Banal but obvious question for virtually anyone posting on here.
I'd very much like another slipover. I have two by Alan Paine, one in more or less beige, the other a kind of oatmeal/heather mix (I can't think of any other way to describe it). I'd like one in navy - very dark. A search on Ebay US brings up any number of Chinese made examples. Simply won't do.
Yourself?
Apparently, nothing. Lucky old you.
I can’t find chinos that make me look like JFK, flannels that make me look like Cary Grant, or anything that makes me look like Paul Newman in Torn Curtain.
"What are you having trouble finding replacements for?" might get more traction.
For re-soles, usually the risk is some disaster like mold. I have a pair of Irish-made Clarks Wallabees that I keep getting resoled, but no idea where I'd get an Irish replacement if they were wrecked completely. Same with a U.S.-made Walkover blucher with a nice blobby Munson-type last (they realized it was not a good match for the slim-fit craze and went for a more tapered English-type last after the initial release).
I would like some elegant calf loafers at a reasonable price.Grain or brown.I would like to be able to try them on too.
Weejuns are too plasticky
Alden in calf look good but in the UK you can only get Cordo
I tried AE Cavenaugh but the sizing was odd.
Cole Hahn Pinch loafers were binned as never stretched
I like Sebago a lot but want something a little more refined
Rancourt are very good but JS has nothing in my size
Florsheim Berkeley is cheap but too delicate
Something as ubiquitous as a US loafer is so hard to get now
Last edited by AlveySinger (2021-11-19 15:56:45)
Decent boxer shorts (must be available in Europe). Sunspel I like but they're 35 quid a go. Anything cheaper that's not got some foolishness written on it?
Gotta say the comfiest underwear I’ve found of late is from Uniqlo. Tried all the M&S JL etc and find they are not as good. All my Sunspel were scored in the sales, non of them are the Sea Island boxers as even at £120 in the sale, I would want to try before I buy for that price!
Possibly only S/H for American made. But they seem a fair compromise if nothing better is on offer. Eastland and Rancourt both seem highly thought of.
I’m going to be sad when all my white Makers shirts are gone; always looking for them.
Even harder in the UK. But I've had the frayed collars on some 'turned' to prolong their life.
Regarding Alvey's loafer hunt - John Rushton used to sell a good basic USA leather loafer - made by Lormoc I think. Not sure if he still has them, but worth checking with him. And JS have nothing in stock! They do not buy in enough of anything. The old shop kept things in, John was great at that. Can someone have a word with Mr. Simons Junior? Thank you.
I bought a pair of the Lormoc beefrolls many years ago. Not from J Rushton but exactly the same ones. Mine stretched quite a bit over time so I recommend buying tight. They used to garner a lot of compliments and their colour (the mid brown) is, for me, far superior to the burgundy/cordo that is more common in loafers. For some reason I got rid of them in the end.
(Cordo colour is pretty good for cordovan, it's in calf leather that I don't really like it.)
Last edited by Yuca (2021-11-21 10:54:00)
Thanks Tom for the Uniqlo tip off for boxers. They look pretty good and they're a tenner for 2 pairs. A bit cheaper than Sunspel at 35 quid each. I got a pair of Sunspel boxers cheaper than that on ebay (no not used ha) some time ago and they are pretty good, but at full wack they're way out of my price range.
Last edited by Yuca (2021-11-21 10:56:41)
Hey, it just occurred to me to use this thread to get some recommendations for good white undershirts. It’d be great if they looked period-accurate, but I like the recommendations I get from you guys- so “I’m all ears?? for anything you like…
Just at the moment, an all-wool (no leather sleeves) varsity jacket in a decent colour that won't cost me my entire monthly clothing allowance. I also don't want letters, numbers, smears of lipstick on the collar or damaged linings. I used to buy these in and resell circa 2007-8 but they were much of a muchness.
Oh, yes, and slipovers. There's a nice McGeorge Woody's for sale but with a yellow trim. Just want solid navy.
Jdemy - White T's, I buy Lands End's Super T t-shirts, they work well for me under (say) a Pendleton and loose-ish shirts, the sleeves are a full 1/2 sleeve so not really an undershirt, you may know there are always discounts/offers on LE, with their (often) 40% discount which brings the t's down to around £12, on the JS website they have the Goodwear 2 pack t's which look more like undershirts which I will look at when I next visit the shop,
Something else for me, oddly enough, is a Ralph Lauren shirt in a particular shade of green, the likes of which I was wearing at school in around 2005. You could pick them up in the high street charity shops for a couple of pounds apiece then. The colour is a kind of sage or - perhaps - pistachio. Green or blue gingham is also nice and I saw one on Ebay only last night. Not USA made and with a great stain down the front.
AFS- I have that Ralph Lauren green shirt! I bought it in 1993 from a shop in Toronto and it has a made in Canada label. It is still in a good condition. I haven't worn it for over a year so tomorrow I think I'll put it on.
It's a shame that we can't post photos.I bought lots of the shirts in all colours.
^ Katon doubtless raised a good point. I'd very much like a replacement for my navy cashmere, Scottish-made Brooks v-neck and my favourite, go-to, virtually cat claw-proof Shetland Bean cardigan. I remember wearing the first with rather heavy (too heavy) Weston loafers and jeans, the second with off-white Levis chinos and Clarks' chukka boots. I fancied a slight Steve McQueen vibe at the time. This was before, you understand, I turned into Ronnie Barker.