Titanic Era Clothing: 1911-1912 Tailored Suits

A collection of Titanic era dressy tailored costumes feature reversible surfaces. The straight-cut jackets, with their neat panel backs, straight underarm pieces and becoming modifications of the loose box fronts, reach to a twenty-eight or thirty-inch length. The fronts are cut to almost fit the bust, thus suggesting rather than defining the curves of the figure. Stitching and dart seams are used to give the merest suggestion of trimming. These dart seams run from the shoulder line diagonally toward the front, and are attractively finished with a little embroidered arrow-head. Plain colors are backed with a solid contrasting color,  stripes or checks. The skirts to match these coats are quite plain and as a rule the skirt lengths reach to within two and one-half inches of the floor with a width measuring at least two yards and a quarter around the bottom.

The front and back views of the lady's vintage topcoat features reversible cloths, camel's hair or cashmere suitings, Scotch mixtures or tweeds. The large revers are of the reverse surface of uncut velvet or of fur with the cuffs to match or of the coat material. The Empire line and the large patch side-pockets add finishing touches.

Front and back views of a 1911 stormy weather ulster of reversible cloth with the revers and cuffs of the reverse surface. The collar may be turned up and the revers buttoned across. "Trotting suit" of dark blue or dark green corduroy or velveteen trimmed with fur. Side pieces of the fur extend up the sides of the skirt and the jacket. Plain panel back on the jacket.

1911 walking costume of deep plum reversible cloth. The foot band, cuffs, pointed panels and long collar and hood weighted with a tassel are of the black wider surface. Also black broadcloth suit. The skirt has an overskirt effect marked with buttons and buttonholes. Large revers, cutaway fronts and the high waist line distinguish the coat.

Front and back views of a 1911 Scotch mixture suit. Fullness is introduced into the skirl by the plaits at the sides and back near the bottom. A belt is used on the coat running under the side box plait. The revers are of uncut velvet in a dark tlone. The slight fullness at the elbow is gathered into the strap forming the cuff.