Jacket sleaves

[kiltedwolfman]

Fantastic info folks thank you. This all came about when a friend and I were out at a dinner and were talking about clothing. He and I both wear tailored jackets and I jokingly said " I wonder why the sleeves are supposed to stick out? " Neither one of us had a practicle answer but I ws certain of where I could find one.

I am intrigued by the notion of maintaining the appearance of wealth, or higher standing and how it has manouvered its way into modern day dress. It seems to me that it is almost an act, or a role in which the person has the chance to pretend to be what they are not usually. Or then again I may just think about things way too much!

[Lyle1]

Oops!

[Tobus]

I am intrigued by the notion of maintaining the appearance of wealth, or higher standing and how it has manouvered its way into modern day dress. It seems to me that it is almost an act, or a role in which the person has the chance to pretend to be what they are not usually. Or then again I may just think about things way too much!

I often find myself thinking the same thing. Modern day dress is the result of centuries of traditions that most of us today do not understand. Yet we do it because we're told it's the "right way". But when we delve into the history of it, it's hard for us to understand because social classes do not really exist like they did in days gone by.

What I find particularly interesting is why some ideas remained part of the tradition while others went away. For example, we still wear shirt cuffs showing past the jacket but we don't wear powdered wigs and fake beauty marks any more. Thank goodness!

[kiltedwolfman]

Beauty marks, I knew I was forgetting something when I get ready. Thanks for the reminder! LOL.

It is very true though in fashion and many other things, that we cling to a tradition or methodolgy when oftne times the reasons for them have gone into obscurity. What baffles me is the lengths people will go to argue either for or against things without knowing the history or reasoning behind the subject being argued.

[MacLowlife]

KW, the length of sleeves and cuffs is the least of the many signifiers we display, consciously or not. All of those logos, distinctive colors, and patterns theoretically say something about the wearer. Now, whether they say "this person is rich" or "this person is in debt" may be up to speculation, but they frequently say SOMETHING. Oddly enough, the cost of one's clothes may have more to do with one's sense of security than one's actual net worth, and the reverence with which we care for and about them may be a sign that we aren't quite as sure as we'd like to be.

It is funny how so many things originally signified one's status, i.e., merely measured it, but now are seen as actually conveying high status. Wearing X brand ought to merely denote that you buy it- and maybe that you hang out with people who know about it - but somehow it has come to be a thing you can put on without the background, like wearing a stethoscope or carrying a briefcase. Granted most people wouldn't bother to carry a stethoscope if they weren't health care professionals, but if you saw someone toting one, would you let him / her probe you with no further assurance of their credentials?

In the past few years, the popularity of working cuffs on jackets has grown, though many of the lower-end ones that have them do so without bothering to make them fit properly. Oddly enough, I remember someone speaking in awe of a man who wore jackets that had buttons that didn't even do anything- as if that were the height of luxury...