Ought to say that that the Sack has always had bags of individuality outside the USA - My point above was that today in the US it has a non-conformist vibe. And has for quite a while.

Hi I'm new on here and was wondering what are the defining features of a Sack jacket/suit?
I'm assuming for the jacket there's no shoulder padding, no fitted waist and no darts but what about vents? suit length? material, buttons/length of lapels etc?

When one refers to the Sack suit does this mean there are Sack trousers? if so what would they look like?

Reason for asking is that most suits over here including Brooks Brothers in HK appear to be un-sack like and when I enquired about the Sack Jacket I just recieved blank looks?

Looking to broaden my satorial outlook and seeking a more casual but smart style of attire as I slip into middle age.

Any advice would be gratefully recieved.

Alan.

Something like these might be a nice place to start when playing with these ideas:

http://www.southwick.com/cgi-local/model.cgi?m=10

http://www.southwick.com/cgi-local/model.cgi?m=6

And then there's Vintage & MTM/Bespoke: A whole world of options.

Thanks for the welcome, don't have much time to browse the whole site as there is too much information but looks interesting on here.

Interesting comment about Natural shoulder being key? most of my suits shoulders are as natural as the tailor dares but I wouldn't have thought of calling them Sack suits? I was assuming it was the overall shape that would have defined this style?

Alan

Last edited by Russell_Street (2009-05-26 05:59:29)

Thanks Russell, I was intrigued to read in one of the links you posted up that the Sack suit was not a common item of clothing anymore and even Brooks Brothers only stock them in limited quantities? those links look like off the peg suits seen in most stores!
I think I'm looking to find out more about a casual but smart look, if those are indeed sack suits then they seem to be a contridiction in that they are formal business attire yet have the casual details of natural shoulders, no darts etc.? (I could be totally wrong in my assumptions that a sack silhouette is a more casual one? I'd be interested in finding out more about the various styles of Ivy.

Hello Alex, it's been a while, the article looks interesting I'll have to read it tonight when I get home. how's your book coming along?

Alan

Last edited by maninHK (2009-05-26 06:06:34)

Aye, just as you think you've pinned it down, something comes along to confound you.  But I've always been more than pleased with my Norman Hilton sack: light blue, wide stripe - chalk, I suppose.  Over here, though - at least where I live - no one really gets it.  Some elderly, experienced tailor might, but not his junior assistants.

True - And I do like that quote too - But I think that maybe the ol' Sack stands out more now than once it did. Not showy, but different to the rest.

The Brits in my office constantly tell me that my lapels are pressed incorrectly. Other than that detail, my sack suits have drawn no attention.