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12 April 2013

The Present

I've been switching out my Winter wardrobe for Spring stuff lately. As I said before, in 20 years little has changed, or rather things have come full circle. I still wear a version of that same outfit from the Summer when I was 16, only now its a bit more refined. Vintage Hathaway shirt, Italian silk ascot, Brooks Brothers khakis and ribbon belt, leather and mesh spectator loafers, and a USA made Polo blazer, all of it from thrift stores. The hat was a treat for myself bought new at the Andover Shop, though I did get for half price in the end of Summer sale.

I bet I still have something like this in the closet when I'm 80....unless even if we've all switched to silver space suits by then.
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11 comments:

  1. Roger v.d. VeldeApril 12, 2013 at 2:51 PM

    This is only my opinion, but I think khakis ruin an outfit like this; indeed any outfit that looking to be well-dressed but informal.

    Cream linen trousers (maybe heavier weight) or cotton linen-look trousers seem to me better suited. Khakis or chinos seem to not know whether they are a sort of jeans or trousers, and then fail at being either.

    Again, just my opinion.

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  2. Young FogeyApril 13, 2013 at 3:24 PM

    I love the outfit. The double-breasted blazer knocks it out of the park. I think the ascot is great, too.

    My only quibble is that the belt and hat band match, yet I can't think of what belt might work better. I love the color palette you used, and wouldn't want to add an extraneous color.

    Well, I'm sure your watch strap didn't match, and since the belt would be hidden by the jacket, it's only clothing geeks like me who are even aware of this "issue."

    Again, great outfit.

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  3. Young FogeyApril 13, 2013 at 3:26 PM

    Roger,

    I think that's a perfectly reasonable opinion for a European to have. (N.B.: I mean nothing negative by this).

    As I'm sure you're aware, chinos are an American classic, and part of why is their versatility: they can be dressed up with a blazer and tie, or dressed down with a tennis shirt, or anything in between.

    Having said that, G's outfit would also work with the trousers you mentioned, as well as with cream flannels (if you can afford them—it seems the only way to get them nowadays is to have them made).

    A question for you, Roger: is there anyway to "save" the outfit and still wear chinos, or are chinos just too "neither fish nor fowl" for you?

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  4. Stephen PatrickApril 13, 2013 at 7:42 PM


    Point of Order: Blazers and khakis, being of military origin,are naturals together. After WWll, the GI Bill put lots of veterans on campus. where they took to wearing their GI-issue khakis with jackets once created for ship's company of HMS Blazer.
    Similarly, after WWl, Englishman, brokers in The City (London), pridefully wore Burberrys they had worn on the Somme.
    So then, the blazer and khakis--add a regimental tie and you can lunch with Pippa Middleton.

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  5. Roger v.d. VeldeApril 14, 2013 at 9:27 AM

    YF,

    I've often worn something like chinos, but always with very casual, lighweight jackets, or none at all. I accept that national tastes will view certain garments differently and that's okay.

    Stephen Patrick,
    I doubt GI's were wearing jackets even mildly resembling those used in the Royal Navy, the blazer had evolved way past that design by the time of WWII.

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  6. NickApril 14, 2013 at 1:05 PM

    "...a perfectly reasonable opionion for a European..." -- Greek, Estonian, Latvian - it's all the same right?

    As an Englishman living alarmingly close to Europe (England) I think that this outfit looks just fine and dandy with chinos. Cricket flannels would be super too :-)

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  7. BeakywitchApril 15, 2013 at 12:20 AM

    I'm sure you could find a way to refine the space suit if it ever comes in. If Britain doesn't warm up ever again I plan to adopt a 1940s fine wool jumpers approach to the problem.

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  8. HarveyApril 15, 2013 at 1:46 PM

    I wish I was that stylish when I was 16...
    For choice, I would also opt for the cream linen trouser or flannels, rather than the chinos, but they certainly don't ruin a very decent combination.

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  9. IanApril 16, 2013 at 12:59 AM

    Hope you and your loved ones are safe Guiseppe.

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  10. Young FogeyApril 16, 2013 at 8:51 AM

    Nick,

    I am well aware that there is variety within Europe. All I meant is that since chinos are derived from American military uniforms worn in WWII, and were popularized by demobilized soldiers in the U.S., that they are not necessarily as much a part of European style as they are a part of American style. (You do know that we don't all wear cowboy hats and carry six-shooters, right? ;-)

    As for blazers...

    Blazers have two sources. The double-breasted blazer comes from the naval reefer jacket, while the single-breasted blazer comes from rowing club jackets.

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  11. GordoApril 19, 2013 at 12:30 AM

    Well played.

    ReplyDelete

An Affordable Wardrobe strives for an open discussion of all the topics presented here. All opinions, whether in agreement with the author or not, will be considered for publication. Please present your points in a clear and adult fashion. Negative comments of an overtly crass nature will not be published. Besides dressing like grown ups, let's behave like them as well.