Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
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Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
While arguably a marketing ploy I can see how the whole experience feeds very much into the puchase and is arguably of tangible value if it makes you feel well-catered for and confident in your purchase.
The result sounds very nice - although while I love the colour I don't think I can pull off green; nor double-breasted jackets!
I was surprised on my last visit to Walters when the tailor suggested that linen suits aren't particularly durable, which surprised me as I thought it had a rep for precisely the opposite..
Thanks - sounds very nice! I was thinking similar although really it'd be a silly, unjustifiable purchase in the vacuum of anything more versatile and given the potential cost.
My mum did offer to throw some money at a suit for a recent funeral (that I eventually didn't make it to, but that's another story).... I found a decent - if unremarkable - charcoal wool suit whose jacket fitted quite nicely but as usual the whole thing was written off by the silly skinny trousers. So, that's any off-the-peg purchase torpedoed until this stupid fashion is rightfully dead and buried.
An update on my wardrobe situation for those with nothing better to do...
Much of what I've bought has seen little use due to lack of opportunity; I'd hoped it'd get more use when I moved to Oxford however suitable occasions have been limited while travelling almost exclusively by bike presents certain issues with dressing more formally.
On top of that I lack a suitable bag to use with such clothing (current daily rucksack has quite practical / military styling), and much of the stuff I have is winter-wear so I've not had the opportunity yet. I'm hopeful that I'll get more use from the warmer gear when cycling is less appealing and I might take the bus more..
I've not bought a lot recently as my appetite had dried up; partially due to the reasons above, partially as I'd gained some weight. However, losing a bit of weight over the summer again had re-fired my enthusiasm as a lot of stuff that had looked decidely stretched began fitting well and looking good again
Over the summer my linen gear has served me well - predominently a few pairs of gloriously (but not stupidly) baggy beige Mantaray trousers and the ever-well-fitting white Uniqlo shirt. Sadly didn't get much opportunity to wear the darker beige sport coat with it as it was so warm..
As discussed I'm somewhat "between suits" as my old faithful M&S job is now conspicuously too big, while I've decided I don't much like the grey prince-of-wales check job scored from a charity shop a while ago as it's too busy and has - again - thinner legs than I'd like, so I'll try and flog that at some point.
This presented problems when I had a wedding party to attend last month and not wishing to rush into a sub-optimal purchase for the purpose I instead elected to forgo the full suit and knock something up from what I had.
The end result was:
- Light blue Uniqlo cotton dress shirt (£30 new - was unsure but I've grown to love it on grounds of fit and versatility)
- Slightly darker blue Charles Tyrwitt silk/linen/cotton tie (£5 new from a charity shop)
- Dark blue Luigi Botto wool (otherwise unbranded) trousers (£7 used, charity shop - nice straight legs and really comfy cut / soft fabric)
- Dark blue unbranded heavy-ish herringbone probably-wool tweed-ish blazer / sport coat (£30 used, ebay - unpretentious provenance but fits really well)
- Black Grenville loafers that aren't my favourite but to be fair have lasted me very well in the 25+yrs I've had them
- Black unbranded "wool rich" double-breasted overcoat (£14 new, ebay / Oxfam - budget / made in Pakistan but the cut is great and quality acceptable)
I was well pleased with how good this worked and got a few compliments as well as the eye from the very friendly young barmaid
On other fronts there have been some inevitable failings; some of the stuff I've bought has proven to be non-viable due to fit / quality / degradation issues; I reckon about 50% of the polonecks I've bought probably need to go, while I think now I have more of an idea of what I want / sizing I need to look to spend more on new / higher-end used gear rather than playing the ebay lottery on used stuff if it can't easily be quantified / assessed.
I'll certainly be avoiding all high street brands apart from Uniqlo (which on top of my own findings I've heard nothing but praise for from those in the know). While I have a couple of older H&M jumpers that have faired well the two cotton polonecks I have don't fit particularly well and have gone baggy around the neck.
I have bought a few more items recently with varying success..
A light blue Banana Republic suit was had from Oxfam for sub-£30; a cheap brand but it's 100% wool, fits pretty well and I hope should make good casual summer wear with the ubiquitous linen shirt and some lightish casual shoes... or maybe a white T-shirt if I feel like going full Miami Vice (well, without the ridiculous baggy fit that ruined the '80s for suit afficiandos with any taste).
I was tempted by a somewhat left-of-the-field blazer found in a charity shop; thickish black wool with a fairly subtle beige chalk stripe and peak lapels; in this respect very reminiscent of the suit worn by Pacino at the end of Scarface - which is a look I'd happily smash with semi-irony. Unfortunately this was torpedoed by a bit of an odd fit around the waist and some ill-advised beige leather adornments.
I think I dropped the ball yesterday - a good mood and some flattering comments from some older ladies in the charity shop goading me into buying a light / mid-grey Charles Tyrwitt single-breasted coat like this one (maybe a shade lighter, maybe that exact one) as well as a burnt orange V-neck Howick wool jumper.
The coat is very nice but as I kind of suspected at the time, when I got home I stuggled to find anything to wear it with as by default I think one should go lighter with whatever's underneath and that's difficult since it's quite light already. My light grey poloneck is too close in tone, darker one isn't really presentable enough and the black one looks best although is a bit high-contrast for my low-contast features. I think it pairs reasonably with a slightly muted orange poloneck I have and could be a decent autumn choice, although I'm not sure I'd wear this in preference to other things I have.
The jumper I'm less convinced about as it fits really well in some areas while very much less-so in others.. while the fact it's a V-neck makes it even less versatile as it really needs to be worn over a shirt and not a lot goes with burnt orange. Tbh I'm tempted to take it back although I'm not sure they'd accept it or if this is the done thing..
I also saw a really nice heavy black / dark grey herringbone double-breasted Brook Taverner overcoat with nice peak lapels but it was far too large as usual; shame as I'd have snapped it up otherwise.
Anyway, I think that's all for now. Trivial stuff that's probably even more useless without pics, but I appreciate the opportunity for spew fourth my streams of thought with impunity..
I've liked this message because it has to be the longest one I've ever seen/read on CC!!😲 😉👍
AndyRM
XOXO
- Location
- North Shields
Sartorial enthusiasts, I seek advice.
I will be attending a Silent Disco this afternoon with my wench and my daughter.
My current plan is to wear double denim, which I described as a powerful look to my offspring, to be met with the gloriously scathing,
"Is it though?"
So what does one wear to an afternoon rave?
I figured I might ask here, because the last time I asked my daughter for style advice I dyed my beard pink and ended up shaving it off when it faded and I looked a complete fool.
I will be attending a Silent Disco this afternoon with my wench and my daughter.
My current plan is to wear double denim, which I described as a powerful look to my offspring, to be met with the gloriously scathing,
"Is it though?"
So what does one wear to an afternoon rave?
I figured I might ask here, because the last time I asked my daughter for style advice I dyed my beard pink and ended up shaving it off when it faded and I looked a complete fool.
A natural consequence of being stuck inside (the flat and my own head) I suppose!
I'm glad to see you're getting your money's worth out of this thread; even if our tastes often appear somewhat different
sungod
Senior Member
double denim - shades different enough for contrast? just different enough to look like a mistake? tragically the same shade? high risk of dork dad
imo it's not a good look
denim jacket with contrasting chinos is ok, or jeans with a blazer, or skip the jacket completely and take a jumper or coat if you think it'll be nippy out, presumably the disco bit will be warm
Hover Fly
He, him, his
- Location
- Besides the lake, beneath the trees
Linen is durable until you get it wet, after all it is vegetable fibre, on the other hand it isn’t attacked by clothes moths and resists tearing and abrasion much better than cotton or wool, add silk for hang and feel and you have a perfect material for suits, if you can afford it.
Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
Attachments
Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
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Drago
Legendary Member
- Location
- Suburban Poshshire
I like the waistcoat and tweed strides. The orange ones are a bit blind for my sober tastes if I'm honest.
Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
I've just added the whole suit photo. It's just short of an impressive three kilograms in weight, due to its 21ounce per square yard weight!😉
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Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
Yes, the orange cords are very er orange!😬 On first looking at them, they appeared to have been faded by sunlight at the bottom of the legs, but when you look from above, that affect dissappears. They seem to have an early 1970's two-tone affect.🤔 It'll take some confidence to wear them, but I'm sure I'll 'man up' and try them out soon!😉
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Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
Imagine if Cordings offered a whole three piece suit in that fluorescent orange! Now that would be something to behold!!😎😬👍
Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
I bet some customers wonder why you pay £7 for Cordings boxing and delivery, whether it's just a pair of socks, or like mine a three piece suit and cords. It took me half an hour to unbox those items. Yes, probably because of me taking those photos, but every item has dividing paper, with the trousers having dividing paper on every fold. They pack their items so well! The packaging is a work of art in itself and definitely worth the small amount of money!! 😉
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Accy cyclist
Legendary Member
- Location
- The hills of Accrington
I do remember that photo of the pink beard!🙄 Double denim is OK, if it's totally different colours/shades of denim and not so similar, but not the same, giving the impression that you've tried but failed to make it look like some kind of suit.🤔
