MC General Chat

[bourbonbasted]

Thanks a lot. The 100% cotton chinos from Cordings are dry clean only though.

FWIW, I wouldn't put too much stock in "Dry Clean Only" cotton. You obviously don't want to go washing a worsted wool suit, but I've always washed my cotton chinos (some with dry clean instructions) on delicate and hung dry. Never had an issue.

 

[clee1982]

probably a bit depends, I personally would always dry clean "dress chino", why risk it

 

[FlowableFill]

FWIW, I wouldn't put too much stock in "Dry Clean Only" cotton. You obviously don't want to go washing a worsted wool suit, but I've always washed my cotton chinos (some with dry clean instructions) on delicate and hung dry. Never had an issue.

They tell you to dry clean chinos that have a lined knee. The lining may shrink at a different rate than the cotton.

 

[clee1982]

and more Made in USA Paul Stuart, no idea by whom

Grey Plaid Escorial Wool Jacket

Paul Stuart

www.paulstuart.com

 

[smittycl]

and more Made in USA Paul Stuart, no idea by whom

Grey Plaid Escorial Wool Jacket

Paul Stuart

www.paulstuart.com

Stuart's Choice was usually Oxxford. Makes sense with that price point. Nice jacket.

 

[clee1982]

I thought it's a bit "cheap" for Oxxford? I sort of remember the old ones were like $4.5k and above (Oxxford stuff)?

edit: and Escorial is not cheap to start with

 

[smittycl]

I thought it's a bit "cheap" for Oxxford? I sort of remember the old ones were like $4.5k and above (Oxxford stuff)?

edit: and Escorial is not cheap to start with

No idea really. The only other maker I can think of would be Hickey Freeman. I have one Stuart's Choice Navy staple suit and it has an Oxxford factory tag. Last time I was in the DC store (pre-pandemic) the Stuart's Choice suits were still Oxxford.

 

[bourbonbasted]

They tell you to dry clean chinos that have a lined knee. The lining may shrink at a different rate than the cotton.

Huh. I've never owned (or even seen/paid attention to) a pair of lined cotton chinos. All the "dry clean only" pairs I have are unlined.

 

[FlowableFill]

Oh, I'm not sure why they say to dry clean them then. maybe a CYA thing

 

[dieworkwear]

My understanding is that single needle chinos, such as the ones you get from Rota, are supposed to be dry clean only because of the stitching and interlining (stitching along the leg and interlining around the waist). Those things can shrink at different rates, which can distort the pants. They are basically made at factories that specialize in tailored wool trousers, but here they use cotton.

More casual chinos, such as the ones you find at J. Crew, are specially made so they can be wet washed. They are also often double needle sewn, so if you get some puckering and fading along the seams, you don't notice this effect.

Here's an example of very casual, double-needle chinos. The kind of thing you'd wear with casualwear. You can see the puckering along the seams. These are the sorts of chinos you can usually wet wash. They look even better beaten up.

By contrast, Rota's single-needle chinos are much more cleanly designed. They're basically wool trousers in cotton. Sometimes these are specially designed so you can wet wash them, but often they're dry-clean only. Personally think tailored jackets look better with the chinos below, rather than the chinos above.

 

[gdl203]

Honest question: how often do you guys clean/wash your trousers? I wash shirts and tees often (underwear too obvi) but I rarely wash trousers - if there is visible soiling or stains, of course, but otherwise can easily go 10 wears without cleaning. Same with knitwear - rarely clean my knits, and rather leave them out to dry/air between wears. If they smell weird or are visibly dirty, I will clean them

 

[thuhoan]

My understanding is that single needle chinos, such as the ones you get from Rota, are supposed to be dry clean only because of the stitching and interlining (stitching along the leg and interlining around the waist). Those things can shrink at different rates, which can distort the pants. They are basically made at factories that specialize in tailored wool trousers, but here they use cotton.

More casual chinos, such as the ones you find at J. Crew, are specially made so they can be wet washed. They are also often double needle sewn, so if you get some puckering and fading along the seams, you don't notice this effect.

Here's an example of very casual, double-needle chinos. The kind of thing you'd wear with casualwear. You can see the puckering along the seams. These are the sorts of chinos you can usually wet wash. They look even better beaten up.



View attachment 1676188



By contrast, Rota's single-needle chinos are much more cleanly designed. They're basically wool trousers in cotton. Sometimes these are specially designed so you can wet wash them, but often they're dry-clean only. Personally think tailored jackets look better with the chinos below, rather than the chinos above.


View attachment 1676190

That is some nice dressy chino.

With regards to the double needle: what would be the most dressy look you can make of it, without "mis-matching" formalities? Upper: polo, sweater, knitted shirt? Shoes: (suede) loafers, boots, sneakers?

 

[K. Nights]

Honest question: how often do you guys clean/wash your trousers? I wash shirts and tees often (underwear too obvi) but I rarely wash trousers - if there is visible soiling or stains, of course, but otherwise can easily go 10 wears without cleaning. Same with knitwear - rarely clean my knits, and rather leave them out to dry/air between wears. If they smell weird or are visibly dirty, I will clean them

I dry clean trousers once per year... in theory. Wool sweaters pretty much never unless I stain them or they smell, same as you

 

[dieworkwear]

That is some nice dressy chino.

With regards to the double needle: what would be the most dressy look you can make of it, without "mis-matching" formalities? Upper: polo, sweater, knitted shirt? Shoes: (suede) loafers, boots, sneakers?

I think the outfit you described is fine, but might feel a bit boring.

 

[Hellbent]

Honest question: how often do you guys clean/wash your trousers? I wash shirts and tees often (underwear too obvi) but I rarely wash trousers - if there is visible soiling or stains, of course, but otherwise can easily go 10 wears without cleaning. Same with knitwear - rarely clean my knits, and rather leave them out to dry/air between wears. If they smell weird or are visibly dirty, I will clean them

Quite often. I have small kids. Playgrounds and slides are brutal on trousers