I just returned home from vacation in Italy and the one thing that really caught my eye was how many men I saw wearing cardigan sweater vests under dark suits. I really like the look and figured that when I got home, I would pick a few up and try it out. Worst case, they are easy to wear under a sportcoat.
The problem is... I can't find them anywhere. The only ones I have found are at Cable Car Clothiers and they run about $500 which is higher than I am looking to spend. Anybody seen them anywhere else? Anybody have thoughts on the look?
Davide Cenci stocks them, different styles and material. Avon Celli makes a lot of their private label sweaters. I've worn their merino wool sweater vests for years, although v-necks w/out buttons, under sport coats and suits. You might be able to still catch their winter sale and they'd ship to you.
Paul & Shark (NYC)
I have two of these that I bought a year ago at Brooks Brothers.
Thanks for the suggestions. Surprisingly, it seems that sleeves are pretty cheap as the vests and sweaters at all of these places seem to run about the same.
The poeple at Cenci were very nice on the phone. Seems like a good organization.
Cenci is top of the line. Their Rome and Milano shops are worth a visit as well. The NY store tends to be very well supplied with knit goods. Davide Cenci himself, is often in the NY store, and is worth meeting. He has a wealth of knowledge about Italian makers, and the family dynasty is somewhat vertically integrated, I think they bought a knitting factory a few years ago, and make socks that compete with Gallo. As you might expect almost everything is Made in Italy. I have a camelhair cardigan from them, which is made in Scotland, but everything else is from Italy. Some private label, some labelled. A very well run operation.
Their regular prices will not make Mr. Rubinacci uncomfortable. So, I advise shopping during their semi annual sales, where at 20-60% off the prices are almost palatable.
DC, rather like a non Prussian Herzfeld.
DC has some of the same brands as Herzfeld. I told Herzfeld I'm waiting for their (Herzfeld) sale. They reply: Herzfeld doesn't have one. I reply, "my point exactly."
Lands' End has a few http://www.landsend.com/ix/mens-clothing/Men/Shirts-Sweaters/Mens-Sweaters/index.html?seq=1~2~3~4&catNumbers=1~8~20&visible=1~2~1~1&store=le&sort=Recommended&tab=1&pageSize=72
DC and Herzfeld have (had) Italian microfiber outerwear, Austrian Loden, and a few other things in common.
Herzfeld is driven by its European and Latin American buyers who visit NY regularly and are price insensitive.
I did notice some diminished exuberence in the stock at DC this year.
I'd go Woolovers & wear it in a 'Breakfast at Tiff's' way.
But, hey, you can go your own way just as well.
Makes sense.
I forget about these things.
... We do so well out of China over here... Then again LL Bean and others do too...