Case in point, a double breasted blazer in pale chartreuse hopsack. Made by Anderson Little, who used to be the big time around here, almost certainly in the late 1970's. I can't really explain it, but I'll try.Forget for a moment the weird color of this thing, and look only at the fit. Un-darted, but with a nicely suppressed waist line. The sleeves fit just so, as does the over all body of the jacket. The material, despite it's hue, is really a top notch hopsack, and the lapels are just right, too: wide enough to suit the double breasted silhouette, but not so wide as to be garish.
The buttons are awful. No question. But it's in the simple changing of the buttons that I feel I can make something of this jacket. It's like the black blazer all over again, only worse, because this thing is so green it makes green want to cry. Bear with me.
Picture it with white bone buttons. Instead of a 6x2 button stance with a three button cuff, it's a 4x2 stance with a two button cuff. Now picture it with crisp khakis, almost military crisp, a white shirt and an ascot, by a swimming pool, while I clutch a drink fashioned of rum and limes. Or maybe with white duck pants and a pale yellow bow tie. I don't know why, but I think I can make this work...or maybe I've had a lapse of judgement.
Check back in June...wait and see.
p.s. I most certainly did not wear it today with that shirt and tie. What sort of a savage do you take me for? I was only modelling it with the clothes I did wear today. I need to buy a tailor's mannequin.
I see your vision, my friend. I see it clearly, and I hope you achieve it! That "Pool Party from The Graduate" look. I can't wait to rock that this summer!
ReplyDeleteI think I can see where you're going here....
ReplyDeleteG - 4X2? Seriously? That's a mistake buddy...First and foremost this jacket is screaming for a trip to the tailor to get those football sized shoulder pads removed. You top that guy off with white MOP buttons (keep the 6X2 stance) and you've got a great cocktail jacket for summer.
ReplyDeleteP.S. I'll be up in Boston this weekend visiting friends, family and all of your local thrifting haunts....maybe we'll bump into each other.
Honestly, i wouldn´t even change the buttons on that thing, it just adds some extravagance to it...
ReplyDeleteThe colour is mean, and i am very much looking forward to your potential combinations...it takes skill (you presumably have of course) to wear this thing accordingly.
Good luck with that!
I think it's a great jacket. And I agree a 4x2 would look better. Great for spring and summer - I'd throw in some pink with it.
ReplyDeleteI grew up in Rhode Island, so the significant events of my young life--first communion, confirmation, a family wedding out of state--were usually marked with a new suit from Anderson-Little, usually purchased by my grandmother, whose husband left us too soon but understood the value of dressing right.
ReplyDeleteOh, and as for the jacket, if anyone can pull this off it's you. I'd never go near it, but I think you're on the right track with the buttons.
ReplyDeleteLooking forward to seeing what you can do with this one ...
ReplyDeleteCheers!
Hulk not too sure about that green. Will reserve full judgement after alterations.
ReplyDeleteWow. What a hideous color.
ReplyDeleteBUT! When you started in on your vision of what it could be, and where you would wear it, I was almost on board.
Take it with you on a tropical cruise. Take it to the Mediterranean. Take it to Florida and wear it at night. Take it to Bermuda--at least one of the islands where tourists aren't routinely murdered by the locals. It could work in those places, especially with the changes you proposed (bone buttons? Inspired!).
I'm not so sure about Boston, though. Still, if anyone could make this work, it'd be you.
And you're right: no long tie. An ascot--absolutely. A bow tie--maybe. Depends on the tie.
Ohhhh, this pic looks more green at home than at work...good luck with all of that.
ReplyDeleteDefinitely summer cocktails, linen pants, ascot. Monocle and cigarette holder optional. Agree about 4x2 buttons, have recently been unable to shake thinking "nipples" re top two.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just the picture mutes the colour a bit... but I rather like it! I love double breasted odd jackets anyway, and you can get away with some fairly silly colours with them.
ReplyDeleteChanging the buttons might be a good idea, but I would leave it as 6x2 personally.
Enzo,
ReplyDeleteI can see why you feel that way about the shoulders, but I think it's just the angle of the photo. In real life they're not that bad.
NCJack,
That's exactly how I felt about those top two buttons.
Almost forgot, top it with a nice Panama, three inch brim.
ReplyDeleteDude, all you need is an arm band with a swasika and a Nazi lapel pin and you're good to go...in 1943 Berlin.
ReplyDeleteThis will be a bull's eye choice for a handful of situations (tropical setting, resort, garden party). I'm assuming when it's in actual use that you'll leave the bottom button undone.
ReplyDelete-Aaron
I love this jacket!!!
ReplyDeleteGood find, sir.
"I need to buy a tailor's mannequin."
ReplyDeleteYou could ask your pal Will at A Suitable Wardrobe where he got his ;-)
Seriously, where would you find such a beast used? I think your best bet might be a men's clothing store that has to shutter its doors forever; you might also contact sewing hobbyists for sources.
You shoulda walked from this one G-Man. You shoulda walked.
ReplyDeleteSt. Patty's Day is right around the corner...get thee to a tailor ASAP.
ReplyDeleteI think Tin Tin just ended the conversation right there...dammit!
ReplyDeleteAnd for formal occasions, nothing beats an opera cape with SS deaths-heads on the clasp, right?
I'll wait until I get a chance to trot it out before I pronounce time of death on this one.
I got a $100 for that cape from a nice man who goes to the opera. He took the skulls and patch off and told me it's perfect. Maybe you can get your four dollars back on that jacket but I doubt it.
ReplyDeleteYou win this round, tin. Just wait till June...
ReplyDeleteLong time reader, first time commenter.
ReplyDeleteOh. My. Gosh.
An ugly piece of clothing that ADG would walk away from?
ADG spends more money to look worse than any other men's fashion blogger I've seen. I thought your channeling of him with the ballcap/overcoat combo was bad enough, but this? If even that maven of garish clothes turns up his nose at it, it's gotta be bad. (And despite what tintin says, the Nazis had better taste in clothes than that.)
Donate it, haul it to the Top Shelf Flea, burn it. Just get rid of that thing.
I know, somehow, this will work. Despite all the other, um, opinions. Maybe you can wear it to TSF?
ReplyDelete