On a scale of 1 to 10, how bad is this?

[hopkins_student]

1 being horribly awful, 10 being perfectly acceptable.

I'm thinking somewhere in the 4-6 range. I ask because my favorite suit is a charcoal Zegna, and when I purchased it (around August) I did not order a second pair of trousers without belt loops, but occassionally I like to wear braces.

A second question. The suit to which I am referring is Zegna's most standard charcoal fabric that they sell year round, and the suit has never been dry cleaned, because it hasn't been dirty. What are the odds that if I ordered a second pair of pants in that fabric that it would match the original suit? Thanks.

 

[Manton]

1) 4 to 6 sounds about right. I wouldn't do it, but then there are a lot of harmless things that I wouldn't do.

2) The chances are pretty good that they still have some of that cloth. If they do, no problem. But get an assurance. You don't want someone to shine you on, calculating that charcoal is charcoal so it doesn't matter if the original cloth run is still around. If the shade is just a little off, it can look weird, especially in bright sunlight.

 

[hopkins_student]

Manton,

Thanks for your response. How do I make sure that the exact same fabric is still around? Will there be some sort of identification number on the tag in the jacket? Also, suppose that I do order the second pair of trousers, when the time comes that any of the pieces needs to be dry-cleaned, should I make sure to clean both trousers?

Thanks again.

 

[Carlo]

I've occasionally been guilty of wearing braces with trousers that have belt loops a few times. You only cross the boundary into the sartorial sin zone if you wear braces and belt together - now THAT is insecurity.


If the suit has been cleaned several times then matching fabric would be tough.

 

[Manton]

You only cross the boundary into the sartorial sin zone if you wear braces and belt together - now THAT is insecurity.

That's off the scale; a negative five.

 

[Manton]

How do I make sure that the exact same fabric is still around?

Ask.  Zegna should know from the inside tag, or at least from their own catalogue, what it was made from.

Also, suppose that I do order the second pair of trousers, when the time comes that any of the pieces needs to be dry-cleaned, should I make sure to clean both trousers?

I don't think so.  I have never had that problem with dry cleaning.  But then I dry clean hardly ever.

 

[jcusey]

Will there be some sort of identification number on the tag in the jacket?

Yes, on the inside breast pocket. You'll see lots and lots of numbers, one of which is the fabric number. Someone from Zegna should be able to tell exactly which fabric the jacket was made from and whether Zegna still makes the fabric. There can be variations from lot to lot of fabric that's supposed to be identical, but this is probably less of a risk with Zegna than it would be with some other companies: Zegna's quality control is rigid, its process is state-of-the-art, and it's not artisanal, all of which will lead to a more uniform product.

 

[AlanC]

I'm doing it today, actually. I think it's a pretty minor offense, understanding that not having loops is ideal. As long as you don't have the belt on, too, I think you're fine.

 

[mano]

You only cross the boundary into the sartorial sin zone if you wear braces and belt together - now THAT is insecurity.

What is insecurity for one person may be acting with due caution to another.

 

[Carlo]

Manton - I suppose if you live in a state with the three strikes rule and you have two AND they pass that hip-hop/plumber law....

Otherwise, I must stand by my assertion that suspenders and belt would be a severe rulebook violation - of the stripes/plaids level of culpability

 

[Manton]

Manton - I suppose if you live in a state with the three strikes rule and you have two AND they pass that hip-hop/plumber law....

Otherwise, I must stand by my assertion that suspenders and belt would be a severe rulebook violation - of the stripes/plaids level of culpability

I agree. The original scale was 1 to 10, 1 being horrible, 10 being correct. I judged belts and suspenders a -5.

 

[hopkins_student]

Acknowledging the GQ-hating rule around here, I did find it funny when Glenn O'Brien (sp?) referred to a person that wears a belt and braces (or suspenders, whatever you prefer) as the ultimate pessimist.

And I've noticed that people that wear braces with a belt always wear the ones with little metallic clips, rather than loops for buttons.