I agree with the above.

Blazers have never gone out of style. Though, there are some atrocious examples out there.

Think navy blazer, pink (or blue) OCBD, white ducks, and snuff suede loafers.

Mmmm.....

I have a hankering for a hunter green blazer paired with white trousers.

Very nice, T3B. I usually wear Tweed over a Shetland, but intend to wear a Blazer instead this Fall. We are in accord.

Sparrow, et al.

patch pockets and narrow lapels and hook vent and the whole thing for the blazer, or better without patch pockets nowadays?

Can't decide, and I want to get a hopsack or fresco blazer made up at some point.

If by blazer we mean a dark blue or black jacket, then I have a navy 2 button, 3 open patch pocket with lightish colored golden/brown buttons in cashmere; a black cashmere 3 button, flap pocket with white streaked grey horn buttons; a  black ultra suede blazer with black buttons. I suppose the the last one would wrinkle a few Trad noses but it's a hip piece. Actually, theyre all pretty much for hip dressing.


I find myself wearing mostly sweaters underneath them or open collared shirts. At the moment, English style shirts, especially in checks are hip here, precisely because theyre rare and have been "discovered" by the smart set. Cashemere or merino polo shirts and turtlenecks, sometimes black or charcoal, sometimes oatmeal or heather and sometimes baby blue or purple, depends on the purpose. You could wear them with jeans but I usually wear them with medium grey (On the light side of medium grey) flannels.

In general though, English or not, checks, especially in multi colored combinations are hip, with a spread collar, camp collar or button down collar. The button down is especially hip because it allows the absence of a tie without worry over where one's collar points might be at any given time of the evening, which isnt hip.

Very interesting, Chris. What new colours do you work into your wardrobe this way?
I'm looking at Andover's Shetlands again already and loving them more and more with every passing year (I'm too impatient to wait for Press this year and Murray's, Barbour & Brooks are pretty blah & uninspiring, IMVHO).

Austin Reed is a name which keeps coming up in my "Minet" investigations: Young guys from Paris would make the trip to Regent Street just to shop there in the early '60's. It was THE label to have in certain circles unless you wore "Le Style Kennedy". Minets were also huge Shetland fans sporting them in all colours (regular, pastels, acid hues) but worn short and tight, sometimes only just reaching their belts even. Having a pure white Shetland was a real head-turner I'm told. Never seen one myself & I'm not sure it would be right for me. Interesting detail 'tho.

Hope when Press pop theirs out this year they do the Burgundy one & the Donkey Brown again. Haven't seen them since '03 I think...

I'm with you on the cord jeans. I also like the very slim cut cord trousers in Cordings/Hackett (sadly pleated so I'm shy of investing). There's something about that slim straight leg that adds a lot to the silhouette in my opinion.