The Last Days of Tweed and More: Wear it While You Can

Even though we are still experiencing temperatures in the single digits I know that warmer is weather is inevitable. Don’t get me wrong. I am more than ready to hang up my duffle coat, but I also know that the changing weather comes at a price. Part of that price is that our tweed wearing days are numbered. Tweed Sport Coat and Shetland SweaterCords for the cold In the top picture I am wearing a sport coat over a Shetland sweater sans tie which I reserve for very cold days. In the picture below I opted for tan cords over chinos, because there is never a shortage of opportunities to wear chinos, but wide-wale cords are a different story.

Tweed is not the only thing that goes when warm weather strikes. We will lose our wool socks, wool ties, and wool overcoats. While I have been strategically working each of my tweed sport coats into the mix, I have also been relying heavily upon corduroys, and even my tie selections have been influenced by the limited cold weather days before spring. Today's Ties OptionsTweed and Foulard TieIn the third picture you can see the two tie options that I set out before I dressed.  Pictured below is the tie that I ended up wearing. I knew that I would not have many more chances to wear this cold winter combination.

Again, I have nothing against spring. I invite the warm weather. I am hoping that it will cure my cabin fever.  I can’t wait to be able to leave the house in a Shetland with no coat, to break out the boat shoes and camp mocs, and to trade in my Saturday Tartan shirts for my Saturday Madras shirts. As the temperatures begin to rise over the next few weeks remember to wear it while you can.

oxford cloth button down
Jerrod Swanton is a simple man interested in simple, classic, and traditional style.

11 Comments on "The Last Days of Tweed and More: Wear it While You Can"

  1. What a wonderful tweed jacket in the second photograph!

    Best Regards,

    Heinz-Urich von B.

  2. NaturalShoulder says:

    One of the drawbacks to living in Texas is the shortened season in which to wear tweed, flannel, corduroy and the other cold weather staples. I enjoy seersucker, poplin, and linen and polo shirts in the warmer weather but enjoy the cold weather kit a bit more.

  3. mhj says:

    A tweed jacket makes fine outerwear until the temperature really warms up.

  4. Charlottesville says:

    Great sport coats, and nice combinations with them. Like you, I am looking forward to spring, but am enjoying my last chance to wear the cold-weather gear. Last week we had a half foot of snow, with single digit temperatures at night, and I wore Shetland sweaters, corduroys, flannels and tweeds. Today it is 62 in my part of Virginia, the snow is almost all melted and even my cheviot suit is feeling a bit toasty. The temps are scheduled to fall a bit as the week progresses, and I plan to get my money’s worth out of the heavy stuff before packing it off for cleaning and storage, but the cool weather is fast fading. Hope that spring for you in Ohio is not far behind. Which brings up the awkward pause between tweed and seersucker. Light-to-mid-weight wool suits, sport coats and blazers, with khakis and gabardine trousers will cover the next 2 1/2 months or so, but this always feels like the least interesting part of my wardrobe. I have 3 lightweight guncheck plaid jackets in various shades of olive, rust, gold and tan, but almost everything else is a sea of navy and gray. Still, a navy blazer worn with a colorful tie and an appropriate OCBD can look pretty lively between now and Memorial Day, and the warmer evenings and later sunsets are certainly consolations.

  5. James says:

    Hi Jerrod, how do you generally dress in warmer weather? Both whilst at work and off duty? Where I live I find this time of year March/April and September/October the most difficult time of year to dress for. For example this morning it was just above freezing however by mid morning/noon it will be much more pleasant. What outwear for spring summer do you recommend for those of us who work in a ‘blazer is too formal’ type of environment?
    Thanks

  6. oxford cloth button down says:

    Thanks for the kind words everyone.

    James -When the days begin to start closer to 40 degrees I will wear either my Barbour and a Shetland or a Shetland/Bubble vest combo. I think that Shetlands make a great piece of outerwear for the spring. I also break out my Baracuta in the spring.

    I like hot weather, but I don’t do too much warm weather wear like linen, seersucker, and such. I do wear Madras shirts, but I usually keep this type of wear restricted to after hours. At work I will be in a OCBD and khaki chinos and after work khaki chino shorts, a polo, or OCBD with the sleeves rolled up.

    Charlottesville – Thank you. It sounds like you already know the drill!

  7. James says:

    Thanks for the reply Jerrod, I love my harrington jacket, mine is a Ben Sherman, those Baracuta sure are expensive now – I could probably buy a dozen wardrobe ‘staples’ for the price of one of them new!
    James

  8. oxford cloth button down says:

    James – I hope it was helpful! I completely agree about the price of a Baracuta. I purchased mine from a thrift store for $1.50. That was a good day.

    • James says:

      Jerrod – yes it was helpful thanks. What is your favourtie brand of polo – do you have one? Baracuta for $1.50 is amazing luck, is it in good condition too?

  9. oxford cloth button down says:

    James – It was in “like-new” condition. I don’t invest very heavily in polos. I generally only wear them during the day in the summer when long sleeves won’t do. I never wear them to the office. I currently have a few from Gap and Target.

    I am starting to think that I would like to have a short sleeve pop-over in seersucker or madras. I had a madras one about 15 or more years ago that I really liked. I didn’t even know what a pop-over was back then.

    • Hollywood Argyle says:

      Proper Cloth, an on-line custom shirt maker, offers popovers, short sleeves, and a large variety of fabrics.

      Full disclosure: I have no connection to Proper Cloth whatsoever.

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