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The Look goes on...

Clouseau

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Guys, being deep down in french countryside, i discover the pleasure to use my phone for Internet (a new thing for a 20th century boy like me) both threads are interesting at the moment and i noticed that we have some fresh originals on the M to S'thread. I do miss the input of Brownie and Cerneabbas to mention a few. The End of the world challenge is great but i miss the appropriate clobber. Now, about clothes, i was looking for a decent sta prest for a long time (the ones i've got are cheap Uniqlo staprest style trou, see my pics on the FC). Brutus re makes the Nevapress and i know it's'a good option but i didn't want to spend much. So i bought on the Net a half priced Winston sta prest by the infamous Merc brand, and i must say it's'a very good surprise. Good fit, cut, and material, and the logo is under the belt loop, so you can't see it with a belt... I went for the so called cream color, who is more of a beige-sand.
 

Clouseau

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To stay on the sta-prest subject, i found difficult to find a decent repro since Levi's'stopped doin them (and i didn't like much the cut of their last attempts, but maybe you can still find some in the US?). The options i know so far are : Brooks Brothers ( i know lots like em, i find the rise a bit low), Mikkel Rude (expensive for what they are, i find Uniqlos as good for a fraction of the price), Relco (never tried them), Merc (not that bad really, and not too slim, you can wear them if you're over 18), Brutus Nevapress, well a poster of the other thread have only good things to say about them. Do you know other options ? The best thing would be a LVC remake, but none that i know at the moment except a corduroy version A few years ago.
 

Thin White Duke

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I have several pairs of sta press. The quality and style are so varied it makes the term almost meaningless. Here is a rundown of what I have:

Merc 'Lord John' in light blue and dark blue from many years ago. Lightweight and smooth poly cotton which can hold a crease.

Relco POW and houndstooth from Atom Retro- all polyester no cotton. Lightweight and never wrinkle so good for travel. Cheap feeling cloth being poly but the fit of these is so good I use them as a model for my seamstress when I want other strides made slimmer!

Levis 511 reissue from a couple of years ago in creative colour names like platinum and timberwolf (beige and very light gray). Heavy twill poly cotton in a denim-like texture. Hard wearing. A bit like a slightly smoother version of Dickies American work strides.

Relco in light gray poly cotton - nice summer weight which go with a cotton blazer.

All of the above are machine washable and I have no complaints. After Merc stopped doing the Lord John model I got a pair of theirs in black that were rubbish. Looked like they would fade in a cold wash. Never wear them. I think Merc has since improved their line back to the quality of the Lord John ones I have.

In every case I've bought them in a waist size two inches larger than my normal trouser size. Also I noticed some don't have rear darts the way most rousers do which will be a problem if you're slim like me as you'll need to get the waist reduced at the back seam.

I heard good things about Jump the Gun but I don't like frogmouth pockets (none of mine have these). I also heard Warrior claim to replicate the original style and cloth but not sure how true this is. Never knew Brutus were in the game.

There's also a Mod clothing web shop based in the Far East which I've stumbled across a few times and they do sta pressts but I can't remember the name of it!

Hope this was helpful!
 

Clouseau

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I confirm Brutus re makes the Nevapress, have a look at their website. They are quality stuff but very slim. I can confirm too that Merc improved the quality of their sta prest, now called “Winston“. They are 60% cotton, 40% poly.
 

Man-of-Mystery

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It was most the pursuit of a look than a recreation. In the terms of the challenge, EFV 20s look was by far the best IMO.


I'm not disputing that, I'm not saying I should have won, quite the reverse. I only entered for fun, and the image quality of both and the sartorial effect of the 2015 picture were not winning standard.
 
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Man-of-Mystery

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and WAYWRN = what are you wearing right now, which is the daily parade of smooth-looking i-gents on the CM Forum. 



Oh crikey - thank heavens I never go in for that! What I'm usually wearing here at the computer is an odd assemblage of hoodie, Stax sweatshirt, M&S jogging pants, bare feet, and tatty slippers!

:D
 

Clouseau

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I know you're not MoM ! (BTW always thinking of the Bond movies when we call you MoM !) Any attempts by one of our posters on this week FC ?
 

Botolph

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To stay on the sta-prest subject, i found difficult to find a decent repro since Levi's'stopped doin them (and i didn't like much the cut of their last attempts, but maybe you can still find some in the US?). The options i know so far are : Brooks Brothers ( i know lots like em, i find the rise a bit low), Mikkel Rude (expensive for what they are, i find Uniqlos as good for a fraction of the price), Relco (never tried them), Merc (not that bad really, and not too slim, you can wear them if you're over 18), Brutus Nevapress, well a poster of the other thread have only good things to say about them. Do you know other options ? The best thing would be a LVC remake, but none that i know at the moment except a corduroy version A few years ago.



For the Brooks Bros- try their Clark chino(as opposed to the lower-rise Milano). Very nice and well-made, washer/dryer/wear but wrinkle a little bit due to the (100%?) cotton content. Maybe go a size down in the Clark if you're very slim. Online they have various waist and inseam options
Mikkel Rude- awesome but yeah not 'barato' $¥£€. try eBay
Uniqlo- I haven't tried them
Relco- sorry, cheap garbage
Merc- as above postings, pretty good I agree
Brutus- haven't delved yet
Levi's Sta-Prest deadstock from Brasil off eBay- great
Warrior-oK cut but crap quality
Cordings of Piccadilly chinos- high-waisted and great quality
 
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Gsvs5

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I would also suggest adding and keeping an eye on Lands End to your list.Though not currently available,they have done some very good Poplin Traditional Fit trousers that I have picked up for next to nothing in the past.High rise,traditional cut, flat front and tailored to an exact length.Navy,Nantucket Red etc.
 

skinny legs

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I see Austin Reed has gone down the tubes. Last time I set foot in the Regent Street store was about 7 years ago to purchase an Aquascutum blazer. The old chap who assisted me was insistent that if trousers were to be worn with it, they should be grey. I ignored his advice and plumped for matching navy; he was right and I was wrong- they don't look right together. Subsequently save a couple of occasions I've only worn the blazer with post purchased grey trousers, or much more commonly jeans.

Going back to the casual era circa 82, Austin Reed was something of an emporium. It wasn't easy to find proper gear back then. In London most of the shops that catered for the look tended to be dotted around semi rough places, such as the Walworth Road and Bermondsey. The only central London outlets I can remember shopping in were Austin Reeds and Sharps on Kensington High Street.

I recall going to the New Years sales at Austin Reed once, my mate was looking to get a Lyle and Scott polo neck. We were warned to be careful outside. The West Ham Under Fives, who were a hooligan group, were targeting people leaving the store and relieving them of their purchases.
 
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Clouseau

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I recall going to the New Years sales at Austin Reed once, my mate was looking to get a Lyle and Scott polo neck. We were warned to be careful outside. The West Ham Under Fives, who were a hooligan group, were targeting people leaving the store and relieving them of their purchases.

Totally off-topic, but i recall that in Paris in the 80s we used to go to 'les puces' (flea market) to buy some gear (deadstock) we couldn't get in other places (for example certain MIUSA Levi's, flight jackets, American brogues, WW2 stuff, etc.)
It was exactly the same, gangs were targeting people leaving the area with their purchases. As the puces are at a Paris's 'door', the only way to get back was by the subway. We always feared the local greasers (we called them 'les Rocks', older people called them 'les blousons noirs') and Teddy boys who were usually outside the station. These guys were much older than us and really mean, always carrying knives or razor (one of my friends was once badly cut in the neck by a razor, would have been the throat he would be dead he still got an impressive scar today). Anyway, once another friend was going back from the 'puces' in the metro, and when the tube was leaving a gang of twenty 'Rocks'
went aboard. My friend was terrified, he compressed on his seat, put his feet (with 10 holes DMs) under the seat hoping they wouldn't notice him. They didn't, but i think he peed in his pants.
biggrin.gif


Cheers SL
 
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covskin

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Was never impressed by groups of older blokes picking on younger. I remember bikers and rastafarian types being 5 or 10 years older than us and us being up for it in a 'gulp!' sort of way but to their credit they didn't take us up on it but actually gave us some respect for that.
 
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covskin

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Come to think of it I remember a couple of skinheads late 20s who had changed back having been skinheads ten years previously. Not at all common, only two I ever knew, but it did happen.
 

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