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Seersucker is an American classic – a long time staple of trad wardrobes, particularly in the South. At the turn of the 20th century, seersucker was considered the poor man’s alternative to linen. Linen, at the time, was expensive and difficult to maintain. Seersucker, on the other hand, was woven from cotton and could be easily washed. At some point, it became a favorite among college students on Ivy League campuses, which is how it made it into the prep canon. It’s also a summer staple for how cool it wears in the heat and humidity.
Proper Cloth has a bunch of seersucker shirtings at the moment. They come in every color under the sun: bright white, slate blue, navy blue, fatigue green, faded rose, sienna, khaki, etc. Through Proper Cloth’s online customization program, you can get them made in the perfect fit, and with your preferred stylistic details. They can add a bit of texture underneath a sport coat or worn on their own to give any outfit some visual interest.
For the first time ever, Proper Cloth is also offering customizable fatigues and cargo pants. As you see on their website, the standard pattern is something like a slightly slimmed up version of the military originals. They can be worn with t-shirts, chambrays, or Western button-ups. However, if you click “customize,” you can also play around with the pocket, front closure, button, and waistband details.
By the time the coronavirus crisis is over, we may emerge from our homes only to be told to go back inside again. In the last month, tech giants Twitter and Facebook announced that they plan to make working-from-home a permanent fixture in their business structure. As real estate has gotten more expensive, particularly in big cities, some companies are now thinking about scaling back on their offices. That means telecommuting may be the wave of the future.
With good reason, many people have been wondering if this is a good or bad thing. True, it’s nice to be able to work from home. But it’s also nice to get out of the house every once in a while. For those who want to get some fresh air, your new office could be your local cafe, public library, or outdoor seating space.
If you think that may be in your future, consider MCKNGBRD’s folios. Their simple, streamlined design is made to securely protect your electronics (iPads and Macbooks, among them). In such environments, you won’t need to carry around a full briefcase, which may have more carrying space than what you can layout at a cafe table. Instead, this lightweight carry is more comfortable to lug around, carries only what you need, and protects your valuable work tools. Designed in Denmark and made in Los Angeles, these leather cases come in classic colors such as chestnut brown and black, as well as more contemporary options such as navy, burgundy, dove grey, and British racing green. Prices start at just $77.
Long-time readers know Chipp supplies the most affordable grenadine neckties. They source their silks from the same Italian mills as top-end brands, but their ties start at a much more affordable $45 (grenadines are $60 and, like everything Chipp sells, are made in New York City). Paul Winston, the shop’s owner, tells me he can’t imagine charging much more because he remembers what neckties used to cost fifty years ago, back when his family’s business dressed men such as President John F. Kennedy, Andy Warhol, and Joe DiMaggio.
If you’re looking for your first grenadine, consider three colors: black, some sort of dark blue, and silver. Black can look severe in certain contexts, which is why it’s often not recommended for suits or socks, but the color manages to be neutral for grenadines and knit ties. You can wear a black grenadine with navy suits, tobacco linen suits, and brown tweeds. Dark blue, either in the shade matching your navy suits or one shade lighter, is equally versatile (a dark blue tie can also be an excellent way to visually anchor a light-colored sport coat, which could otherwise float away from you). Lastly, silver grenadines are for guys who only wear ties on special occasions — weddings, fancy parties, and other formal gatherings. 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.
You want a solid look? Dapper Classics just added non-ribbed socks to their selection. Made at the same family-owned, North Carolina-based factory where they have all their socks produced, these slightly more formal socks are perfectly smooth. Available in black and white, these new Dapper Classic socks are finely knit from mercerized cotton. Mercerization is a chemical process that increases cotton’s luster, strength, affinity to dye, and resistance to mildew. Most importantly, mercerized cotton is a smoother, more lustrous fiber than merino wool, making it perfect for this non-ribbed design.
Rowing Blazers recently launched the “Tennis Anyone?” collection, which features a cool little graphic designed by the great people of Family Bros. in Atlanta, Georgia. The collection includes a tee, crewneck sweatshirt, and a hat. All items range in price from $42-$95 and are available for purchase now at rowingblazers.com.
Nothing defines the American fashion experience more than trying to find the perfect pair of blue jeans. They’re the foundation of any wardrobe outside of tailored clothing, the casual equivalent of gray flannel trousers. This week, LuxeSwap just put up a massive shipment of premium denim on eBay for all your jean-hunting needs. Included are labels such as COF Studio, Red Cotton, Imogene + Willie, Iron Heart, Rogue Territory, Sugar Cane, Studio D’Artisan, and Orslow. If you’re looking for a pair of jeans you can wear with a sport coat, try The Armoury’s collaboration jeans with Nigel Cabourn. They’re made with a slightly higher rise and slim leg line so you can wear them with tailoring or workwear. You can see Alan See explain the cut at YouTube (embedded above). Alternatively, for something more directional, try Chimala’s wide-leg jeans. Those can be worn with faded flannels and vintage chore coats.
