If you do not own the following things, you are not well dressed - Page 28

Is this simply your preference, or do you feel that linen is intrinsically "better dress" than cotton? I've resisted the clarion call of the linen suit because of the fabric's tendency to bag. While linen definitely has superior surface interest, cotton keeps a crisp line about it that I feel makes it more CBD than linen, and thus a cotton suit is more versatile than the linen equivalent.

I don't post in MC all that often anymore, but this thread is great. It really helped me to re-evaluate what I owned and what I was missing. I never gave it much thought, but I'm definitely missing some classic staples, and my wish list for future purchases has been revised accordingly. I don't own any black shoes, or a proper pair of standard brown dress shoes now that I think of it, which is most likely going to be my next shoe purchase....thinking along the lines of something like C&J Belgrave.

Linen rumples and bags, but that can be a good thing. Cotton tends to look stiff and drape terribly--there is nothing redeeming in that.

Linen/wool blend FTW!

How do you guys maintain your linen suits? Frequent cleaning or do you not bother?

I think I see what you mean. I like cotton as well, though:



(Shirt and tie are linen. Trousers are a cotton twill.)

a blue odd jacket. If you live in a two-season climate, then two, one for warmth and one for the cold Heavyweight Hopsack and Worsted Blazer Suit (with navy seersucker for next spring)
-mid gray flannel pantsyup
-decent, non-chino khakisyup, Officer Chinos and tons of Rivets from Epaulet which are more denim than dressy
-at least one funky (but tasteful!) non-blue tweed jacket Got lots of tweed
-a mid to dark gray worsted single-breasted suit Check, mid grey Harrissons
-a navy worsted single breasted suitCheck, aforementioned blazer suit
-a white FC shirt don't have this, most shirts are BC
-several blue BC shirts, at least one BDCheck
-black stitch caps Nope, only have Black Shell LWB, which get almost no wear
-some tasteful brown oxfords (exact configuration up to you) plenty
-loafers in medium brown calf, suede or shell or else burg shell no loafers except for an Italian made pair of Banana Republic ones, don't really wear em
-a solid black tie, knit or grenadine nope
-a solid navy tie, knit or grenadinea few
-a plain white linen hanky check
For the "more advanced" players:
-at least one DB suit, navy worsted or medium gray flannel (the best dressers will have both) HATE DB suits and SC on me, so no, though my favorite overcoat is DB
-at least one linen suit one day, maybe summer 2014
-at least one pair of brown suede shoes check, two
-at least one formal tie, e.g., a B&W shepherd's check nope
-at least one wool or cashmere tie lots
-at least one linen or linen blend tie a handful
If necessary
-A complete, well-fitting, correct black tie rig, including shoes nope
-An overcoat in navy, charcoal or camel Old school camel coat

Not too shabby.

Thanks for the clarifications. Since I'm in academia, I don't have to go cotton because CBD is not a real requirement (OK, shoes are barely a requirement, but you get my point). Then again, I'm not "in public" for work at all during linen weather. Perhaps I should sign up for a summer class next year just to justify a linen suit.

+1. I spot iron out the worst wrinkles before each wear.

Linen also wears much cooler than cotton.

For The Win

I have a pair of pants that iirc are 70% wool/30% linen.

Very cool to wear, hardly wrinkle, and are hard wearing.

Similar in weight and appearance to Harrisons Havana bunch.

stitchy bemoaning his fate, errr, faith...

lol.

im not sure bemoaning is the right word, but i am feeling something thats for sure. really sums it up nicely.