Figure 1.--This cabinent card portrait isunidentified. All we know for sure is that the photographer was A. Parker Rolfe of Arch Street Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He is rather elegant doe up. We suspect he came from a family of comfortable means. He is carefully with his hands clasped. He looks to be wearing a wing collar with a small floppy bow. Ithink the suit material would be called tweed. Notice the watch fob which seems too have a pearl on the end. A child sized pocket watch is presumably in that pocket.

We do not yet have much information on the different fabrics used for suits. There were fabrics of different weights for both summer and winter. As suits were much more commonly worn in the 19th and early 20th century than in the mid- and late 20th century. As a result, suits of different weights were more important. Of course, lower-income families could not afford more than one suit. Some heavier fabrics included cheviot, corduroy, duck, flannel, serge, tweed, and many others. Flannel was a veet widely worn fabric in the 20th century. Velvet was also w heavy fabric, by mostly usd for fancy suits like Fauntleroy suits for younger boys. We note some sailor suits also dome in velvet. We are less sure about the lighter-weight fabrics. One would be searsucker, but that was a 20th century fabric. It is difficult and often impossible. There is, however, information on fabrics in the catalog section, especially the U.S. section which is the mostr developed.

Created: 9:52 PM 7/21/2008
Last updated: 9:52 PM 7/21/2008