Glen Plaid Sports Coat...the pants mystery.

[BRBeadles]

Should one wear a blue linen plaid blazer with blue striped seersucker pants?

 

[archibaldleach]



Should one wear a blue linen plaid blazer with blue striped seersucker pants?

No. Mixing patterned trousers and patterned jackets is just asking for trouble. If either your jacket or trousers are patterned, the other should be solid.

 

[BRBeadles]

Solid tie or floral tie with plaid linen blue jacket and solid white linen pants?

 

[archibaldleach]

^ All of my floral ties are subtle and would likely work with even a relatively bold patterned jacket. Provided the floral pattern on the tie is not too in your face, I think you're fine either way. If in doubt, go with a solid tie.

 

[BRBeadles]

Thank you.

 

[IMHO]

Hmmm, black chinos! OK, do they have a double or single outside stitch? The country clubs I am familiar with consider a double seam to be jeans and a single seam to be cotton slacks. For cold weather consider pairing your grey glen plaid jacket with your black chinos, a black or charcoal grey wool turtleneck sweater and dress black leather lace boots. Add a nice pair of black leather gloves. For warmer weather add light brown elbow patches to your glen plaid jacket, and wear your khaki pants, a white cotton shirt, and brown smooth leather tennis shoes. Perhaps an ascot, too, but be sure to wear a pair of killer shades. A nice polo shirt might work, too. For a different look, combine your jacket with solid light grey pants, a black cotton shirt and black leather boots. Oh, and I think the glen plaid jacket in question is great although my observations are a tad late.

I respect tradition, but I am not a slave to it. Dress rules provide guidance, but sadly people memorize rules as a substitute for good judgment. I once read something to the effect of know the rules like an expert and break them like an artist. Try the above combinations and see what the women folk have to say about the way you look.

 

[notdos]

Bad advice and necro-post.

 

[IMHO]

You are quite right. With the growing popularity of black chinos, khakis, and glen plaid jackets, this topic deserves more attention. I am partial to 50/50 poly-cotton travel clothing. In 2016, I gave a presentation in Nairobi on the impact of changing ivory prices on Kenyan elephant populations (Wildlife Minister Richard Leakey personally requested a copy of my paper) and attended a reception for President Kenyatta. Since I did not employ the services of a Sherpa and had an additional safari and mountain climbing agenda, I packed all my belongings into a single large backpack. On several occasions I washed my clothing by hand and hung them out to dry overnight. I had two pair of pants, one was black poly-cotton chinos which on dress occasions (but never when Tsetse flies where a concern) I paired with a navy polyester sports-travel jacket (the horror), safari shirt, tie and black waterproof Hush Puppy (running?) shoes. In many African places, a white guayabera and black pants are considered formal wear. My other pair of pants were poly-cotton khakis that paired with my suede hiking/climbing boots. During my travels I later stayed in Manhattan with a Big Four accounting national partner and his wife and comfortably wore the same chinos/jacket combination to a Broadway play (Book of Mormon I think). Like many others, I find black chinos to be great for urban travel and khakis great for rural travel. As for the glen plaid (sports?) jacket, I agree that, depending on the fabrics, a black v-neck sweater paired with the black chinos would go nicely with this jacket. After all, a maasai tribesman hung a red cotton Prince of Wales shuka across my navy jacket and black chinos. It felt great.