I’m not a summer guy, I never have been. Maybe because I was chubby when I was a kid, but I’ve never been the kind of dude that’s all about the beach/pool. My M.O. is that in between time when it’s jacket PLUS sweater weather.
Give me your chore coats, the shetlands, the oxfords, the beefy chinos, with a nice little white tennis shoe, and remind me that life is worth living when you get a nice fit off.
These are the items that are actually in my closet or in my shopping cart.
Some are on the pricey side, but hey, now you know what I spend my money on.
LETS.DIG.IN.
Jackets/Chorecoats
Despite what has been said about chore coats, they are very much alive and continue to be one of the best pieces of mid-weight outerwear I prefer vintage ones, but if you want something else…check these out first
Auralee Bomber - Wool, Alpaca and silk hits hard. One thing about this, is the weight of the jacket is PERFECT. It’s got a nice heft, and will keep you warm.
Auralee Over Blouson - Can we call this what it really is? Auralee made a take on one of the greatest jackets of all time. The Loro Piana Icer, but they did it their way. Which frankly, is WAY cooler. This might be my biggest splurge of the season.
Barbour x J.Crew Barn Jacket - It’s a classic barn jacket but it’s not, because it’s a Barbour but it’s not. You get a nice navy knit underneath and some big denim? You’ve got a fit going. BUY IT BIGGER PLZ. It runs a bit small.
Bonus: The 60/40 Version - and it’s also on sale ;)
Barbour x Todd Snyder Transport Jacket - Todd Snyder will always have a friendly bit of competitiveness in him. If J.Crew is doing one? Todd wants to do his version better. Judge for yourself. But I like to have a good 5-6 Barbour jackets because I’m a bit of a freak.
Vintage
I mean, if you’re getting annoyed or you keep saying but the vintage is better. Go for a Big Mac denim chore coat. These are the best. Just clean ‘em up
Shirts
Kaptain Sunshine Work Shirt - KS DOESN’T MISS. Sometimes, I pretend Kaptain Sunshine is my little secret, even though most other people I know have heard of the brand. E_V_E_R_Y_ season, I find something I end up ignoring, only to see it sell out when I realize I should’ve purchased it the first time. NOT THIS TIME.
Mill Shirt - Yeah, well, I didn’t anticipate ever getting into Alex Mill either, but here we are. I visited their store the other day and was highly impressed with everything I saw. FWIW, I sized up and got this in a LARGE. It’s perfect for underneath a slubby sweater.
And there’s always my favorite shirts from Juniors. I don’t think I can ever write one of these without mentioning how much I love Glenn Au and his shop/brand.
But what’s that? You want a nice shirt for your sport coat you picked up? Or you want to know what looks best with a tie?
Allow me to introduce you to what I call TIE SHIRTS. These are shirts that look great with a tie because the collars are so exaggerated and perfect, it’s almost a sin not to wear one.
Anglo Italian OCBD - With some huge, late Gary Cooper-esque collar rolls here. If you look at the collars in person, you’re like “No, no way.” Well, yes way! Throw a tie on one of these and walk taller. I’ve had to buy these shirts a few times over the years due to yours truly stress eating cheez its.
Drake’s - There’s not much else to say, except I’m sorry these are so expensive, but the ones I have are now 8 years old. Weirdly, I bought them too big then, so they fit even better now. Luck, I guess?
Vintage
JUST BUY BROOKS BROTHERS. Either search for traditional fit, or MiUSA. If you’re curious what size you are. Brooks Brothers does their shirt sizing by Neck-Sleeve length. e.g., “15 1/2 - 4” is 15.5 neck 34 sleeve. Enjoy.
Big Chinos
Hello, my old friend. My big chinos. You incredible pair of cotton pants that never judges me when I ate too many cheez its, or lost weight. Your pant legs are wide open and you never quite fit, but that’s why I love you.
These shouldn’t cost you too much. Try measuring your best-fitting pair of pants but if you dont have one. I would buy a vintage pair of Polo Ralph Lauren ‘Phillip’ Pants, or the ‘Andrew’ if you want pleats.
PAY ATTENTION TO MEASUREMENTS.
Denim
I wear the Sugar Cane 1947 most days or the RS cut from 3sixteen. Don’t expect much of a rant from me here. I frequently buy denim year-round, all the time, when I’m broke and when I have spare cash. My rule of thumb with denim is, “Can I wear this with a t-shirt one day and a tie and sportcoat the next?” PURCHASED!
Sloppy Suits
FORGET sloppy steaks, bring on the sloppy suits. A sloppy suit is something that doesn’t need to be cared for too much. You can wear it with a t-shirt, a denim shirt, whatever. It’s usually unlined and it doesn’t matter if there’s a canvas or not. Some folks call them easy suits, whatever. It’s just a suit to dress up a tiny bit
I don’t believe there’s a brand that nails this vibe better than De Bonne Facture. Their style is so relaxed and laid back. They’re one of those brands I’d be fine wearing for the rest of my life.
I ordered the metier jacket and balloon trousers in corduroy for this season. I can’t wait to wear them while I walk around and drink coffee
Knitwear
I’ve talked about good knitwear before, and thankfully few things have changed. I still like to wear my lil scarfy sweaterz.
I still swear by Rubato, and the majority of all my knitwear is from them. They’re the absolute best, and I like that their knitwear is nice and hearty. For me, a good knit should be in lambswool. I don’t need cashmere. Give me something to wear underneath a nice oxford shirt.
Vintage
Search for old William Lockie sweaters on eBay. Made in Scotland is the best IMHO.
PART II COMING SOON