“A Man’s Shop With a Texas Man’s Viewpoint” — 1945
by Paula Bosse
by Paula Bosse
Back when men wore Western pearl-snap shirts embroidered with cardinals, leaves, and acorns — and, if this ad is anything to go by, they wore them proudly and unironically.
Frankly, I’d like to see a return to this style.
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“Wherever Texas men gather to relax and play
you’ll see fine sports clothes by Irby-Thompson.”
Western Suit: $115 (equivalent in today’s money to about $1,660)
Sport Coat: $45 (today, $650)
Slacks: $20 (today, $290)
Tie & Handkerchief: $5 (today, $73)
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Sources & Notes
Ad found in the pages of the 1945 Texas Country Day School yearbook.
Irby-Thompson (housed in the Mercantile Building), was opened in 1944 by Collis P. Irby and J. S. Thompson; in 1948 Irby and his former store manager, Count Mayes, bought out Thompson and became Irby-Mayes.
Related: see the Flashback Dallas post “Irby-Mayes Ad With a Cameo by the Merc — 1948.”
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Copyright © 2020 Paula Bosse. All Rights Reserved.
Flashback : Dallas 
Worked at Irby-Mayes Inwood store all through High school – first as a gift wrapper Xmas 1964, then sales on two evenings and Saturday’s for until summer 1968! First job!
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I don’t remember Irby-Mayes but, Dallas being what it was in the 50’s, my Dad had extreme brand loyalty to James K. Wilson and 1st National Bank. Maybe if he’d banked at Mercantile Irby-Mayes would have been a more familiar label. I remember some of the older downtown business types still sported bolo ties with fancy silver and/or turquoise and wore plain, black boots with their business suits.
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I really wish that style would make a comeback!
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Ms. Bosse,
I have a question for you. I used to follow and enjoy postings of yours on a Facebook group (for some reason I think you might have been the moderator) whose name I can’t for the life of me recall. It seems like it abruptly vanished.
Is this group still active? Does any of this ring a bell?
Thanks, David Kaplan
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The only Dallas-history Facebook group/page I’ve ever moderated or been the admin of is the Flashback Dallas page: https://www.facebook.com/flashbackdallas214
I used to post frequently on a Dallas history Facebook group (which has changed its name a few times) called “Dallas History (Before 1960)” — but I’m not active there these days. You can find it here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/dallashistory
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[…] This Irby-Thompson Western wear ad is from the October post “‘A Man’s Shop With a Texas Man’s Viewpoint’ — 1945.” […]
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