1970s Men's Navy Pinstripe Suit Kamel Shehata Cairo Egypt
A custom-tailored 1970s men's two-piece suit by Kamel Shehata of Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt. Made in dark navy blue with fine vertical pinstripes, the suit has a strongly period silhouette with broad, sharply upswept peak lapels, padded shoulders and matching flared trousers. The original tailor's label is printed in both English and Arabic and identifies Kamel Shehata of Heliopolis.
The jacket is fairly substantial in weight and has a structured shape with padded shoulders, a shaped waist, two-button front, welt breast pocket, flap hip pockets and a single rear vent measuring approximately 10 1/2 inches. The interior is fully lined in black.
The matching trousers have a fitted upper leg and pronounced flare toward the hem, with a cuff circumference of approximately 23 1/2 inches. The combination of the strongly flared trousers, broad high-pointed peak lapels and structured jacket is characteristic of men's tailoring of the 1970s.
The woven tailor's label reads "Kamel Shehata" in English together with his name in Arabic, كامل شحاتة, and "Heliopolis." It also bears the period telephone number 61963.
Cairo had a long-established tailoring tradition that developed within the city's cosmopolitan environment and reflected Egyptian as well as British, French, Italian and other European influences. This suit is a good example of custom tailoring from that tradition, with substantial construction, structured shoulders and a carefully shaped silhouette.
Being custom tailored, there is no size indicated, and although this should fit approximately a North American size 42, please refer to the measurements below.
Jacket Measurements
Shoulders: 18 inches across seam-to-seam
Sleeves: 25 inches long
Sleeve inseam: 17 inches
Chest: 46 inches around, taken under the arms
Waist: 42 inches around
Overall length: 30 inches, measured flat at the back from the neck seam
Back vent: 10 1/2 inches
Pants Measurements
Waist: 36 inches
Length: 40 1/2 inches
Inseam: 30 inches
Cuff circumference: 23 1/2 inches
Condition
Very good condition with no notable wear, tears, soiling, staining or odour.
Details
Maker / Tailor: Kamel Shehata
Location: Heliopolis, Cairo, Egypt
Era: Circa 1970s
Colour: Dark navy blue with pinstripes
Pieces: Jacket and matching trousers
Jacket: Two-button front, peak lapels, padded shoulders, single rear vent
Trousers: Flared leg
Made in Egypt