Finally got around to posting some photos of the new "pink" pants I picked up off good ol' Ebay. Got them super cheap too! I'm wearing Todd's boots with them in the pics. Any comments are appreciated. I think I need to get them tapered at the bottom and a little slimmer through the leg. I must say that in the natural light that the colour is amazing; very Raiders IMO. They even have the pocket watch pocket in the front (not sure if Noel Howards did though). I took some pics with and without flash to try and best show the colour in my room, and put a brown web belt and Todd's shirt for comparison of colour. They are actually super comfy, and aren't too heavy. I could see them getting hot though if worn in the summer due to the military wool/twill going on (not sure if that makes sense). I may later on take them back to the tailors to get the pocket flaps reshaped if I take in the legs.
I love the pinks! I have a pair of Orvis pinks which are very similar. The pocket flaps are a little different, but there were variations on the pattern during the war. I wouldn't alter them, either, especially if they're originals. The Indy pants were pleated without a watch pocket, whereas the pinks were flat front. Personally, I prefer the flat front.
binkmeisterRick wrote:I love the pinks! I have a pair of Orvis pinks which are very similar. The pocket flaps are a little different, but there were variations on the pattern during the war. I wouldn't alter them, either, especially if they're originals. The Indy pants were pleated without a watch pocket, whereas the pinks were flat front. Personally, I prefer the flat front.
I do like the flat front better myself, looks more modern. I don't think that I'll alter the flaps, but the legs are really baggy, and I'm slim in the legs especially, so I may have to alter them there slightly and still keep that Indy bagginess. I did have to have the waist taken out an inch, and the bottoms hemmed. They did keep the 3 inch hem, and also the piece of material at the bottom of the hem to protect from wear and tear from boots.
I'm making a pair of Indy pants, and I was wondering if you could photograph the inside to help me work out some of the details? You know, pockets, buttons, fly placket, stuff like that. Thanks.
I just bought a pair of WWII officers "pinks" on ebay and I'm wondering how to tell if they are legitimate.
They are not button up, don't look pink at all and seam to feel like polyester, no military tags and inside pocket material is green (pictures I've seen of others look light cream colored).
They do look old and have the correct look, I hope they are real as I wanted to use them as a color standard for matching "close enough's".
HJoe wrote:I just bought a pair of WWII officers "pinks" on ebay and I'm wondering how to tell if they are legitimate.
They are not button up, don't look pink at all and seam to feel like polyester, no military tags and inside pocket material is green (pictures I've seen of others look light cream colored).
They do look old and have the correct look, I hope they are real as I wanted to use them as a color standard for matching "close enough's".
Appreciate any help.
Thanks,
HJoe
Not too sure how to tell that they are legitimate. Mine had some markings on the inside that look like the officers sizing maybe? Not sure too sure. They were called "pinks" because they had a slight hue of pink that could be seen in certain light. Mine look almost grey in most natural light, more brown/gray in fluorescent light with a slight pink undertone. Most pants also had the pocket watch pocket right at the belt line. Mine do. I'll be posting some more detail picks here later for another member, maybe u can see if mine are similiar to yours. I feel mine are actual pinks since I bought them through a Military dealer online who has his own WWII Gear store, but you never know.
HJoe, can you show a picture of the pinks, or even send a link to the ended auction you won? There are several companies that make repro pinks, but even so, there were several pattern variations on original pinks. Some had a button fly and some had a zipper. Even pocket flaps can vary a bit. Also, it wasn't uncommon for officers to have their pinks custom tailored back then, so that can add to the variations in original uniform items.
Indiana Joyce wrote:Im holding out for Todd's repros, because apparently there was never a person my size that made officer in the British military during WWII.
I envy the rest of you:)
Pinks are US military. Probably a better chance of finding your size in originals, but would still be rare.
One way to test your unknown material is to do a burn test. Snip a small piece from an area out of sight, like an internal hem. Light it on fire with a match or Elsa's lighter and see what happens. All natural material (e.g. cotton) will ash. Synthetic material (e.g. polyester) will melt.
Do this test outside and have a fire extinguisher or charged garden hose handy, just in case a spark gets picked by the wind and starts a bigger fire.
ARG!! Even after letting them know what they were handling and asking for careful treatment, the cleaners pressed the trousers with the leg seams misaligned 3 inches! The original crease was obvious!
Very disappointing....well they will be ready Monday hopefully.
Good suggestion "Indiana Mark VII", I will try the burn test, although after some research I believe them to be the real thing, maybe not 1942 but vintage anyway.
Well Alkali Jones, here are the pics for you. Hope they are what you are looking for. The majority are of the pants inside out to show the pocket stuff.
HJoe wrote:ARG!! Even after letting them know what they were handling and asking for careful treatment, the cleaners pressed the trousers with the leg seams misaligned 3 inches! The original crease was obvious!
Very disappointing....well they will be ready Monday hopefully.
Good suggestion "Indiana Mark VII", I will try the burn test, although after some research I believe them to be the real thing, maybe not 1942 but vintage anyway.
Thanks,
HJoe
Did the cleaner not align the outer and inner leg seams before pressing them?
No they didn't RCSignals, the seams were misaligned at least 3 inches. The strange thing is that they looked like they hung perfect on the hanger. I also noticed that they didn't completely straighten the pockets, so rinkled impression can be seen pressed in to the fabric. Maybe most people don't notice these things, but I'm an engineer by trade and precision is one of my pet peeves. Wheather I'm calibrating electronic equipment, sewing (which I do occasionally) or ironing. It's all the same to me, it needs to be right ....or don't bother.
Can you show pics of the outside of the pants, too? Either way, they look like they may have been one of the custom tailored versions of the trousers. The material looks spot on for pinks, though.
HJoe wrote:No they didn't RCSignals, the seams were misaligned at least 3 inches. The strange thing is that they looked like they hung perfect on the hanger. I also noticed that they didn't completely straighten the pockets, so rinkled impression can be seen pressed in to the fabric. Maybe most people don't notice these things, but I'm an engineer by trade and precision is one of my pet peeves. Wheather I'm calibrating electronic equipment, sewing (which I do occasionally) or ironing. It's all the same to me, it needs to be right ....or don't bother.
"Quality goes in , before the name goes on"
HJoe
I agree on it needing to be right. I can't believe a professional cleaner would press any pants that way.
I hope you find another cleaner who knows what's up.
Even after letting them know what they were handling and asking for careful treatment, the cleaners pressed the trousers with the leg seams misaligned 3 inches! The original crease was obvious!
