Archive for October, 2018

Trad Clothing Brands?

One of the most frequent questions that I get is, “What are the best trad clothing brands?.” This is a difficult question to answer, but here is the answer that I usually provide.

It is easier for me to tell you clothing stores where you can find trad clothes rather than identify a few brands that are trad. Some of the stores that I have listed below are brands or have in-house brands, but others stock lots of brands.

The stores below stock almost nothing, but trad clothes. You can almost shop blindfolded and come away with nothing but the good stuff (be careful at Brooks Brothers though). Everyone on my list has an online presence which was one of my requirements. However, outside of O’Connell’s, J.Press, and Brooks Brothers you may have to place a phone call to check on sizing, availability, etc.

What do you think of the list? Is there anyone that I left off? Anyone on this list that you would remove?

The Best American Trad Clothing Stores

1. O’Connell’s Clothing

2. J.Press

3. Ben Silver

4. The Andover Shop

5. Cable Car Clothiers

6. Eljo’s

7. Brooks Brothers

All The Sweaters

I took stock of my sweaters this week. I also took a pictures because I knew a few people that might be interested in seeing them. There are plain Shetland sweaters, brushed Shetland sweaters, lambswool sweaters, and more sweaters.

If I were to pick my favorite sweater out of the bunch it would be the fisherman sweater that my sister knit for me.  After that it is a toss up between the Salmon Spirit of Shetland sweater or the Brooks Brothers Clipper blue Shetland. I also really like pink brushed sweater from Ralph Lauren. It is a lambswool/Cashmere blend and it does not disappoint.

If I have learned anything from all of these sweaters it is this. Mid-grey sweaters are the most useful. Saddle shoulders are the best. You can never go wrong with a Shetland sweater. Enjoy the pics!

Shetland Sweaters

Brooks Brothers Clipper Blue ShetlandBrooks Brothers Clipper Blue ShetlandSpirit of Shetland Salmon ShetlandSpirit of Shetland Salmon SweaterBrooks Brothers Pumice ShetlandBrooks Brothers Tan ShetlandO’Connell’s Charcoal Shetland
Oconnells Dark Grey Shetland SweaterO’Connell’s Green Moss Shetland
Oconnells Olive Shetland Sweater

Brushed Shetland Sweaters & Brushed Sweaters

J.Press Shaggy Dog Sweater
J.Press Shaggy Dog Sweater Blue/GreenHarley of Scotland Heathland Brushed ShetlandBrown Brushed Shetland SweaterHarley of Scotland Winter White Brushed ShetlandHarley of Scotland White SweaterRalph Lauren Rugby Burgundy Brushed Shetland

Rugby brushed Shetland

Ralph Lauren Rugby Forest Green Brushed Shetland

Rugby Green Shetland SweaterRalph Lauren Pink Lambwool/Cashmere Brushed Sweater
Pink Ralph Lauren SweaterRalph Lauren Grey Lambswool/Cashmere Sweater
Ralph Lauren Grey Brushed Sweater

Shawl Collar Sweaters

J.Crew Navy Shawl Collar Lambswool Sweater
J.Crew Navy Wool Shawl Collar SweaterJ.Crew Tan Lambswool Shawl Collar Sweater
J.Crew Lamsbswool Shawl Collar Sweater

The rest of them

Wool Fisherman Sweater knit by my sister
IMG_1604Brooks Brothers Outlet Brand Wool Navy/Burgundy Birdseye SweaterIMG_1603Bosie Navy/Grey Birdseye Shetland Sweater
IMG_1600J.Crew Mid-Grey Lambswool SweaterIMG_1608Bosie Patterned Shetland Sweater in Charcoal/Light Grey IMG_1597

Fall Looks for all Temps

It’s 42 degrees outside as I type this. On Monday it was 80 degrees and I was wearing shorts. Today I am contemplating donning a toboggan. Fall can be like that.

The images below show how I managed to stay warm or cool as the temps fluctuated. Some things like the red shirtjac and the green vest you will continue to see but the shorts, polos, and madras will soon be put away for the season.  Winter is coming.

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2018 Tweed Sport Coats

While I am not in the market for a new tweed sport coat I pretended that I am for this post which is easy to do for your average trad. I went into this search knowing that I would be unable to get all trad trimmings that I want without going MTM which is expensive and time intensive or going to O’Connells or J.Press. My problem with OCs and J.Press is that most if not all of their jackets lack patch pockets. That is currently a deal breaker for me. In the making of this list the two highest items on my list are natural shoulders and patch pockets.

 

 

Sid Mashburn – Sid Mashburn Virgil NO. 2 Patch Pocket Jacket ($995)

As much as I love a 3/2 roll I think that I could settle for this 2-button dart-less sack tweed from Sid. They actually offer a 3/2 sack, but this color and pattern spoke to me so much more. I would prefer that my patch pockets be flapped but this seems to be a growing trend. I am not opposed to it as it pushes the casual vibe that I am going for with patch pockets in the first place. This is a great looking jacket.

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John Simons ($480)

John Simons is offering the sport coat above in 3 colors. I am a big fan of olive in general and I am loving this jacket. It looks kind of Keydge like which is not a bad thing. I like the casual look of an unlined jacket when it is done right. My recent positive experience with this brand (John Simons Shirts) has left me wanting to try this tweed jacket out.

 

 


Drakes – Ochre and Green Houndstooth Tweed Jacket$1,395.00

Drake’s has been consistently doing good things with their there brand if you ask me. While they aren’t exclusively an ivy/trad brand they appear on the Venn diagram occasionally. This unlined but darted  and side-vented 3/2 sport coat in an autumn-ish pattern is very nice looking. At $1,395 we are in MTM range, but one of the upsides to OTR (off the rack) is that you can simply return it if it does not work out. It looks well made and like they used quality materials, but for my intended use it could benefit from some swelled edges. This looks like it would work better with grey flannels than khaki chinos.

 

 

 

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Ralph Lauren

Brown Jacket ($995)

Tick Weave Jacket ($995)

I like both of these jackets a lot despite those enormous pockets and the darts. Despite those defects they have a nice overall look. The brown one is labeled as a suit jacket will work just fine as a sport coat because the of those patch pockets. The other is a tick weave I which I know that I really like as one my sport coats has this. It is a great texture. Still not sold on the pockets.

I should have called this post the fall sport coat post and not tweed. I see that now. If I were considering a new sport coat I would be leaning towards that John Simons jacket up there. It looks great and it is nice to get everything that you want for $500. Sid would be second on my list, but fit is ultimately what would cement my decision.