The Look goes on...

covskin said:

^ @colco is looking good - (close to) a crombie with a silk/rayon wool-backed scarf by the look of it. Simple and spot on.

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Agreed. There are some very good entries so far. Not sure if I shall enter my own Challenge...

A propos nothing at all, I thought I would slip in a pic from last year. I'm not a bonny model, and I'm not standing well, so the jacket and strides aren't shown off to their best, but this is myself and Miss Mystery at her graduation, summer 2014.



The loafers are a gash pair from Marks & Sparks, the strides an equally gash pair of Sta-Prest from God-knows-where. The shirt is a white Oxford. The jacket is a 'moleskin' by Pakeman Catto & Carter, a firm that has its origins in military tailoring in the 19c.

Looking good @Man-of-Mystery and that must have ben a proud moment. Are you employing that Essex Man touch - the white sock?!



Mr Knightley said:

Looking good @Man-of-Mystery
 and that must have ben a proud moment.  Are you employing that Essex Man touch - the white sock?!

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It was.

The first white socks I ever saw worn with black loafers were on the feet of Al Jardine. Don't think he was from Essex.

Speaking of white socks, they were apparently an Ivy classic




I've red somewhere (but i don't remember in which book) that a certain late 60s skinhead mob wore white socks. heard of that ?
Otherwise, we all remember the white (tennis) socks were basics in the 80s.

I think this picture is late 70s/early80s, what do you think ? I think the white socks, and the Mini stickers and logo, are an indication. I like the smart skinhead look of the lad on the right. Reminds me of the look of some Jam fans, very close to skinhead, but with a strong mod touch: sense of detailing, color association, etc.



Clouseau said:

I think this picture is late 70s/early80s, what do you think ? I think the white socks, and the Mini stickers and logo, are an indication. I like the smart skinhead look of the lad on the right. Reminds me of the look of some Jam fans, very close to skinhead, but with a strong mod touch: sense of detailing, color association, etc.

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Two clues. Firstly the car reg is 1973-74, secondly the scooter has no front numberplate, and they were abolished in 1975. The pic might be a few years later than that, as neither vehicle is necessarily brand new; so I would say that these guys are the immediately post-punk mod/skinhead revival. The bloke on the left actually looks like one of the late 70s 'raincoat rocker' (Joy Division etc.) fans.

Under normal circumstances I would not go out and spend £260-£300 on a two-button Brook Taverner jacket. I've nothing against two-button jackets, except the modern fetish for bum-freezer suits that look two sizes too small. I prefer three-button, but if a two-button jacket fits well, is of a respectable length, and looks good, then it's okay by me.

The other day I was in T K Maxx, trying on a really nice dark olive, two-button tweed jacket by Racing Green. It was knocked down to below half price, and it looked really good. But it was a size too small. The next day I was on duty at the charity shop when I spotted a Brook Taverner jacket on the just-in rack. It had just been steamed. I took a look at it - no signs of wear, top pocket still sewn up, the wee spare button still in its plastic packet in the ticket pocket - damn it, the jacket was brand new! It was a two-button job, nice length, two deep side vents. I tried it on, and found it roomy enough so that it didn't look like I'd tied a string round my waist. Mrs Mystery and our mate Cockney Sue said it looked good on me. The manageress said £40, so I snatched her hand off!

Instant caveat. With a Brook Taverner jacket like this, it is so easy to look completely wrong. Around here it would usually be worn by middle-aged country toffs, and it would be worn with a blue-and-white striped shirt, pink v-neck, baggy orange corduroys, green socks, and yellow brogues. They think they look the proverbial dog's gonads, but in fact they look the rat's arse. Within minutes of my shift finishing, I saw a slovenly, scruffy, unkempt, middle-aged man with round shoulders, slouching grumpily down the street in baggy jeans with exactly the same jacket flapping open. For a moment I regretted my purchase!

But no. It's all down to how you carry yourself, and what you wear with a jacket like this. Hold yourself up, don't slouch, do up the top button, put one hand in a trouser pocket, and get into those 'correct, easy paces'. Voilà, you have made something of a jacket that the country toffs and lounge-bar johnnies make a mess of.

Personally I think wearing it over navy blue will work, but this is only a serving suggestion. Certainly NO CHECKS with it. Make it look like something that would have been Ivy if it had been around at the time.

Apologies for the lousy photography.

While I'm on about T K Maximus, it's always an idea to spend ten minutes whizzing round your local store. You never know what's going to be in. On the day when I didn't buy the Racing Green jacket, I spotted this Ben Sherman Heritage shirt going cheap. Three-finger collar, and as close in design to what I would have worn in '69 as you're going to get. I know I had promised not to buy any more check shirts - only plain ones from now on - since I bought a PoW suit (and a Brook Taverner window-pane jacket) but this Ben was too good to miss on-the-cheap.

The Jacket looks great M-o-M, and it's a bargain. You could maybe try it too with darker/raw indigo jeans.



Clouseau said:

The Jacket looks great M-o-M, and it's a bargain. You could maybe try it too with darker/raw indigo jeans. 

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If I had a pair.

Man-of-Mystery said:

If I had a pair.

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If you don't want to spend much, but still an item of quality (select the navy color) :

http://www.uniqlo.com/uk/store/goods/130084

i've got a pair for several years, nice selvedge jeans. We spoke of them before, some other posters appreciate them. Of course they are not LVC, Lee Japan, or that kind of stuff.

The only downside is that they are not very high waisted. (slightly lower than a 501)

Otherwise, you've got plenty of choice in matter or dry/raw jeans, starting cheap to very expensive

Brogues haven't been mentioned lately !
Barker Grassington in a nice cherry grain leather with Dainite sole usually £260 (ish) now £185 in Shoon.
I think these are some of the nicest looking English brogues that I have seen ( the CJ Pembroke are probably better but a lot more expensive) they remind me of the brogues worn locally in 70 / 71 although they were mostly black...I am very tempted.

The Barker Nairn plain Derby with Dainite sole is also reduced to £185 but in the tan colour only ( although the cherry is pictured).



Clouseau said:

I think this picture is late 70s/early80s, what do you think ? I think the white socks, and the Mini stickers and logo, are an indication. I like the smart skinhead look of the lad on the right. Reminds me of the look of some Jam fans, very close to skinhead, but with a strong mod touch: sense of detailing, color association, etc.

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Mmmm, argyle top - I see what you mean Clouseau.

I was pretty sure you would notice it too



cerneabbas said:

Brogues haven't been mentioned lately !
Barker Grassington in a nice cherry grain leather with Dainite sole usually £260 (ish) now £185 in Shoon.
I think these are some of the nicest looking English brogues that I have seen ( the CJ Pembroke are probably better but a lot more expensive) they remind me of the brogues worn locally in 70 / 71 although they were mostly black...I am very tempted.

The Barker Nairn plain Derby with Dainite sole is also reduced to £185 but in the tan colour only ( although the cherry is pictured).

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Got these the other week from their FS, £130, chuffed to say the least!