Put This On

This photo, in our series of pictures of real men who dress well, is of Rob, from Brooklyn (and his adorable daughter).

Rob’s dressed for the serious weather they’ve been having in New York lately.  The coat is the boldest statement here - that pattern is called a gun club check.  It’s traditionally a country pattern (yes, there are traditional city and country clothes), but I think given the weather and the Brooklyn milieu, that’s entirely excusable.

Greg’s wearing this heavy coat with a pair of dark jeans.  I think jeans are best paired with more casual fabrics like the tweed Rob’s wearing - they both have a more utilitarian feel.  Rob’s shoes, a pair of heavy brogues which toe the line between city and country and form and casual, tie the jeans to the coat.

Rob’s also committed to growing that beard until he and his fellow teachers have a contract, which we’re on board for 1000%.  The good news for Rob is that it looks great on him.

What a coat. That’s what a buttonhole looks like, folks.

This is, in my book, what all of Gap’s clothing should be: well designed, simple, classic and cheap.  This year, with their new jeans and a few items like this, they’ve made some big strides in that direction.  This crew-neck sweatshirt is $35, and if you have blue eyes and you don’t buy it, you’re making a terrible mistake.  I got a gift card for Christmas, and I think it’ll go towards this in gray.  Lovely sweatshirt.

It’s On Sale

Pendleton for Opening Ceremony Zip-Front Shirt

$74 from $245 (only S remaining)

or in a Black Watch colorway

It’s On eBay

8-Ply Cashmere Carrol & Co. Cardigan

Carrol & Co. is the lone high-end traditional men’s clothing store in Los Angeles.  I tried on a cashmere sweater they made at Jake the other day, and the quality was phenomenal.  I own a suit that bears their store brand, and it was made by Chester Barrie, one of the finest ready-to-wear manufacturers in the world.  The cut of the sweater I tried on was very traditional, but this sweater’s an XXL, so you’d hardly be hoping for a slim cut.

Starts at $9.99, ends Monday

It’s On Sale

Filson Lined Oil Finish Timberline Jacket

$149 (Originally $260) from Filson

The purpose of seasonal dressing is not only to vary the weight of your clothing to account for temperature, but to vary the palette of your clothing to account for the changing colors around you.  Here, Greg from Arizona’s rich palette gains vibrancy from the desert winter colors around him.

All I Want For Christmas: Ask Andy

In our series All I Want For Christmas, we ask men we like what they’d like to get for Christmas.  Our final subject Andy Gilchrist is the proprietor of Ask Andy About Clothes.  The site features both his book (on CD), “The Encyclopedia of Men’s Clothes,” and a popular men’s style forum.  He’s a classicist, and his site is the unofficial home of the “trads,” who espouse the principles of traditional American style.  So what does the man who gives advice want?

It’s on the luxurious list, but why not treat yourself to a cashmere* sweater!  Go with a cable knit for more interest and a tan color (neutral) for maximum versatility.  Neutral colors go with everything.
 
You can choose a V-neck, which will show more shirt and attract attention to your face or the classic crew neck.

Happy holidays!

*Cashmere is very soft, and luxurious yarn spun from the wool obtained from the soft fleecy underbelly of the Kashmir (Capra Hircus) goat of the Kashmir Valley, northwestern India.  For many centuries Kashmir was the only place the fiber could be woven, according to treaties that gave the Maharaja of Kashmir exclusive rights to the cashmere supply, but now the Kashmir goat is raised in Tibet, Mongolia, China, Iran, Iraq, and India.

V-neck cashmere sweater by Polo, $299

Eight Days of Style

Reader Lucy wrote to us to ask that we suggest eight super-basic, affordable Hanukkah gifts for her boyfriend “to replace his stained light-wash jeans and Nine Inch Nails t-shirts.”  We’ll offer one choice for each day the oil burned.

This one’s a splurge, but isn’t he worth it?  Get him a nice cashmere sweater.  A v-neck in a basic color (oatmeal, navy, gray, burgundy) that suits his complexion.  He can wear it all the time.  Don’t let him dry clean it - clean it once a year or so in the sink.  Find one on sale at the mall, or for better quality (all cashmere is certainly not the same) get a used one made in Scotland or England on Ebay.  Even a Ballantyne won’t cost you more than about $40 - and good cashmere just gets softer.

Q and Answer

Aaron writes to ask us:

How does one go about layering dress shirts with sweaters? I’ve worn polo and dress shirts under v-neck sweaters with the top button undone and it looks okay.
But how do you wear a crew neck sweater with a dress shirt?

Some basic guidelines -

• A shirt and tie go with a v-neck or cardigan only.
• A collared shirt goes fine with a crew neck or v-neck, though it can be tough to corral your collar in a v-neck if it isn’t a button-down.  Unless you’re making a fashion statement, unbutton the top button.
• A polo is warm-weather active clothing, and looks a bit silly under a sweater.
• T-shirts and sweaters aren’t a particularly elegant combination (again: if it’s so hot you’re wearing a t-shirt, why is it so cold you’re wearing a sweater?), but a plain t-shirt is fine with a crew or v-neck in a very casual context.
• Avoid combining printed t-shirts with v-necks.

(Photo via Flickr user UncleSteve)