Detachable cuffs and bosoms

[Vitezslav Ivicic]

I would like to make a outfit from the Titanic era for me. Does anybody know how the detachable cuffs and bosoms have been attached to a shirt? I think that the cuffs have been attached with some kind of buttons. Could anybody help me?

Regards
Vitezslav

 

[monica e. hall]

Well, I don't know how handy you are with a sewing machine, Viteslav, but here are two sites with information on gentlemen's shirts (don't be put off by the word 'sack' shirt - it doesn't mean it was for the peasantry!

Gentleman's Sack Shirt, 1907 - The Ladies Treasury of Costume and Fashion

A Victorian Gentleman's Suit 'Fake Book'

 

[Bob Godfrey]

Detachable cuffs were a variation of the principle of the detachable collar, and were fastened in the same way by use of two metal studs which were passed through aligned holes (front and back for collars, top and bottom for cuffs - see pic). You can still buy these studs and they cost very little. The cuffs and collars were made in a variety of materials - linen, celluloid, rubber, even paper.

False fronts or 'bosoms' I think were made with a greater variety of fastenings - studs possibly, or retained by flaps on the shirt.

(For some reason, Mon, a certain episode of Blackadder comes to mind).

 

[monica e. hall]

It does indeed, Bob, it does indeed.

Still, if we can get Vitezslav a decent shirt, then we'll have achieved something. Personally, I prefer M & S versions.

 

[Bob Godfrey]

Getting me to wear a decent shirt would be the major challenge, Mon. You won't catch me splashing out on M&S, but I am often seen wearing designer labels, usually Dickies or Millets. Or the government surplus logo. This is a family tradition in honour of my Victorian ancestors, for whom the broad arrow motif was a dominant theme.

 

[Vitezslav Ivicic]

Did the shirt front (bosom) have a button holes so the buttons of the shirt would have been buttoned through the bosom?

And with the metal studs do you mean cuff links? And where could I get it? I have the studs for collars but not for the cuffs.

Vitezslav

 

[Bob Godfrey]

The same studs can be used for a detachable collar or cuffs, so buy more of the same. Cuff links are not the same thing, though they work on a similar principle.

I suggest you buy a pattern from a supplier such as this: AGELESS PATTERNS

There are several shirts with detachable collars, cuffs and 'bosoms' on this page of their online catalogue:

MEN 4

Note the descriptions how the shirts are buttoned and the 'bosoms' attached.

 

[Michael H. Standart]

>>You won't catch me splashing out on M&S<<

Jeans and a pocket T for me. I don't even own a suit and tie, and I doubt my dress blues from my Navy days would quite fit anymore. Not that any of that would be useful where I work. A home improvement store can be an amazingly grubby place even with the best of care.

 

[Vitezslav Ivicic]

So if I understand it right, the collar studs were put through the bosom and fastened on the shirt under the detachable collar and flaps on the sides. And what would you do with the little thing on the lower part of the bosom which looks like a leaf and has a button hole?

 

[Shelley Dziedzic]

Doesn't that just go over a button on the shirt front?

 

[Vitezslav Ivicic]

And what was the funny think on the lower side of the bosom for? See the picture.

 

[Vitezslav Ivicic]

OK I got it! It was put on the button of trousers!
Some time ago, I bought (on ebay) a beautiful Van Laaken evening shirt with starched bosom and cuffs (I have also some beautiful period Arrow collars which fit me!) and now I bought also a black tailcoat so I wanted to put it on and when I wanted to button the trousers, that funny thing was right there by the button! The Edwardians were so smart! The clothes they made was invented to stay on its place. Then I did some research on it and I noticed on some pictures that it seems to be so.
And I have seen it also on the photos from the czech film "I served the english king." They have did really nice replicas of period evening shirts with starched collars and bosoms and it could be bought too!

Here is the pic:

 

[Chad Goodwin]

I have an old ARROW store stock mens 1910-1915 celluloid front dress shirt...when i bought it( for $1) it was in the original wax paper wrapping......the cool part is it opens from the back not the front......