Uniqlo beige chinos- no brainer @ £34.90 , the quality is excellent for the price,
Stax- I agree that the Uniqlo chinos are excellent for the price. I've been wearing my 3 pairs in rotation as an alternative to the Lee jeans I normally wear, when out and about.
I seem to buy a lot of socks that last 5 minutes but the Uniqlo socks are a bit more hard wearing. I'll have to pay a Uniqlo visit next week.
Still waiting to hear from Jake's re my shirt order. Anyone know how long an order takes? I foolishly opted for my name on the collar (why?) and I guess that adds to time taken for shirt to get ready.
Red and White stripped Oxford BD shirt from Jake's. What a shirt and what a man! Name stamp on inside of collar, no logos or labels just a fantastic ivy shirt with a good collar roll for £145.
Just placed an order with Jake for my third of his shirts this morning, navy blue Gingham in a lighter weight oxford, just in time for spring (ha bloody ha!).
I went to John Lewis in Stratford Westfield to buy a robe, in anticipation of a hospital visit.
A wide shawl collar, deep patch front pockets and adjustable waist belt tie. Waffle 100% cotton. If a robe can be Ivy than this one is. I picked up one in a plum colour with a price tag of £65. When I went to pay it was found to be on offer for £20. Yet another bargain for the cockney boy!
Walking around the store I noticed an area of men's clothing by J Lewis with a hint of Ivy inspiration. BD shirts for £45 weren't too shabby. I didn't buy any because I want to get more shirts from Jake. Some decent knitwear as well.
When I wrote no labels on Jake's shirt it does, of course, have Jake's iconic Logo on the collar
I have been after some smart sandals for a while, really hankered after a pair of Paraboot Pacific, but the cost always caused me to pause, given they have a rubber sole I wasn't sure they could be replaced.
So, I was dead chuffed to find a pair of Cheaney leather sole fisherman style ones on eBay this week, unworn (other than to try inside) in dark chocolate brown.
Also recent received a wonderful pair of vintage W&W H.I.S trousers in a pale grey summer weight fabric, with a fantastic rise, on seam pockets and crisp cuffs. Both will be taken to Portugal for a summer wedding
Tom - ‘I have been after some smart sandals for a while, really hankered after a pair of Paraboot Pacific, but the cost always caused me to pause, given they have a rubber sole I wasn't sure they could be replaced.’
Replacement soles are available for the Paraboot shoes, mind you - you’ve got to wear them out first. But I’m not sure about their sandals, I guess it depends on how much you’re actually going to wear them. Good luck with the Cheaneys, I do like a fishermans sandals.
J Press OCBD.
Described as Blue Royal Oxford it appears to be much softer than their standard Oxford.
It has all the details I like - flap chest pocket, third collar button and locker loop. To my darling wife it's just another blue button down. Even my 15 year old daughter has now joined in with cry of haven't you got something similar.
Little do they know that I'm storing for the Ivy Apocalypse. This will be when the four horseman venture forth from Pitti Uomo dressed in overtight suits, Windsor knots and pointy shoes and declare Ivy dead.
Called into John Rushton’s this afternoon to enquire if Sanders would be doing white bucks this season as none were available last year. They had two pairs left … fortuitously one were my size.
Picked up some cheap (ish) playboy boots from John Lewis yesterday. They're clearly not going to match the quality, construction of materials of some of the other options but I've got a kid and so a) I need something that I won't mind getting covered in mud in the park, and b) I've got a kid and so the option of the Hutton Playboys is just so far away from my world at the moment.
I've got some too big sanders Playboy's I picked up from brick lane many years ago and I've never liked them much, wrong shape toe, sole isn't quite right etc. And actually, for a cheaper knock around shoe, the John Lewis ones will do fine (especially as it's not like you can easily resole chukka boots).
In case anyone interested: https://www.johnlewis.com/john-lewis-suede-cupsole-chukka-boots/brown-mid/p6372863?size=12&s_ppc=2dx92700069727920395_mixed_fashion_BAU&tmad=c&tmcampid=2&gclid=Cj0KCQjw2v-gBhC1ARIsAOQdKY2bKGjDzeO9aV7oo1uApM3A4gWDrTME9nl5jLu3HsLEAZKYD8uWDOwaAvCHEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
Don't expect great quality but a classic shape. Will let you know how they wear
Colin,
Thanks. They certainly look the part. I would not be surprised if Sanders make them for John Lewis.
I also have a pair of Sanders, navy ones. I eventually worked out it is not the toe shape from side to side that cause fit issues, it's the depth of the toe box. The uppers seem to press down due to lack of space.
I have always thought Sanders are overpriced. I bought mine in a sale from a shop in Scotland. I see Clarks now also offer boots - the Caravan- with a fat sole and little depth in the upper.
Those clarks would have to be worn in a post-68 hippy ivy look! I'm only just coming around to Wallabees, so those too far out for me!
Definitely not Sanders, though - they're made in India and not amazing. Not awful. I guess that's what I was after.
On the Sanders seconds I picked up, the sole/toe area was a little too square for my liking, though you might be right about the depth being a bit weird too. I shall have to check!
Red End on End Poplin - Button Down Shirt
from Jake's which I collected myself.
Another first class example of a BD shirt.
Colin:
On the Sanders seconds I picked up, the sole/toe area was a little too square for my liking, though you might be right about the depth being a bit weird too. I shall have to check!
Interesting, the regular Sanders last is the Joel, which is the more almond shape, the square toe version (Sno last) was made for the Asia market as they have a more square foot shape and it's only recently these have been sold in the UK by Sanders. Though I have a vintage pair of the Sno last pre the formed sole unit which has lower crepe foxing and plantation crepe sole (I'm not sure if these are the same as PB's JS used to sell back in Russell St.
Trickers Mudguards made under license by Sanders were also the Sno last and still only available in Asia unless you got lucky like me with a snuff pair down Blackman's 10 or 11 years ago.
My Sanders are Joel not a square shape.
I never had any luck sourcing Sanders from Blackman's and then they were only open at weekends after lockdown.
I think desert boots are better value. Ditto Wallabees if you are happy with the style.
I was feeling flush last week, so went on a minor spending spree.
Levi's 511 in a very very fine cord in an off-white, much like the beloved FOB Bedfords colour-wise. I thought they were Bedford in the photo on the website but no, they're soft and fluffy, very comfy with some elasticity. Red label with Big E which has thrown me for a loop somewhat. 60 euros in the sale.
Sperry Topsiders - Navy CVO. Having paid full whack from JS for my white pair (Birch) I was slightly miffed to find these in the END sale for 35 quid. Couldn't resist at that price though.
Last but not least, All Blues Co had a flash 15% off everything, so I nabbed another Harley Shetland, this time in a very nice dark teal they refer to as Storm.
Tim,
Kamakura shirts on All Blues site seem attractively priced.
Crompton now offer Oxford cloth buttondowns and gives full details on the cloth used. £185 PLUS VAT.
For Crompton, that's quite cheap. I usually work on :-
Think of an outrageous price,t then double it.
Kingy,
I actually have a couple of Kamakura that came direct from Japan (saves import costs) and they are very very good for the money. Typical Japanese fit however, on the small side, so if like me you're carrying a bit too much round the middle, they can be a touch tight there.
Crompers has never had anything of interest to me. Those shirts are guaranteed to be outrageous money for what you actually get.
The one shirt I'd like to try and have yet to is a Gitman but at 220 odd quid (Euros) a pop, I'm not there yet.
All Blues are fast becoming a favorite shop. Not only do they have some really cool stuff (ok, the fleeces etc are not for me..) but they're reasonably priced and incredibly friendly, with excellent customer service.
Tim - I’m your man for Gitmans ...!
Less available in the UK these days, but I’ve picked up 3 in the sales in the last few months, the most recent from Kafka up in Scotland, a navy flannel reduced from £175 to £ 81, I take a ‘L’ so not too many L’s around in the sales, the other 2 were from End, I think I got 30% off so around £115 - £125, the oxfords are bulletproof , that’s about as much as I want to pay for shirts, End currently have a sale on, not sure what Gitmans they have in their sale, I still have the first one I bought 12-13 years ago, still washes & irons very nicely,
Cheers Stax, good to hear they’re a quality product and a worthy investment. They do a good few patterns and cloths I like the look of (unsurprising given their parent company also own Holland & Sherry) just never seem to find many on sale. Pretty sure I’d be an XL but I’ll have to check their measurements. Off to look at END now! Frans Boone will probably be my most likely point of purchase though due to the gaff of ordering from the uk…
Tim - size wise they’re on a par with the JS shirts I’d say,
Green Graham Marsh Kamakura shirt from All Blues. With 10% discount it is less expensive than many others on the market and it's a chance to try the brand.
I have another green striped Lands End shirt. It's a brighter more cheerful green than the Kamakura with a smaller collar but not ridiculously small. Buttons on the Kamakura placket seem to stop higher than on other shirts. Fine otherwise. No Graham Marsh drawing with it - not that I am bothered by that, but it is on the Kamakura marketing unless it is a limited edition thing.
Brown herringbone brooks sack. Must be mid-70s ish. Maybe 80s. Perfect shoulder, ever so slightly wider lapels than usual for me than an earlier brooks sack I had (and sadly parted with). Strikingly slightly lighter fabric than what I expected, which is actually pretty useful. A gentle hand wash and press and it's sure to become a staple.