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Dr. Pain

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
HI

I am very curious about concerning sharkskin suits. I do not own one but was curious as to when one would wear it? From my understanding they are fairly slim fitting /true to size and the less of a sheen the better. What brands as well as what colors are recommended?

I guess 100% worsted wool or mohair would give less of a sheen then polyester.
 
#3 ·
A wool and mohair blend is a nice, light weight fabric.

I'm not really sure about the question though. When would one wear it? Anytime one would wear a suit. Sharkskin need not be shiny and gaudy. I suppose given the relative lightness of the fabric, warmer months would be most appropriate.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
I have read that it is sometimes more of a evening suit. Not necessarily worn to work. Yes they were quite popular back with Sinatra in the Gang.

Just curious if anybody owns one and if there is an appropriate time to wear it.

I've been looking at a few of them and I believe mohair is
the best. I have a Tom Ford Gray nailhead 60% mohair and the fabric is just unreal. From what I understand it can be worn year round and I was hoping the same for the sharkskin mohair.

No I wouldn't wear it with sneakers
 
#8 ·
IDK where you got the information that a sharkskin suit is normally slim fitting.

Sharkskin is a material, not a style. It can be used to make a suit in any cut desired.

It is made of a wool/mohair blend. Some more expensive materials will include a bit of silk. In the old days the best contained vicuña or alpaca.

They appear regularly in many suit makers lineups.
 
#9 ·
Really? Well, I haven't been in the market for a new suit for a number of years so it's not surprising that I should not be aware of sharkskin. I mean, I live in the PNW. Summer dress here is Hawaiian shirts and winter is time for tweed.
 
#10 ·
momsdoc said:
It is made of a wool/mohair blend. Some more expensive materials will include a bit of silk. In the old days the best contained vicuña or alpaca.
Click to expand...
While high-end sharkskin is often made of these fibres, 100% worsted is the standard for sharkskin. Because of the way the colours are arranged in the cloth, it can have an iridescent look even in all worsted.

In response to other posts, sharkskin is also not limited to summer. I have an 8oz sharkskin that is great for summer, but I also have an 11-12 oz that's much better for spring and autumn.
 
#11 ·
Oldsarge said:
Really? Well, I haven't been in the market for a new suit for a number of years so it's not surprising that I should not be aware of sharkskin. I mean, I live in the PNW. Summer dress here is Hawaiian shirts and winter is time for tweed.
Click to expand...
I wish I were so lucky that I didn't have to witness some of the trends...
 
#12 ·
^^
I can identify with Oldsarge's dilemma. One thing I am becoming increasingly certain of here in central Florida is that suits in use are not a common sighting in the wild. Indeed we see more alligators crawling from the ponds around the golf courses than we see well dressed gentlemen wearing suits. Speaking of Tweeds, I have seen no one, other than myself, wearing a Tweed jacket, since we relocated down here two years back!:(
 
#14 ·
You will also see sharkskin weave referred to as 'pick and pick' by the English mills. It doesn't have to be shiny at all, and it certainly can be 100% wool. I think it can provide a subtle amount of surface texture compared to a plain weave.
 
#15 ·
There is sharkskin -

Image


And there is sharkskin -

Image


But sharkskin is a classic -

Image


True sharkskin is a very tight twill weave in two similar but distinct colors (traditionally medium gray and light gray, or two different tans for a golden variation). The weave is actually a simple and rather old-fashioned one called "pick-and-pick," but it makes a striking effect when woven very tightly with very light, fine, high-count threads.
 
#19 ·
I have a medium-dark gray sharkskin suit (VBC 110) that W.W. Chan made for me about seven years ago (back when I could afford such items). It is not in the least flashy, and I can't imagine it not being suitable for any occasion when conservative business wear is wanted.
 
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