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San Francisco, 1926. "Diana 8 at Civic Center." The short-lived Diana, a car for the ladies and one the more obscure entries in the Shorpy Pantheon of Forgotten Phaetons. 5x7 glass negative by Christopher Helin. View full size.
Wool overcoat, gloves, hat and a 3 piece suit.
[Natives know how to dress for San Francisco summers. -tterrace]
My dad was wearing an overcoat just like the one in the photo over 40 years after the picture was taken. I wouldn't be surprised if he purchased it around the time the guy wearing one in the shot, signed the papers for the car.
There's a copy of the service manual for the 1925 - 1928 Diana available online: http://www.oldcarmanualproject.com/manuals/Moon/Diana/index.htm
Would that be Lady Diana?
[In Greek mythology, the goddess of the hunt. -Dave]
1. The men sitting on the bench/wall across the street are separated by almost the same distance of space, as if someone measured how much space they should each have around them; no crowding.
2. The man standing closest to the car in the Fedora and overcoat is immaculately dressed in very finely tailored, perfectly fitting clothing, sign of an impeccable haberdasher.
3. The hood ornament is impossible for my old eyes to see. Is it possible to get a close-up?
Thank you.
This is the "plaza" side of what since 1966 has been the Asian Art Museum. Lots of those windows have been cut out to form doors (fire codes, yanno), and man, but I do prefer the older, prettier streetlamp.
Once again, an automobile photo that doubles as an excellent menswear photo! As I have noted here before, classic men's business wear and grooming simply haven't changed very much in 100 years. The hat is the only marginally "period" element in the garb of either of these men. Even including the hat, you could find their exact equivalents walking down Wall Street this coming Monday morning.
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