1951 Progress Brand Double-Breasted Pinstripe Suit Jacket
This is a vintage men's double-breasted suit jacket by Progress Brand, made in Quebec and precisely dated by its original tailor's label to August 17, 1951.
Although dating to the beginning of the 1950s, the jacket retains a strong late-1940s tailoring influence. It has heavily padded, squared shoulders, a broad upper body, fitted 36-inch waist and relatively long 30-inch length, creating the pronounced shoulder-to-waist taper associated with men's tailoring of the preceding decade.
The jacket is made in a very dark charcoal or black fabric with fine off-white pinstripes. It has a six-button double-breasted front, broad peaked lapels, a welt breast pocket and jetted hip pockets. Buttonholes are worked into both lapels.
The interior is fully lined in black. The woven label reads Progress Brand – Fait Expressément Pour J.H. Lessard, St.-Joseph de Beauce, Que.
A second original Progress Brand Clothes label records the original owner's name as Mr. Julien Tardif, his St. Joseph Beauce address, the date Aug. 17/51, and order number 7147.
There is no fabric-content label, as would be expected for a custom tailored jacket of this age. The outer fabric has the appearance and feel of wool suiting.
Label: Progress Brand
Date: August 17, 1951
Retailer/Tailor: J.H. Lessard, St.-Joseph de Beauce, Quebec
Original owner: Julien Tardif
Colour: Very dark charcoal with grey pinstripes
Fabric: Unmarked; appears to be wool suiting
Style: Six-button double-breasted
There is no size indicated, and although this should fit a size 36/38 please refer to the measurements below.
Measurements
Shoulders: 18 1/4 inches across seam-to-seam
Sleeves: 25 1/2 inches long
Sleeve inseam: 18 1/4 inches
Chest: 42 inches around, taken under the arms
Waist: 36 inches around
Overall length: 30 inches, measured flat at the back from the neck seam
Condition
Excellent condition for its age. The exterior presents very well, with no significant wear noted. The original interior labels remain intact and legible. Please refer to the photographs for additional detail.
A precisely dated example of early-1950s Quebec men's tailoring that retains the heavily structured silhouette of the late 1940s.