 favorite]

Here's a silky boxing costume from Amazon. The robe might work for your amazingly cool nephew.

Also search, Boys Silk Robe. You'll get a pretty interesting listing reply.
posted by Ruthless Bunny at 11:29 AM on January 11

bricks-and-mortal store
heh. My favorite typo ever, possibly.

Thanks for all the suggestions so far, everyone!
posted by scody at 11:44 AM on January 11 [6 favorites]

He's already Too Marvelous for Words. Please sell him to me.

FWIW when I was 8 I wanted to be a magician. My utterly amazing aunt got me a vintage top hat to attire me on my journey. It was an adult top hat, and it was so large on my head it covered my eyes. I think my mother ultimately stuffed the top with tissue paper so I could wear it.

It was the coolest thing ever and the fact that it was an adult one and not a kid one added exponentially to the awesome factor. I'd haunt LA for a proper adult smoking jacket and roll up the sleeves. It will be way cooler IMHO.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:47 AM on January 11 [11 favorites]

(Also, Ebay and Etsy sellers seem to be defining "smoking jacket" as "any vintage jacket." My definition calls for a shawl collar tuxedo-style garment, preferably with quilted lapels, and with a tie waist. You might be able to find a small velvet tux for which you can very quickly have a waist tie made.
posted by DarlingBri at 11:54 AM on January 11 [2 favorites]

One tip: if you buy him a small adult's smoking jacket, he'll be able to wear it for several years instead of one.

And your nephew makes my day. I've got a 25-year-old nephew who claims "the left wing owns all the media" whom I'd just love to trade for yours. MeMail me pleeeeeease!
posted by orange swan at 11:54 AM on January 11 [2 favorites]

I'm searching for "extra small" rather than child/kid. And I'm finding them at costume shops online. If you have a good costume shop where you are, you might try there.

Here's one on Amazon. It looks pretty small.



(Just in case he also has a dog - These look adorable!!)
posted by CathyG at 12:02 PM on January 11 [1 favorite]

Unfortunately the closest I can find is this:

Macy's Boy's velvet blazer (red, Tommy Hilfiger).

Boy's velvet sportcoat (blue)
posted by Comrade_robot at 12:07 PM on January 11

Don't disregard JC Penney, Macy's, etc. definitely. I can't be the only one whose relatives bought her ridiculously formal, almost costume-level clothing from those places during her entire childhood.

(But also, Penney's was where my dad found me pegged pants and ankle boots when I was 13 and madly in love with Hard Day's Night-era Beatles....)
posted by like_a_friend at 12:34 PM on January 11

Personally, I'd go to Macy's and get a women's shorty bathrobe.

Tough Cookies in Sherman Oaks tends to have fedoras in stock for boys and this vest is a doozy...
posted by Sophie1 at 12:34 PM on January 11

I was at Targets in two different states within the past two weeks (Alabama and Illinois) and they had boys velvet blazers in both. They also had a boys' piped blazer, which your nephew might also like. I can't find said blazers on their website, so maybe they were last season's and will be gone soon (or have already left the shelves since I saw them). In sum: Target is worth a try!
posted by ocherdraco at 12:42 PM on January 11

Ok, your nephew is absolutely awesome. Have you tried a costume store? Also, if you're crafty you might modify an adult pattern.

(Also, I hope you're getting this all on camera. Adorable!!)
posted by windykites at 12:48 PM on January 11

In case you can't find a suitable smoking jacket: Swingmaster style casual shirt in kids sizes and if you have to pull the emergency stop cord, Target carries a surprisingly wide range of fedoras.
posted by jamaro at 12:55 PM on January 11

A small men's one probably won't work unless he's giant. My small 12 year old wanted a jacket for a Doctor Who costume. All the men's ones were ridiculous, especially in the shoulders. Like David Byrne big suit ridiculous. A small women's one worked. Big, but acceptable. My son's almost five feet tall, for reference.
posted by artychoke at 12:59 PM on January 11

I can check out Ozzie Dots (http://www.ozziedots.com/store.htm) tonight or tomorrow if you'd like-- it's in Los Feliz so sort of a haul for you to come down just in case.
posted by holyrood at 1:30 PM on January 11

Depending on how fast you can get it delivered, it might be advisable to call up the tailors in your area and ask them to quote lead times and prices on cutting down a smoking jacket to child size.

When you place the order, in the UK the phrase is "time is of the essence" which means that if it doesn't arrive in time, the item becomes useless. I don't know if there's an equivalent phrase in your neck of the woods, but you'd want to make that clear.
posted by tel3path at 1:35 PM on January 11

Yeah, "time is of the essence" is also magic legal language for contracts in the USA.
posted by steinwald at 2:04 PM on January 11

Thanks to all for your great suggestions. I am delighted to report that Mefi's own amazing and talented Tchad has graciously offered to design and create a smoking jacket tailored expressly for Youngest Nephew. He's going to be Over.The.Moon! Tchad, my sister and I can't thank you enough.

I promise to post pictures (and perhaps video) of the swingin' shindig once it's over.
posted by scody at 5:23 PM on January 11 [24 favorites]

Welcome to my party, ladies and gents. What, this? Oh, yes, it's a smoking jacket. It's the awesomest smoking jacket ever.
posted by scody at 11:22 AM on January 22 [9 favorites]

My own nephew is less than a year old. And yet, the delightful result of the equation of nephew + smoking jacket cannot be denied.

My sister may be receiving an inexplicable present soon...
posted by ocherdraco at 1:29 PM on January 22