Hi there! I recently found this vest in my closet with a tag saying its from 1935. I was wondering if anyone has any more information about Henry Gold & Co in New Haven CT or anything else about similar vests? Google hasn't been much help. Thanks!
I love the buttons too! Fab find. Hoping one of our research mavens can find some info for you. You found it in your closet!?! Does your closet open into a kind of vintage Narnia at the back?
Oh wow, I love that you 'found' it in your own wardrobe, haha. And yes I am another fan of those gorgeous buttons! I'm afraid I know nothing in particular about the tailor (I presume it's a tailor) but I do know that I had several pairs of Jodhpurs and even braces labelled in this way, all menswear, with the name of client, date and item/lot/invoice number. All of those with that style of label are from the late 20's to late 30's that I have owned. They were also all sports or hunting/outdoor wear. I think it would have been from a high end Tailors who specialised in 'Gentleman's' clothes at the higher end of the market.
I wasn't able to learn the start and end dates of the shop, but did find a 1928 mention of $2000 of cloth having been stolen from Henry Gold's tailor shop, so he was in business at least that early. You might also find this clip--from a 1938 article by one Lucius Beebe about how undergraduate's streetwear in Princeton and New Haven has supplanted Hollywood film idols in setting men's fashion trends--interesting: Also, those fancy buttons suggest that your vest was part of a tuxedo suit.
Bespoke tailors still use similar labels. The date is the day it was ordered. Some include the customer's name. The label is placed inside the pocket which is inside the vest or jacket. Similar labels were used by Bergdorf Goodman and I. Magnin with the customer's name.
Hahaha I wish! I think I found it at the Garment District in Cambridge MA but it was so long ago and I've kinda forgotten it until now. It pays to clean out your closet I guess!
Oh wow great find! Do the multiple addresses mean there were more than one shop? That might explain how I found it in Cambridge MA. Tho Connecticut is pretty close by anyway..
Hi Sam, I found several references to Henry Gold & Co but I remain cautious. When researching I like to be able to join all or at least the dots I have from as many sources as possible before writing. HG has proved surprisingly difficult to get more information. I'm a little wary the font used on the label is different to that used in the article. Early in 1935 a HG shifted sticks from No 5 Broadway, New Haven to 278 York St, just around the block but your label clearly states No 298 York St. So if the same HG & Co, yes they had several outlets, if the same line of family tree--may have originated in London, UK about 1780. If, If, If ???
I NEED a Vintage Narnia Wardrobe.....am going to Google that right now and find me one! Also, what a great name "Winthrop Wing". Definitely a resident of Vintage Narnia.
