Mr. James wrote:

woofboxer wrote:

I am starting to feel tempted by a madras jacket but I not sure how they fit into the context of the UK.

I feel very much the same. Maybe something really muted would work best in darkish Blues and Greens? I've a feeling that otherwise it would make a stronger statement that I'd want to make.

Me too. I bought this a couple of years back, not madras but a cotton lightweight. Excuse the buttoning, original ebay seller's pic.

Whilst thriting in California I found a really nice lightweight sack by Palm Beach Resortwear in a muted blue & black plaid over a dark steel grey. I often wear this in the warmer weather in the UK. Nether of these two jackets make anywhere near the statement of a full-on madras, but are unmistakeably summer ivy.

Not too sure what the 'context of the UK' might be. It makes sense to me that they originate in the USA as the hot weather equivalent of a tweed jacket.

Mr. James wrote:

Try the same with a jacket & you'll be a clown over here.

Probably quite literally.

My madras jacket is rather muddied. I guess it was once Navy, dark green and a very dark burgundy on an off white. Now it's a greyish blue, olive and a burgundy with a hint of dark pink on a tan base. I wouldn't feel out of place in it at all, in any sort of setting. Except maybe a funeral.

Also is this an appropriate time to post this again...


Not subdued colours but not loud either. I think the contrast between individual colours in the jacket goes a long way in determining how loud it is over all and not just how muted each individual colour may be. In fact I'd go as far as to say that some yellow could be introduced into that jacket and would still remain subtle enough. Something on top of a yellow though and the effect would be lessened. If that makes any sense at all.

Last edited by Liam Mac (2012-04-16 05:13:47)

Yes. Absolutely. The madras is always the stand out piece and everything else should know its place. That's not to say that other things should be bland. The 5 pockets and tie work for their textures, the tie also for the richness and darkness of it's colour and the shirt for it's crispness and it's super clean glow. The shoes we can only speculate on but I like to imagine some kind of burgundy loafer. That would be a no brainer really.

Yeah too true, I'm sure it's probably from a Japanese store. From what I dredged up on the Japanese Ivy thread it's clear that many brands are still making the good stuff there. Lucky gits.

Liam Mac wrote:

Moose Maclennan wrote:

Not too sure what the 'context of the UK' might be. It makes sense to me that they originate in the USA as the hot weather equivalent of a tweed jacket.

Yo Moose! I seem to remember you have/had a dark green madras jacket? You posted pics in either the ILSFT thread or the ROIF thread if my brains not failing me? That was a real beauty from what I recall. If you remember where it was I'd love to dig out the pic for another wee look.

Only two, a nameless vintage blue/white/red 'guaranteed to bleed' number, and a 60s Campus that came to me as NOS, according to the tags the colourway is called 'pewter'.

Moose Maclennan wrote:

Not too sure what the 'context of the UK' might be. It makes sense to me that they originate in the USA as the hot weather equivalent of a tweed jacket.

What I meant was that a full on brightly colured Madras jacket is one of those garments that are so unusual in the UK that the wearer would just draw too much attention to themselves. That's fine if you are out to get a 'go to hell' look, as my mate Chens would call it, but personally I'm after a more subtle effect. I like the muted jacket that Chris H posted up and Moose's green number is as strong as I would go. Personal choice of course, as with all things ivy.

http://theivyleaguelook.tumblr.com/post/20928236600

Cheeky bit of grape in there.

Last edited by Oo Bop Sh'bam (2012-04-20 11:31:03)

http://www.etsy.com/listing/70867846/vi … tagemadras

Overpriced and badly photographed. I love the colours though and would be a great slouchy type sling on madras jacket for when it's hot hot hot.

Spotted this in a JL email earlier in the week, taken a punt on it - if not good can just return it.
Hard to tell the roll of the collar, doesn't look bad in the pic, and it has a back collar button.
I'm hoping for a good slimish cut and lightweight fabric. Collecting from my local Waitrose on my way home.

Hahahahaha, i don't actually shop in supermarkets, buy all my food from local markets. But I might ask!!

I'm funding the 'Skate Parks for Stroke Victims' project, personally. Seems like a much for interesting proposal.

Of course that's a lie I do all my shopping at Home Bargains. Their bags are so flimsy that they couldn't even choke a seagull properly. That's pretty eco-friendly in my book.