The CM Graveyard: First Sartoria Partenopea... next J. Crew?

[sftiger]

Almost always with a sport coat.

Sometimes with a suit. Always if it's a suit to a fun occasion (wedding, cocktail party, etc.) much less so to a client meeting, but depends on the client - if they're American I usually don't, but if they're from elsewhere I often do. Not sure if there's much rhyme or reason to that - just kind of feels right.

 

[dieworkwear]

So, why not in an academic setting? I realize it's one of the elements that can allow for a lot of personal expression.

My school has a dress code that allows for 25 Daily Dapper Points. My pants and shirt are 1 Dapper Point each. My sport coat 2 Dapper Points. My Norwegian split toes? 87 Dapper Points. So, no room for a pocket square.

 

[zalb916]

@edmorel had good thoughts back in the day about ditching the pocket square. Frankly, most people do a ****** job at making them look coherent, or the fold/poof/whatever just looks off. I may or may not be referring to some of the last number of posts.

I still wear one from time to time, and I still mess it up a lot. However, I find my outfits frequently benefit from resisting the urge.

 

[bry2000]

For me, pocket square always. The one time, I removed my pocket square was before a business meeting in a mid size German city. My counterpart showed up wearing a pocket square. I felt offsides the whole meeting.

 

[Aquafortis]

Appreciate everyone chiming in. Good to hear all perspectives and thoughts.

 

[othertravel]

Returning to a CM success story (according to me). Taking advantage of blustery but nice holiday and last day off until Memorial Day. We need some holidays for March and April here in the US, right? Stopped by Sid Mashburn in Georgetown and picked up an amazing Wool/Linen blend, half-lined sport coat. Salesmen were really cool and knowledgeable.

I usually sale shop for tailored clothing but every now and again I'll pounce on an item that I really love at retail. It's worth it to get a seasonal item for use in the actual upcoming season rather than waiting a year after a sale. Anyway, very nice houndstooth (I was inspired by @Cleav 's jacket) and made by Andrea Campagna I believe. Was a bit put off by the lack of darts but it fit perfectly. All it needed was a slight sleeve adjustment. Working buttonholes were $55 which was a big surprise. Huzzah!

View attachment 1129058

https://www.sidmashburn.com/marine-flax-houndstooth-virgil-no-3-jacket.html

Partially inspired by your post (the rest is all me), I went to a local B&M and ordered a pair of Samuelsohn MTM trousers for spring/summer, and an MTO Canali suit in their underrated Capri model. The swatch I chose was featured in their look book and I was just drawn to it. Let B&M reign!

 

[Patrick R]

I’m wearing pockets squares almost every day, but almost always white and off-white linen.

 

[lordsuperb]

I’m wearing pockets squares almost every day, but almost always white and off-white linen.

I find myself going white linen 90% of the time. I wish I had known this before I bought all of those nifty drake pocket squares.

I say this and still have been eyeing this NMWA pocket square .

 

[am55]

Nice timing after I dumped most of my thoughts on this on HOF... Given the context of the question, this will necessarily be centered on the audience.

I sometimes see dress as a form of Overton window tailored at the people you want interacting with you. And the square is kind of the most variable part of the entire CM thing. It is small, it is discreet, it does not follow many or any accepted rules today when most go squareless in most of the world (despite resurging popularity). To decide to wear a square, especially outside the US, is already an act of flashiness and a hint of narcissism to some.

So in the most conservative setting, like bry above in Germany, I'd eschew the square altogether. E.g. meeting a large conservative property developer's C-level. And at conferences, my style is closer to Patrick's - if there is a square, it will be a white linen fold - but often, no square, particularly in APAC. I will always remember the near-apoplexy Jeff Hammerbacher (a Valley ex-FB big data CEO) threw some of the region's tech execs by turning up in jeans and a T-shirt to headline a major conference.

Socially it is a different matter. I want the more artistic types (more narcissistic like me? ) to come and say hello. So out come the bow tie and more interesting, textured squares that are more commonly seen on SF. The square will be systematically unmatched with the rest, on purpose, although I try and have it further away from the tie than the shirt, if that makes sense, due to a long standing aversion (and not necessarily rational either) for matching tie and square. It's not sprezz, it is a deliberate statement whose nuances are a calling card and I've made some good friends as a result, who literally walked across the room to say hi. But there is a time and place for this and it is relatively limited (as is, to be fair, CM in a social setting more generally). And like Nicholas Atgemis in his early days I favour a conservative outfit with square and bow as flashes of colour. Love of the limit and all. I'd also stick to Patrick-style if I were in London, not that I go there anymore since us Europeans are now persona non grata (may Lufthansa's A380s and 1h FRA transfers live a long and prosperous - but affordably priced - life)

 

[dieworkwear]

Bummed to see Simone Righi's shop in Florence close. The story is posted on his IG (you have to click stories to see it)

https://www.instagram.com/frasidisimonerighi/

Maomao at BRIO put it well:



I feel like the longer I pay attention to this stuff, the stronger I feel that it's important to support businesses that, in some way, bring value to your life, whether it be quality products, good service, or even inspiration.

 

[gdl203]

Oh man...

 

[IJReilly]

That is sad.

 

[smittycl]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/josephd...-and-l-b-m-1911-power-the-future-of-menswear/

I must have missed this back in January. Interesting, if overly fawning, article on LBM.

 

[Aquafortis]

http://www.forbes.com/sites/josephd...-and-l-b-m-1911-power-the-future-of-menswear/

I must have missed this back in January. Interesting, if overly fawning, article on LBM.

The popularity of the whole soft appeal makes me think back to the 90's when Zegna came out with their Soft line. Cucinelli, LBM as described in this article, and Kiton's new KNT line, are current examples. It's all well and good to be comfortable in your clothing, but to me crosses a line when items that look like glorified track suits and pajamas are in the multi-thousand-dollar price point.

 

[smittycl]

The popularity of the whole soft appeal makes me think back to the 90's when Zegna came out with their Soft line. Cucinelli, LBM as described in this article, and Kiton's new KNT line, are current examples. It's all well and good to be comfortable in your clothing, but to me crosses a line when items that look like glorified track suits and pajamas are in the multi-thousand-dollar price point.

Agreed. I like some structure and seriously dislike unstructured jackets for work. Can handle them casually sometimes.