Do you know what we’re thankful for this year? Our sponsors. Put This On wouldn’t be possible without them, so twice a month, we like to give them a special shoutout. Doing so allows us to thank them for their support, as well as update our readers on our sponsors’ latest happenings.
From now until Sunday, you can find select shirt fabrics on sale at Proper Cloth. The online custom clothier offers made-to-measure shirts, which are cut and sewn to your measurements and style specifications. What makes them distinctive from other tailors? Their fabrics, for one. Whereas most other tailors mainly make office-ready dress shirts, Proper Cloth has you covered for any occasion — from black tie to Monday meetings to the weekend. A selection of their casual fabrics is available this weekend at 40% off. That includes melange basketweaves, crisp linens, double striped twills, brushed flannel, and ombre plaids. Getting a casual shirt custom-made means you can get exactly the fit and details you need. Until Sunday, they’re also offering free shipping on all orders.
If you want to add a little cheer to a holiday party this season, consider Chipp’s novelty ties. Paul Winston, the company’s president, says taste is all about who and where. His “Mooning Santa” tie probably isn’t right for the office or a PTA meeting, but a Christmas party? Sure, why not. Chipp’s cheeky motifs are cleverly coded, so they’re never too obtrusive. And given the company’s Ivy Style heritage, their ties go naturally with oxford-cloth button-downs, 3-roll-2 sport coats, and Alden wingtips. If you’re a dog lover, like me, Chipp also has Kennel Club ties for nearly every breed. Cat fans can enjoy a different design.
Dapper Classics is holding its biggest sale of the year. Until the end of today, you can take 30% off any purchase with the checkout code BLACK30. That includes everything from their socks to scarves to leather bags. It also includes their tailored trousers, which have become some of the company’s most popular items. Made in New York City by the famous Hertling trouser factory, these give you top-end quality for about half the price of their Italian counterparts.
Dapper Classics’ trousers are cut and sewn from specialty fabrics, including Fresco, which is typically only available through bespoke tailoring. They come with a rear-split waistband for comfort, flat front, and hook-tab closure. They’re a mid-rise with a slim, but not skinny, fit. With today’s promo, you can get a pair for as little as $101. Get something in grey or tan if you want versatility. Navy is useful if you have light-colored or gray sport coats, or plan to wear these casually.
This Black Friday, Rowing Blazers is teaming up with Play Rugby USA, a New York-based nonprofit dedicated to sports-based youth development and to promoting rugby in underserved communities.
For over 15 years, Play Rugby USA has impacted youth communities through the sport of rugby. “We create an environment where kids feel empowered and inspired to express themselves, work together and have fun through the sport of rugby,” says Play Rugby USA. “When combined with our intentionally designed curricula that cultivate character, builds skills and develop lifelong habits of mind and body, we achieve powerful, tangible results; outcomes you can see on paper, on the field, in the classroom and throughout the communities we serve.”
From now until Monday, Rowing Blazers will offer a 20% discount on most purchases (there are some exclusions). They’re also releasing twenty one-of-a-kind, End-of-Day Rugby Shirts. To celebrate this fantastic organization, 10% of all proceeds sitewide will go to Play Rugby USA during the holiday weekend.
Lastly, we want to welcome our latest sponsor, Robert Stolz. They’re one of the few companies in the world offering Loden coats. The word Loden refers to two things — there’s the fabric, and then the coat. Generations ago, the original Loden coats were worn by Austrian farmers, shepherds, and hunters in the mountainous area of Tyrol. Still, you’re as likely to find them there today as you are Tyrolean shoes. As one writer in a 1956 issue of Sports Illustrated put it, “Loden is to the Bavarian what tweed is to the Scot – a fabric so long indigenous to its land, of such peasant origins that it has become almost a folk cloth.”
At some point, the style got picked up as a kind of caste mark that can be roughly described as European preppy. The original coats were loose around the body and reaching just below the knees. The back was constructed with a deep center vent that swung out from the shoulder blades, and the fly front was said to help protect the leather buttons from exposed underbrush. The New York Times noted the style “automatically goes with cuff buttons left open on a bespoke sport coat, or a promising job at the Morgan Guaranty branch on the Place Vendome.” But as fashion changed, the Loden coat twisted and turned until it was barely recognizable. Sometimes you can find coats made from Loden cloth — which is coarse wool that has been put through a wet finishing process until it shrinks and becomes something like dense felt. But the original, deep center-pleat coats are hard to find.
Robert Stolz came across it many years ago, after having retired from the Marines and meeting his Austrian wife while studying abroad in Cairo and working on a defense project in the Middle East for some years before moving to her native Austria. That’s how he eventually found himself visiting one of those old Alpine mills. It was at that moment when Robert decided to try to bring the coat back in a way that held true to the style’s heritage, but still spanned the spectrum from traditional Austrian (tracht) to modern Austrian (trachten mode) to classic European style. His company only uses natural materials — authentic Loden wool cloth and natural trims such as bone, horn, and leather (no plastic or synthetic blends). Robert also only manufactures in Europe and the United States. “Using natural materials is better for the environment,” he tells me. “Not only is wool a renewable product (as sheep are sheared many times), but eventually the garment can quickly decompose. And by producing in Europe, we can be sure the manufacturing process is clean.” You can find Robert Stolz’ Loden coats on their website.
