tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081206974005845104.post9059890373447630569..comments2024-03-15T04:27:26.708-07:00Comments on An Affordable Wardrobe: Read The Right Label ; Read The Label RightJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17212956969066796818noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081206974005845104.post-31805174735982478572011-11-23T16:40:17.215-08:002011-11-23T16:40:17.215-08:00Great find.You are so right. Patience is the key t...Great find.You are so right. Patience is the key to thrifting.oxford cloth button downhttp://oxfordclothbuttondown.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081206974005845104.post-89747342016596936882011-11-19T06:47:24.070-08:002011-11-19T06:47:24.070-08:00Chaps...along with Polo University and Colours by ...Chaps...along with Polo University and Colours by Alexander Julian were all made by a company called Greif...back in the late 1970's/early 1980's. The stuff was made here in the States and it was, for the money, solid quality. I step below Hart-S-Marx but not too far below. The Trad shop that I worked in after school sold the Chaps brand by Greif and it was nothing to be ashamed of. I think nowadays, all of that stuff is made..."elsewhere"...ADGhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16612897500610475937noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081206974005845104.post-54663871181709760302011-11-18T18:41:33.159-08:002011-11-18T18:41:33.159-08:00Ralph brands have been all over the place, and I w...Ralph brands have been all over the place, and I went many years before I saw a piece that I thought wasn't a joke played on the well-off rube or poseur. This is why it pays to learn a little about cloth, stitching, canvassing, etc.NCJacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081206974005845104.post-42427850172403627202011-11-17T13:04:51.802-08:002011-11-17T13:04:51.802-08:00Old Timer,
An undarted jacket does not necessaril...Old Timer,<br /><br />An undarted jacket does not necessarily lack waist suppression. The effect can also be achieved through altering the sides and the back--though there is a very good reason why the look with an undarted jacket is called a "sack suit."Young Fogeynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081206974005845104.post-54344110874345495412011-11-17T12:13:33.458-08:002011-11-17T12:13:33.458-08:00There was a time when "just the right amount ...There was a time when "just the right amount of waist supression" meant no waist supression at all.<br /><br />Those were the days, my friend.Old Timernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081206974005845104.post-32913807197020488362011-11-17T12:09:14.772-08:002011-11-17T12:09:14.772-08:00Funny, I just scored an extremely well-made, USA-c...Funny, I just scored an extremely well-made, USA-crafted, perfectly fitting and hanging Chaps navy blazer at a thrift store the other day and went through the same thought process. This thing is just the best navy blazer I've come across. Pleasantly surprised on so many levels.18milesperhourhttp://18milesperhour.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081206974005845104.post-33368494761411071712011-11-17T12:08:43.399-08:002011-11-17T12:08:43.399-08:00Whether I recognize the labels or not (and quite o...Whether I recognize the labels or not (and quite often not when thrifting) I can typically find a union-made tag of some kind inside an interior jacket pocket.thenewshaikuedhttp://thenewshaikued.tumblr.com/noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081206974005845104.post-59307630554396778422011-11-17T10:33:51.406-08:002011-11-17T10:33:51.406-08:00Gents,
Wow. You're fortunate to have gotten s...Gents,<br /><br />Wow. You're fortunate to have gotten such great pieces. I'd love to have a half-belted back jacket. I guess I should be happy that I can find anything decent at all.Young Fogeynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081206974005845104.post-42095404049141771452011-11-17T09:51:15.003-08:002011-11-17T09:51:15.003-08:00Randall,
Incredible, I know, but there you have ...Randall, <br /><br />Incredible, I know, but there you have it.<br /><br />Gents,<br /><br />Chaps deifnitely laid on the 1930s detailing pretty thick in the old days.Giuseppehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11582043853388196139noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081206974005845104.post-89962235779352945782011-11-17T07:33:02.074-08:002011-11-17T07:33:02.074-08:00I have come across lots of early Chaps pieces and ...I have come across lots of early Chaps pieces and have always found them to be sharp looking and well made.<br /><br />Some of my favorites are a chambray button down with a flap breast pocket and a heavy linen jacket with a pleated, half belted back like Jack Nicholson wears in Chinatown. great fun!Gents Outfittershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09127805169112522728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081206974005845104.post-74274030804020577812011-11-17T07:15:56.688-08:002011-11-17T07:15:56.688-08:00Hard to imagine a time when Lawrence was a go to s...Hard to imagine a time when Lawrence was a go to spot for fine men's wear.randallnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081206974005845104.post-72934764695595506652011-11-17T06:29:54.295-08:002011-11-17T06:29:54.295-08:00The other year I had a similar discovery at a cons...The other year I had a similar discovery at a consignment shop. A heavy, fuzzy blackwatch jacket with a half belt in back, two patch pockets, swelled edges and brass buttons. Obviously old, but incredibly sturdy and it had held up well. Chaps, for Britches of Georgetown.Wrenkinnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081206974005845104.post-51770132977683348262011-11-17T06:26:59.499-08:002011-11-17T06:26:59.499-08:00This is a very important post, and it brings some ...This is a very important post, and it brings some clarity to a question I've had for quite some time. As a fellow thrifter, this is going to stay in the back of my head when I'm out there, as I've passed up several items that have come from diffusion lines, despite seeming very nice.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9081206974005845104.post-87223808698927430052011-11-16T23:21:14.539-08:002011-11-16T23:21:14.539-08:00Read the label.
What excellent advice!
But you g...Read the label.<br /><br />What excellent advice!<br /><br />But you gotta know what you're looking at.<br /><br />I have in my collection a tweed jacket with a "Polo University Club by Ralph Lauren" label. Made in the USA, I bought it new in the 80s. This now-defunct RL line was apparently an entry-level RL line, said to be analogous to Brooksgate. I still wear it regularly, and it still looks and wears great.<br /><br />The rest of the label tells the rest of the story: Nordstrom. I trust Nordy's to provide quality goods.<br /><br />I also recently bought a jacket that fits me like a glove: Mani by Armani. Mani is also defunct, and was also an entry-level line. Made in Italy, it is a beautiful piece. The other label? Macy's. Macy's is not at the same level as Nordstrom, but it's not an automatic rejection notice (like modern Stafford is).Young Fogeynoreply@blogger.com