Help dating Harry Popper Coat from Ensemble Shop Eatons of Canada

[laurenm]

Hi There,
Difficult to research Harry Popper I tell you....guess what keeps "popping" up? I think there must be a spoof also calle "Harry Popper" which further complicates!

Anyway, I'm assuming 50s on this but wondering when more specifically?
Also, I am fabric challenged....is there a name for this weave of fabric I am forgetting?

Thanks for any help.
Lauren

 

[poppysvintageclothing]

Love this coat. Is it a silk or wool fabric!

Such an unusual style to it, I am seeing more of a 1960s look to it.

 

[laurenm]

I think it may be silk.....I'm very challenged.....it has a very fine ribbed weave and is slightly 'scratchy' to the touch.

 

[Rue_de_la_Paix]

That is a beautiful coat, and yes, a bit of a unique style. I am not sure if it is 1960s or perhaps 1970s, but the fabric looks like a faille weave. It could be silk, but because you say it is a bit scratchy, it might be Alaskine which is a blend of silk and wool (usually) and was popular in the 1960s for suits and coats. Although Alaskine tends to be fairly thick fabric and not very drape-y. Hard to say without feeling it. Can you show a close up of the weave?

It is really a great style and color!

 

[laurenm]

Does this help or do I need a better close up?
It is a fairly heavy fabric.
Hard to capture the red tone!

 

[Jonathan]

I have a Harry Popper suit but I think its from Holt Renfrew - it is early 50s but I think Barbara is right that this is more likely 70s. Definitely high end stuff. I think the Ensemble Shop never reopened in the new Eaton's in 1975, so this would be from the old College Street Eatons which closed that same year. My guess would be about 1974-75, but it could be earlier.

 

[Jonathan]

Addendum: Eaton's College Street closed 1977, so that was the last year the Ensemble Shop was around as it wasn't revived in the new Eaton's store on Yonge.

 

[laurenm]

Thanks for that info. Does that close up photo help it in determining fabric content?

 

[Better Dresses Vintage]

Gah! That's gorgeous. Looks like silk faille to me. Kinda rough/scratchy and even a little woolie feeling, yes? Maggie (DeniseBrain) is the fabric guru. Maybe she'll drop by.

 

[denisebrain]

Wow, I love that back tie especially! I would agree about faille weave, and second the wool/silk faille possibility. To me, there is a little tooth to the hand with this fabric, and some of the luster you'd expect with silk.

 

[laurenm]

Thanks to you all.
@denisebrain Love the term "a little tooth"...that's so perfectly descriptive!