I say Grey, but the right Brown is also good too...
Any Green fans?
Always been a fan of brown myself
Grey all the way!
Charcoal
With Chris H on this one. Charcoal.
Staceyboy
Brown.
I have grey as well. Charcoal/Natural to be precise.
I like them all. Charcoal is easiest to live with. Green tweed can look wonderfully old fashioned in the right context.
No love for the blue then?
I like green if I can find it, or brown/rust
I like them all but blue and grey are my favorites. Civil War thing.
I have two blue which I like. I also have an orange/rust which I enjoy. I don't have a basic grey in my closet.
I only have one realy old(1955) Harris Tweed(English - still need to take it to the tailor to be cut down a tad) and it's a tan/brown herringbone.
Watching The Graduate right now - giving me a real craving for a grey herringbone!
^Good call Adam. I'm watching it as well. Want that red Alfa too!
Staceyboy
I say gray, although I reach for brown more. Green i reserve for corduroy jackets.
Edouard hits in on the head, the good old gamekeeper and rapscallion poacher tweed. I had a some good Holland and Sherry cloth somewhat spoilt by a tailor last year, the cloth is still excellent and people comment on the jacket, even when its hanging up on a coat hanger at my desk in work. Country in town, often works, particulary when you're not in Blighty.
There's also some magnificant, heavy twist worsted cloths. I've a brilliant Reid & Taylor Silver Gander cloth suit - the trousers can almost stand by themselves, but its definitely for the winter only. That type of cloth is rare these days, it has presence, I need more of it. Also I'm very attracted to plaids these days. Again, only won by those in the know.
Edouard's point is well made by those beautiful images. The recent BBC4 series on Harris Tweed had two stars for me: the cloth itself and the incredible landscape of Harris and Lewis. Compared with the richness of this natural palette the tweed which can be reduced to 'grey' seems slightly mundane, although I do like variations of black and cream in herringbone weave.
My grandfather was a weaver on Achill Island, Co. Mayo in the early years of the 20th Century, producing cloth which went under the banner of Donegal Tweed. As a young man he left the tweed and the island to seek his fortune in the construction boom of post-WWI urban America. Earlier this year I went to visit relatives on Achill and was shown the last bolt of cloth he ever weaved: a simple roll of blanket-weight cloth in various earthy tones. It was quite a humbling experience and gave expression to the idea that this is more than a cloth, it's about emotion and place.
... Let's move on then:
Harris Tweed?
Cheviot Tweed?
Shetland Tweed?
Donegal Tweed?
All the rest?
Harris will have a hallmark, and be rough, ungainly and as itchy as a hair shirt. If its vintage, a mere drop of drizzle is enough to create a strong odour of public lavatories. Generally looks shite, unless its in a brown or grey herringbone. Then its a classic.
The Irish tweeds get my vote.
I'd love FNB to do a Tweed special one day...
Harris is indeed scratchy. Rough.
Cheviot is smooth. Dressier.
Shetland is soft. A sophisticated choice.
Donegal is flecked. 'Pepper & Salt' or more colourful.
I have a few Tweed suits but I've only worn the jackets for years. I plan to wear the trou. this year just to make some use of them.
Any tips on wearing Tweed trou.?
I thought I'd just wear them with sweaters & a heavy Cotton Field Coat.