 Gangster Suit Stylings |
In the late twenties, men's suits went through a metamorphosis from the thin structured suits that had been worn for far too long, to the newer more "natural" cuts and finer fabrics we see in the suits of high fashion movie stars and the gangsters of fashion's Golden Age.
"There Goes Al"
Even 70 years after his death people still talk of Al Capone as a stylish gangster in the era of stylish gansters.Capone owes much of his reputation to his suits. Yells and screams could be heard as Capone and his armored car entourage rolled through the streets of Chicago.
Capone was always decked out in a custom, top-of-the-line suit; when the best suit cost $85 Capone would buy 20 suits at $135 apiece.
To this suit he would add a Raccoon coat, matching silk tie and handkerchief, a canary yellow or green silk shirt, Italian glove silk undies, a cream colored borsalino wide-brimmed hat, a big black cigar, and of course his $50,000 11.5-carat Jagersfontein diamond ring.(Info thanks to Mr. Capone by Robert Schoenberg) Few men can do 1930s gangster suits as BIG as Al Capone, but you can do it as well as Capone.
Most gangsters and movie stars could easily afford to buy the finest quality suits, hire the best tailors, and put together the best accessories, but the rest of us who admire the style, don't often have the dinero to drop five figures on an outfit.
