Twice a month, we like to give our sponsors a special shoutout. Doing so allows us to thank them for their support, as well as update our readers on our sponsors’ latest happenings. We also have a new sponsor this month, although they’re an old pal. Ledbury holds the record for the longest-running sponsor on this site and now they’re back!
If you’re wearing dress socks with suits or sport coats, you’ll want them to be over-the-calf. Half-calf socks tend to droop down your leg, which exposes your calf when you sit down (although they’re good with more casual clothes). The Hanger Project has some high-end, over-the-calf dress socks from Calzificio Palatino, a small firm that’s based in Rome. They company is most known for their discrete patterns and fil d’Ecosse socks (fil d’Ecosse meaning mercerized cotton isle). Mercerization is a textile finishing process that improves a yarn’s dye uptake and strength, reduces shrinkage, and imparts a silk-like luster. The Hanger Project has them in small-dot patterns, which will contrast against your trousers.
Online made-to-measure tailoring has come a long way in the last ten years. No longer just a specialty for office clothes, companies like Proper Cloth offer casual weekend shirts, all custom made to your specifications and measurements. This week, they’re releasing their new Beacon flannels collection. These soft, melange flannels, which come in both solid colors and classic plaids, can be worn with jeans, chinos, fatigues, or five-pocket cords. You can layer them underneath tailored topcoats or Proper Cloth’s citified puffer vests, or wear them on their own with work boots. All the fabrics are from Canclini, one of Italy’s most prestigious shirting mills. Founded in 1925 near Como, Italy, the family-owned mill has produced fabrics for some of the world’s best brands including Zegna, Giorgio Armani, Prada, and Dolce & Gabbana.
Readers probably know about Chipp’s neckties. They’re made in NYC from the same English and Italian silks used at top end shops, but cost a fraction of the price. What some may not know, however, is that Chipp also has a program for fully custom-made suspenders. Paul, the shop’s founder, says: “Who else offers twenty-four different colors and stripes for suspenders, and allows people to order with their choice of leather kips and metal adjusters?” No one that we know of. Each pair of suspenders is made in NYC and available for sale at $45.50.
With midterm elections just around the corner (go vote November 6th! There’s still time to register in some states), Dapper Classics has some new political party themed socks. There’s something for both Democrats and Republics, half-calf wearers and over-the-calf devotees (just nothing for Men’s Dress Reform Party members, sorry). These were knitted in North Carolina at a third-generation mill, using a 200-needle count, mercerized cotton blend. The toes have also been hand linked to eliminate the seam that comes on lower-quality socks. And with these being made-in-the-USA, you get to support American manufacturing.
We’re thrilled to welcome back one of our first sponsors ever, Ledbury. They’re most known for their high-end men’s dress shirts, which come in both classic and slimmer fits, but in the last few years, they’ve expanded into everything from sport coats to knitwear to even custom tailoring. At the moment, the team there is holding their Annual Fall Event, where you can save up to 30% on your order depending on how much you spend (the promo applies sitewide with only footwear, cufflinks, and gift cards being excluded). No code is needed and you’ll see the amount automatically deducted at checkout.
They also just dropped their new fall collection, which has textured fisherman-style sweaters, dressy-causal plaid flannel shirts, and five-pocket trousers in corduroy and moleskin. Notably, even these new items are included in the Annual Fall Event promotion, but the sale ends Tuesday, October 30th.
Finally, our thanks to Huckberry. If you’re looking for some new winter boots, Huckberry just picked up Rhodes, a new brand that’s exclusive to their site. These come in a classic work boot style, available in both toe cap and plain toe varieties, and were made by a family-run Portuguese factory. They’re Blake stitched, which means the soles have been sewn-on, rather than glued. That allows a local cobbler to replace the soles easily once they wear down, giving you more serviceability out of your purchase. Best of all is the price — just $220 per pair with free shipping and returns.
