The unofficial Drake's London Appreciation Thread

[Dan Dynamic]

I have a LMSM cotton chore jacket that I love, and a wool one from PWVC that's also great.

Never owned a drakes chore jacket, but I'd plug those two other brands as great value for the price.

LMSM?

PWVC private white?

 

[jellyroller]

I have a LMSM cotton chore jacket that I love, and a wool one from PWVC that's also great.

Never owned a drakes chore jacket, but I'd plug those two other brands as great value for the price.

I’d second this. I really like my LMSM chore coats but the sizing is a bit tricky. I also have one from J. Crew’s upper end or whatever line Wallace and Barnes that I like quite a bit. I’ve seen Le Labourer chore coats recommended but have no experience with them.

Last week I ordered a Permanent Style linen overshirt (not quite a chore coat, but close) and am anxiously awaiting its arrival.

 

[astrobuoy]

I feel like I asked that but does the selvedge chore jacket fit true to size? I don’t want the slouchy vibe, just a « normal » fit.

I've got a Drake's selvedge chore in a dark stone wash, in a 46. I'm typically a 42ish (like in a Games blazer) and could easily go 44 for a normal fit. I feel like a 42 in the chore would be too slim.

The selvedge is wonderful, substantial but super soft and with a great "hairiness" to it. Unfortunately I think I'm going to move it on and look for a smaller size

 

[goonerble]

I've got a Drake's selvedge chore in a dark stone wash, in a 46. I'm typically a 42ish (like in a Games blazer) and could easily go 44 for a normal fit. I feel like a 42 in the chore would be too slim.

The selvedge is wonderful, substantial but super soft and with a great "hairiness" to it. Unfortunately I think I'm going to move it on and look for a smaller size

So you think one size up in the selvedge chore vs normal size would do the job?

 

[astrobuoy]

So you think one size up in the selvedge chore vs normal size would do the job?

Yeah, that's my 2¢. 42 is my TTS but I'd go one size up in a chore, at least the selvedge one. And sounds like the same case for wahnamhong:

I also have a practically unworn Japanese navy moleskin chore, but I want to sell it as I just prefer the wool one. As for fit, I’m inbetween a 42 and 44 and for chores will often take the 44.

 

[slows2k]

I have the navy herringbone jungle jacket and it definitely runs large, much larger than chore jackets of the same label size. Initially tried going TTS but it was vast so ended up sizing down. Even one size down there is plenty of room to layer.

Thanks very much for this. I went ahead and ordered the size down after your advice and checking the other measurements at the site. lets see if this stupid jungle jacket is worth it...

I actually ended up ordering through the Drakes on Canal St in NYC, they were very helpful on the phone and easy to work with.

 

[casuallyrefined]

Thanks very much for this. I went ahead and ordered the size down after your advice and checking the other measurements at the site. lets see if this stupid jungle jacket is worth it...

I actually ended up ordering through the Drakes on Canal St in NYC, they were very helpful on the phone and easy to work with.

Hope you enjoy the jacket - it's probably my most worn piece due to how versatile it is.

Unrelated but has anyone noticed that the flat front chino in different colours appears to be different weights of fabric? I have a tobacco and navy pair and have just picked up ecru but these seem to be noticeably lighter fabric. I can't tell if I've missed something obvious or these should all be the same? Furthermore, my older pairs have the little D flag embroidered like the photos on the website but my latest pair have no such logo - not a game changer as I'd prefer no logo to a logo but something interesting to note.

 

[Mariokartfever]

LMSM = le Mont St. Michael

PWVC = Private White V.C.

I understand that Drake's nails the "look" better than anyone else, but IME Private White clothes are all of very high quality and borderline "over-engineered." They put a lot of thought into construction to ensure a long life.

Haven't bought much from them in the last few years, hopefully that's still the case.

 

[astrobuoy]

Drakes Brown Tie Dye Drake’s 5 Pocket Chore Jacket Heavy Twill | Grailed

Searching for Brown Tie Dye Drake’s 5 Pocket Chore Jacket Heavy Twill? We’ve got Drakes Men's Outerwear starting at $300 and plenty of other Men's Outerwear. Shop our selection of Drakes today!

www.grailed.com

 

[Velahrn]

I agree as well. In my opinion, Drake's strength was always their collaborations. Rather than producing everything in-house, they partnered with brands that excel in their respective fields: Valstar for flight jackets, Arpenteur for chore coats, Mackintosh or Cohérence for rainmacs, Alden for shoes and boots, Fedeli for piqué polos and swimwear…the list goes on. It preserved the integrity of Drake's specialty in made-in-England ties and shirts and all the aforementioned brands produce in their native countries: Italy, France, Japan, USA, etc. It was a great way to get introduced to brands I hadn't been aware of before.

Now, Drake's attempts to make everything, mostly inferior in quality and in lower-cost countries yet sells at much higher prices. I get it…that's how the business grows and evolves but it leaves me yearning for the Drake's of years past. It's slowly turning into a J.Crew or Ralph Lauren and I don't mean that in a good way.

The is a name for this process: enshittification. It happend to many brands before, like Hunter, Sorel, currently is happening to Filson etc.

See this chart:

(from http://www.ivy-style.com/from-quality-to-pr-muffys-lifespan-of-trad-clothiers.html )

So expect that the price of Drake's will only increase, and the production will move to countries like Bangladesh eventually...

 

[woO]

Drakes Brown Tie Dye Drake’s 5 Pocket Chore Jacket Heavy Twill | Grailed

Searching for Brown Tie Dye Drake’s 5 Pocket Chore Jacket Heavy Twill? We’ve got Drakes Men's Outerwear starting at $300 and plenty of other Men's Outerwear. Shop our selection of Drakes today!

www.grailed.com

Well, that's a chore jacket truly used as a chore jacket! (unless the owner accidentally washed it with bleach…)

 

[astrobuoy]

Well, that's a chore jacket truly used as a chore jacket! (unless the owner accidentally washed it with bleach…)

It's gotta be an accidental (and costly) bleach wash. But you have to admire the chutzpah to turn around and sell it as a Drake's tie dye chore coat for $300. When life gives you lemons...

 

[ikoiko]

It's gotta be an accidental (and costly) bleach wash. But you've got admire the chutzpah to turn around and sell it as a Drake's tie dye chore coat for $300. When life gives you lemons...

The person seems to really love tie dye, so it might have been intentional. If you can talk them down a bit, you could make quick work giving it a new dye job.

 

[astrobuoy]

If you can talk them down a bit, you could make quick work giving it a new dye job.

The thought actually crossed my mind! At 36 it's too small for me by a wide margin, but for the right person that's a great idea. I came across a video of a guy who'd dyed his chore coat or jacket (I think a summer Drake's piece) and it came out great, though of course now I can't find the video

 

[Kid_Icarus]

The thought actually crossed my mind! At 36 it's too small for me by a wide margin, but for the right person that's a great idea. I came across a video of a guy who'd dyed his chore coat or jacket (I think a summer Drake's piece) and it came out great, though of course now I can't find the video

Maybe you’re thinking of this?

Matt Hranek’s indigo dyed overshirt | Thomas Mason

Menswear’s most successful hustler likes to get hands on with indigo dye.

www.thomasmason.co.uk