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#1 2009-10-22 03:56:35
- Taylor McIntyre
- Son of Ivy...
- Posts: 342
THE Sweater -
And I'm wearing it today.
Forget the basic 'Preppy' Norwegian cliche , if you can...
I'm wearing a hand framed in the Shetlands W.S. Manson & Co., "Donegal flecked" Navy Crewneck from J. Simons circa '88/'89. One of a few I invested in from him. £69 back in the day?
Who knows what about this company?
It is PURE Ivy: Not too luxe, not too basic. Rugged, yet sophisticated. 'Artisan' made, yet made for all.
A real work of art.
The styling is perfectly Traditional Shetland, but done in a 'Norwegian' weight knit, slightly ribbed. It has the correctly wide-ribbed Traditional Shetland collar, cuffs, & hem, unlike some other, lesser, items.
It's a reminder of how good things CAN be, rather like Anderson's of Shetland's regular Shetlands.
Olive Cord Chinos from Bean & a White Brooks OCBD complete The Look.
.............................................................................................................................................................
After the Manson above, I'd nominate the LL Bean Ragg Wool Sweater as THE sweater, but you might have your own favourites.
Do please share your thoughts.
Best -
#2 2009-10-22 04:13:53
- Natural Sole Brother
- Ivy, naturally.
- Posts: 782
Re: THE Sweater -
I have one of these in a brown-ish grey salt and pepper. It's a beautiful sweater: heavier than my conscience.
A lunatic once chased me round an NS allnighter in order to divest me of what he called my 'feral jumper'.
It takes all sorts.
#3 2009-10-22 05:12:30
- Taylor McIntyre
- Son of Ivy...
- Posts: 342
Re: THE Sweater -
It's like the old Sero slogan: Nothing is obvious except the quality.
#5 2009-10-22 06:04:55
- Taylor McIntyre
- Son of Ivy...
- Posts: 342
Re: THE Sweater -
We ought to talk to Gibson Gardens about this.
#10 2009-10-22 06:38:24
- Natural Sole Brother
- Ivy, naturally.
- Posts: 782
Re: THE Sweater -
The last Shetland I bought from J. Simons was labelled 'Lawrence J. Smith.' It's also a wonderful garment and they still appear to be in business according to google. Bear in mind that these are far heavier than, say, an Anderson or a Shaggy Dog. Maybe too heavy to be worn beneath a tweed jacket and heading towards outerwear. Absolutely top-notch quality though.
Last edited by Natural Sole Brother (2009-10-22 07:00:25)
#12 2009-10-22 10:13:04
- Kingstonian
- Member
- From: sea to shining sea
- Posts: 3205
Re: THE Sweater -
You did well to keep the moths away from it for 20 years. Any tips ?
#13 2009-10-22 10:30:36
- Alex Roest
- Member
- From: The Hague, The Netherlands
- Posts: 2165
Re: THE Sweater -
Last edited by Alex Roest (2009-10-22 10:35:02)
#14 2009-10-22 10:31:58
- Natural Sole Brother
- Ivy, naturally.
- Posts: 782
Re: THE Sweater -
A shame there aren't more shops in London where you can buy a Shetland sweater. I got a few from one of those 'Clans of Scot-land' type establishments opposite the British Museum a couple of years ago: nice colours but average quality. Anyone got any tips?
#15 2009-10-22 10:34:16
- Natural Sole Brother
- Ivy, naturally.
- Posts: 782
Re: THE Sweater -
I don't think the collar is 'correct' on the llbean sweater.
#16 2009-10-22 10:38:36
- Alex Roest
- Member
- From: The Hague, The Netherlands
- Posts: 2165
Re: THE Sweater -
Last edited by Alex Roest (2009-10-22 10:48:07)
#17 2009-10-22 11:13:05
- Natural Sole Brother
- Ivy, naturally.
- Posts: 782
Re: THE Sweater -
To my eyes, yes. The collar on the Shaggy Dog is single-ply alternating ribs of thick with thin. On the Bean model the collar is thin-rib only, folded over and sewn: basically the construction of the bog-standard department store 'lambswool' sweater. A minor detail, maybe, but to me it makes all the difference and is the feature I most look for in a Shetland. Other matters of construction (raglan vs. set-in sleeve etc.) are less important to me particularly in cheaper knitwear. If I'm paying a lot of money (like for the Lawrence Smith I mentioned above) the thing must be hand-loomed.
#21 2009-10-22 11:51:34
- adam!
- The Future
- Posts: 608
Re: THE Sweater -
Vintage stores in London sometimes have them.
Was in Beyond Retro on Cheshire Street today and they had a few shetlands. one was grey and one a light rusty colour(and was U.S.A made!). The Rokit store on Brick Lane also has a few sometimes in various colours and conditions(and they have some two button sack jackets in at the moment!).
What are the ones from those Scottish/cashmere shops like? How about the price?
#24 2009-10-22 19:48:17
- ScarletStreet
- Member
- Posts: 540
Re: THE Sweater -
McGeorge Shetland is the ultimate Ivy sweater for me. I cleaned O'Connell's out of a lot of their size 38s. Just an amazing sweater. I have a couple of 80s Bean shetlands that were my grandfathers, "Made in England" the tag says. There are multiple pictures of a little Scarletstreet running around in the Bean ragg wool sweater at my parents house. I may have to pick one up this year for old times sake.
http://www.oconnellsclothing.com/ftp_only/Cx/mcgeorge_sweaters_plain/slate_blue.jpg
Last edited by ScarletStreet (2009-10-22 22:39:19)
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