We couldn’t be more appreciative of our sponsors. As an independent menswear site, they’re the reason why we’re able to keep the lights on. So, twice a month, we like to give them a special shoutout to recognize them for their support. Doing so also allows us to update our readers on our sponsors’ latest happenings.
Ever notice that you don’t have to wash wool sweaters as often as cotton ones? That’s because wool is naturally odor-resistant. Proper Cloth has channeled this property into some of their woven button-ups. Launching tomorrow, their new line of Reda Merino Wool shirts give you the comfort and performance of wool, but in spring-ready button-up form. Wool is a natural temperature regulator, which means it averages out the temperature between you and the outside world. That’s what people mean when they say it keeps you warm when it’s cool, and cool when it’s hot (think of it like the insulation in your house). It’s also naturally wrinkle-resistant, which means you don’t have to iron your shirts in the morning, and since it naturally resists odors, you can stay looking and smelling fresh after that morning bike commute.
Tomorrow, the company will have their new line of Reda Merino shirts in a range of colors. Darker tones, such as the heathered grey shirt you see above, can be worn with more casual outfits, such as those involving jeans and worsted tweed sport coats (what some call faux-tweed because it’s a tweed that can be worn in the springtime). Proper Cloth will also have blue-and-white stripes and checks for a more professional look. As ever, these are made-to-measure shirts that are cut-and-sewn to your specifications. Proper Cloth also offers a free remake on all first-time orders, so that you can perfect that fit.
We’re still some months away, but this coming spring/ summer is wedding season. If you’re looking for the perfect tie, consider Chipp’s grenadines. They’re made from the same Italian fabrics used at top-tier producers, but cost less than a third of the price. Made in New York City and available for just $60, they come in every color imaginable. For weddings, however, you’ll want something slightly cheery, but still sober. Silver is a terrific choice for festive occasions. Silver ties look less like office-clothes than their dark blue counterparts, and the textured grenadine weave here keeps these from looking cheap and shiny. If you want something you can wear to the office, as well, consider dark blue. Chipp has the color in two shades. Go for one that’s just slightly off from your suit, so you get some contrast.
There are three often-repeated rules when it comes to dress socks. First, if you’re wearing a suit, always go over-the-calf, so that your bare leg doesn’t show when you sit down. Over-the-calf socks stay up on your leg and don’t droop over the course of the day. Secondly, try to find a color that’s complementary to your trousers. The safest choice is to always go with the same color as your trousers, so you visually extend the leg line, although careful and discrete deviations are also fine. Thirdly, while solid-colored socks are always good, you can also wear something patterned to add a bit of fun and visual interest to an outfit.
This week, Dapper Classics just released their new line of spring socks, where you can find playful patterns sitting next to sober ones. They have baseball-themed socks for those who are following spring training. Maybe not something for a more conservative office, but perfect for chinos and a button-up when going out to a ballgame. For more professional environments, the diamond motif, charcoal socks pictured above would go with a grey flannel suit and black oxfords, or a pair of grey flannel trousers, a navy sport coat, and semi-casual shoes of almost any variety and color. Dapper Classics socks are made at a family-owned plant in North Carolina. They use top-quality yarns and hand-link their toes for a smooth fit and added durability.
Most men’s clothing derives in some way from war or sport, but few things in our wardrobe have a more direct connection to modern sportswear than rugbies. The collared pullover style has been a staple for a certain kind of Northeastern prep look for decades, but rugbies also come in many other flavors. There’s David Hockney’s “art dude” rugby look, Yvon Chouinard’s “1970s rock climbing” rugby style, and Italian Paninaro youth culture.
Our friends at Rowing Blazers have been making the kind of authentic, heavyweight rugbies that men used to wear out to the field 50 to 100 years ago. Some of their most popular models are called “dad rugbies. “We’re drawing on a very specific reference for these designs: the rugby shirts of 1980s catalogue culture; the rugby shirts worn by outdoorsmen, weekend warriors, dads of all shapes and sizes in the late 20th century,” says Rowing Blazer founder Jack Carlson. “These are slightly lighter weight and baggier than our ‘authentic’ rugby shirts, and have a twill collar instead of a knitted collar. They will retail for less than our ‘authentic’ rugbies and won’t have embroidery.” You can wear them with jeans or chinos, under duffle coats or even the right sport coat.
Our sponsor LuxeSwap recently headed over to the Hertling trouser factory in Brooklyn to buy up all their overrun and sample garments. They’ve been selling the trousers on their sale at blowout prices. For American-made trousers, cut and sewn from top-end fabrics, and made with the kind of high-quality details you typically only see in premium ready-to-wear, these prices are a bit unheard of. LuxeSwap has trousers selling for as little as $65, although most hover around $100. That’s less than what J. Crew charges these days.
The only catch is that they don’t provide measurements (they can’t, as these prices are too low for them to measure all this stock). That said, the product descriptions show three fits — relaxed, straight, and tapered — and Hertling’s website has a PDF with measurements for each of those fits. No guarantee that those measurements correspond with these specific pairs of pants, but you can take your chances. Also note that, if you’ve bought Hertling-made pants from companies such as Sid Mashburn, Epaulet, or Dapper Classics, they may have specific cuts that are exclusive to them. Don’t assume that all Hertling trousers are cut the same.
For the next three days, LuxeSwap is also sweetening the pot by offering Put This On an exclusive discount code, where you can knock another 35% off the listed prices. Just use the checkout code PTO35. That brings the price down to about $65 for most trousers, although there’s a pair of olive-colored chinos in there that can be had for as little as $42. Goes without saying that all sales are final.
