[Flanderian]

This isn't Trad or fashion, and I'd much rather be posting this in the Classic Forum; except there isn't one. So I'm posting it here instead.

Apparel Arts was the forerunner to GQ (Gentleman's Quarterly.) and was a trade publication and trade stimulator subscribed to by men's retailers for their own and their customers' use. Its "civilian" version was the fashion section of Esquire. And both had the same publisher. But Apparel Arts was more extensive and elaborate. Published four times as year, it included more illustrations, and even samples of cloth that was tipped in, as can be seen with these 5 pages.

A question once asked was whether Esquire and Apparel Arts shared the same illustrations. The answer I provided was, no, but I must now amend that. While the two publications shared the same illustrators, most of AA's illustrations were unique to it. But here I've found at least one, and possibly two (The fellow on the bike, and the gentleman in the glen check with the umbrella.) which I also recall seeing in Esquire. Though I haven't compared the two for detail.

For any who might enjoy them -

 

[SG_67]

Very nice!

I can only assume that back then, smoking was mandated by law.

 

[Flanderian]

Very nice!

I can only assume that back then, smoking was mandated by law.

My military unit (Late '60's) had about 100 guys. 99 smokers, and a Mormon!

 

[Fading Fast]

Very nice!

I can only assume that back then, smoking was mandated by law.

That law certainly was enforced in movies from the '30s - '50s.

 

[DCR]

Terrific, thanks for posting these. Always nice to see examples from the golden age of menswear

 

[Flanderian]

Terrific, thanks for posting these. Always nice to see examples from the golden age of menswear

You are quite welcome, Sir!

But since your were complimentary, you've asked for it!

More AA, I believe -

 

[Flanderian]

Several more -

 

[John inSC]

The last illustration is one of my favorites. Here's another fantastic illustration, although taken from Men In Style. I would love to have access to larger high res photos of these.

 

[Flanderian]

View attachment 23286 The last illustration is one of my favorites. Here's another fantastic illustration, although taken from Men In Style. I would love to have access to larger high res photos of these.

That's another great Fellows illustration! :beer:

When you write you'd like access to a higher res photo, I'm uncertain if the one you attached is from your copy of Men In Style? If you wished a copy, I've seen them on E-bay for various prices ranging from around $100 to several hundred.

I happen to have purchased a copy when still in print. It's a great little book. But any perspective purchaser should understand it is a little book. And roughly half the illustrations, though originally in color are reproduced therein as black and white. Doesn't make it less enjoyable, but I feel a purchaser should know that before buying.

Should I happen to come across your illustration on-line, I'll be sure to post it if it's a larger copy.

 

[Fading Fast]

View attachment 23286 The last illustration is one of my favorites. Here's another fantastic illustration, although taken from Men In Style. I would love to have access to larger high res photos of these.

Outstanding illustration. I love the scale-be-damned approach. I'd say he's 6'8" with a 50" chest and a 32" waist (an 18" drop!).

 

[Flanderian]

Outstanding illustration. I love the scale-be-damned approach. I'd say he's 6'8" with a 50" chest and a 32" waist (an 18" drop!).

But aren't we all!?

 

[Fading Fast]

But aren't we all!?

And we didn't even discuss the superhero jawline, thick flowing hair and piercing eyes.

 

[Flanderian]

And we didn't even discuss the superhero jawline, thick flowing hair and piercing eyes.

Well, my hair has been flowing for quite some time now. It must, it has to be going somewhere!? :icon_scratch:

 

[Sam H]

I have a cutout page from a vintage 30's Esquire of a Fellow's illustration of two black tie ensembles as well as a repro of a Leyndecker of a white tie clad man and gown wearing woman descending a staircase, hanging in gold frames in my bathroom.

 

[Flanderian]

I have a cutout page from a vintage 30's Esquire of a Fellow's illustration of two black tie ensembles as well as a repro of a Leyendecker of a white tie clad man and gown wearing woman descending a staircase, hanging in gold frames in my bathroom.

What a marvelous idea! Very handsome decor! I couldn't imagine anything more stylish.

IMHO, Leyendecker and Fellows were the highest masters of classic sartorial illustration. Though Joe Leyendecker was likely the better artist, Fellows had a surer sense of style. I believe I recall reading that they knew each other as well, with Leyendecker being the senior and more successful at one point, and offering encouragement to a younger Laurence Fellows.

Of course, it isn't just Fellows who owes gratitude to Leyendecker, as the same could be said about a well known Manhattan men's retailer.

But of the two in combination, I think it's fair to say that no one ever made men look as good, or dressed them as stylishly.

 

[John inSC]

That's another great Fellows illustration! :beer:

When you write you'd like access to a higher res photo, I'm uncertain if the one you attached is from your copy of Men In Style? If you wished a copy, I've seen them on E-bay for various prices ranging from around $100 to several hundred.

I happen to have purchased a copy when still in print. It's a great little book. But any perspective purchaser should understand it is a little book. And roughly half the illustrations, though originally in color are reproduced therein as black and white. Doesn't make it less enjoyable, but I feel a purchaser should know that before buying.

Should I happen to come across your illustration on-line, I'll be sure to post it if it's a larger copy.

Indeed it's from my own copy. I don't mind the black and white either, although there is one in particular I wish was in color as it's one of my favorite Fellows illustrations. I would like to have several blown up to at least 8x11 for the bathroom or the back room which my fiance will not let me call my new closet. Sadly, the AA books of the 30s and 40s are becoming exceedingly expensive, doubt i'll ever be able to justify 3-900$ per edition regardless how much I enjoy the illustrations and content.

 

[John inSC]

Outstanding illustration. I love the scale-be-damned approach. I'd say he's 6'8" with a 50" chest and a 32" waist (an 18" drop!).

Jgarner?

 

[Fading Fast]

Jgarner?

Yeh (said with a sigh), but now that you pointed out that it does exist in the real world, I only feel worse about myself.

Kidding aside, you are right, Jgarner does look like he stepped out of an Apparel Arts illustration. I'm embarrassed that I hadn't thought of that myself.

 

[Flanderian]

Indeed it's from my own copy. I don't mind the black and white either, although there is one in particular I wish was in color as it's one of my favorite Fellows illustrations. I would like to have several blown up to at least 8x11 for the bathroom or the back room which my fiance will not let me call my new closet. Sadly, the AA books of the 30s and 40s are becoming exceedingly expensive, doubt i'll ever be able to justify 3-900$ per edition regardless how much I enjoy the illustrations and content.

If you would wish, you can furnish the page number of the illustration you like, and I'll scrounge among my archive and see if I've ever located it on-line and saved it. If so, and it's a decent image, I'll post it here.

Started off with a few dozen, and then it got out of hand. And unfortunately, it's not a searchable data base.

 

[Fading Fast]

There are too many good things in this one outfit not to note (plus after a busy morning, my work day is rapidly slowing down):

• A wonderful example of slim (not skinny) tailoring on a young man
• A perfect use of a contrasting vest
• The (almost) glen plaid tone-on-tone fabric of the suit is outstanding
• What a sublime natural shoulder
• The club collar and French cuffs make that a killer shirt
• I think this ends the debate of "cuffs vs. no-cuffs"
• The perforated white bucks w/ that suit are the ultima thule of that marriage (grey fabric and white bucks just belong together)