Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Trailer Trad Attire: Autumn Vintage Finds

I found these Bass moccasins at the same yard sale that I found the WWII aviation sextant and astrocompass and they fit great. A cool older gentleman in my neighborhood was downsizing and he and his wife were looking to get rid of clutter. I also picked up a never-used Heddon fiberglass rod in its original tube and carrying case.According to a 1955 issue of Sports Afield, "There are many excellent hunting shoes on the market. One of the best is the Russell "Bird Shooter," a genuine moccasin which has a hand-sewn toe piece, rubber composition soles and waterproofed calfskin 10-inch uppers (W. C. Russell, $21). A new one by G. H. Bass & Co., the "Trailmaster," has a double construction: two layers around the vamp with no exposed seams for extra water repellency ($27.50)." -Wow, this pair retailed for considerably more than Russells back then!
I snagged this great Turnbull & Asser tattersall at the local Junior League thrift store. Truth is, it's too big to wear with a tie but should be great with a sweater or by itself.



Once you've been to enough yard sales, you become able to tell which are worth stopping at and which are a waste of time. Typically, the younger the people holding the sale, the worse the stuff. Toys, kids clothes and other clutter. However, sometimes you can be surprised. I stopped off at a house that didn't look promising. A teenager with an educated looking (too smart to give away anything any good) middle-aged mom selling old clothes, toys, some knickknacks. However, it turns out the husband must have been a clotheshorse back in the 1970s because he had a large number of really nice wide ties; many from the late great B. Altman's. I picked up some nice silk repps along with some nice, English wool Challis ties - just in time for fall!
 



This should please the hipsters out there. An exquisite 1960's Pepsi floppy hat.
 

Just a good ol' Indian madras long-sleeved shirt with beautiful colors. Unfortunately, its too small for me. -Another find going to dear Lil' Bean!

On my picking travels, I purchased this new cotton Russian Navy shirt. It's a little snug and would NOT look right on me by itself  but will look cool under a chambray shirt or pea coat.
How could I visit a shrine to Eastern North Carolina BBQ like Allen & Son without picking up a tee shirt? -Especially one with an awesome pig on the back...
Man, these are practical. English v-necks really can be worn every day during the cold-weather months. Alan Paine just stocked every really good men's store you can name for 60 years, that's all.






This picture doesn't do these Aldens justice and, no, you don't want to know what I paid for them.


7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I will give you five U.S. Dollars for Russian shirt and for floppy Pepsi hat but this is final offer.

Trailer Trad said...

Straight-up, even trade. The Pepsi hat and the Russian Navy shirt for a pair of black market Levis. -Wait, wrong decade...

Anonymous said...

OK then, you add three Bon Jovi casettes and we have deal.

Trailer Trad said...

Anonymous,

Sorry, but I've decided to keep the Pepsi hat. It fits my tiny delicate head perfectly and I plan on wearing it out in public as often as possible.

Anonymous said...

You are very skilled at negotiation Mr. Trailer. So I offer eight dollars if you add smiling pig shirt. Also Pepsi hat and one fat tie.

Ben Gant said...

One Queen album, a 1943 wooden coke~cola shipping case, one pair of Ray Ban Dallas sunglasses (signed by Thomas Wolfe)

for the Russian Navy shirt and the pepsi hat.

Trailer Trad said...

Mr. Gant,

Sold and sold! Muchas gracias.