Nobilis Animus
Distinguished Member
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- Nov 25, 2017
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I have tried some of these things. They don't do much for me. I have several Orazio jackets, for instance. They have handmade buttonholes. I honestly don't care about that. It doesn't enhance my enjoyment of the garment at all. I like the jackets for their silhouette (especially the bigger sleeve-heads), the fabrics, the fit, and some other fun design features like the bigger lapels or the patch ticket pockets. For shirts, I wear OCBDs 99/100 times. The best oxfords are RTW without any handwork. Here I enjoy the fabric and the collar. Sweaters are my favorite things to wear and hand-sewing isn't a thing there.
Some people are into clothes for the luxury or craftsmanship, but I am not. I like fabrics, textures, and colors, and decent silhouettes. There are people who enjoy wearing the finest things out there because they are the finest things out there, but this is not me.
Right, I figured we were probably approaching this from different angles. As far as jackets, I can't explain it - there's a certain satisfaction I get from knowing everything was handmade and handset, down to the pocket linings. But none of that matters if the fit or fabric is bad.
OCBDs are great under sweaters, so I can see why they're more useful to you. In fact, I think they're better than all other collars for that purpose. For me, I do appreciate the luxury aspect of certain clothes, so that factors into how I evaluate things.
For sweaters, have you ever tried a guernsey? Probably one of the best examples of a classic sweater, as it's been in use since well before the 15th century. I believe the sleeves are still set in by hand, which makes for a superior fit around the upper arms (as are many Breton sweaters). Regardless, they're worth a look, if only for the fact that they're fully reversible.
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