The unofficial Drake's London Appreciation Thread

[wahnamhong]

By the way I was in the London shop last week. Tried on the flannel navy chalk stripe suit. Fabric was amazing. The fit is classic English, so quite full in the trousers and jacket. Had to try on one size larger than usual as well, because they didn’t have my size in the shop (though available on line).

Still on the fence, so did not buy it. First I’ll be exploring made to measure in London a bit more, and will set up a meeting with Acre & Row next time,

Did buy a Drake’s red striped poplin shirt. And the shop assistant told me they will get new stuff pretty soon.

 

[GabrielJF]

I find it weirder that it’s April and there isn’t (yet) another sample or archive sale.

They must be headed for financial ruin - what do you think @dieworkwear?

 

[dieworkwear]

They must be headed for financial ruin - what do you think @dieworkwear?

"Jim, why don't you break down the fundamentals?"

 

[Treble]

Like the new(ish) shop, does feel like there are different areas and a lot of stock. Manages to avoid that weird Bermuda Triangle / do not enter thing some places have for their MTM / suiting section where an assistant hasn't been spoken to in weeks but quite likes that.

 

[Phillip Dean]

Just received my first chore coat from Drake’s, for which I chose the dark indigo-rinse denim. I like it quite a bit, but still have a little indecision on keeping it based on just how many fabrics they produce the chore coat in.

Curious to hear the opinions and experiences of others who have purchased chore coats in different fabrics. I like the cord, but have too many cord trousers (can’t wear a Welsh tuxedo), and the suede, though aside from their much higher price I’ve found the suede styles to fit shorter and trimmer (might make sense as they’re produced in Italy while the others are made in Portugal). Particularly interested in what others make of the cotton and moleskin, as those were my other choices.

 

[dieworkwear]

Just received my first chore coat from Drake’s, for which I chose the dark indigo-rinse denim. I like it quite a bit, but still have a little indecision on keeping it based on just how many fabrics they produce the chore coat in.

Curious to hear the opinions and experiences of others who have purchased chore coats in different fabrics. I like the cord, but have too many cord trousers (can’t wear a Welsh tuxedo), and the suede, though aside from their much higher price I’ve found the suede styles to fit shorter and trimmer (might make sense as they’re produced in Italy while the others are made in Portugal). Particularly interested in what others make of the cotton and moleskin, as those were my other choices.

I don't have any chore coats from Drake's, but I have one from Chimala that's made from denim. Mine is light-washed denim and I find I need to wear it with non-blue pants. IMO, denim chore coats are like denim trucker jackets. You can probably get away with wearing them with matching blue jeans, but it feels more comfortable to wear them with things like cream painter pants, non-blue jeans, tan workwear chinos, or olive fatigues because you get more contrast between the jacket and pants.

 

[Phillip Dean]

Agreed. I plan on wearing it with tan cords and green moleskin in fall/winter and wheat and light washed denim in spring and summer.

 

[Italianglo]

Anyone else think it's weird that it's April and there's still no sign of a lookbook or new season drop?

There's a bunch of new items here: https://www.drakes.com/what-s-new

 

[Faroe65]

Anybody finding the sleeves of Drake's shirts always a bit too long? I am 16" in neck size but could do 15.75" in body; however, I am always choosing 16" to breathe when having neckwear on. I am finding the sleeves about 1 inch longer than I can bear with. i tend to go for 33" in sleeves when it comes to other makers but for Drake's they are not making these options available (both 15.75" and 16" is measured 34" in sleeves so...). I am also curious how you would choose in my situation, or would you just go to a tailor and make the cuff tighter/shorten the sleeves. Ps, I do personally prefer tighter cuff and preferably conical (perhaps brainwashed by the Amoury).

 

[CasuallyWorked]

Anybody finding the sleeves of Drake's shirts always a bit too long? I am 16" in neck size but could do 15.75" in body; however, I am always choosing 16" to breathe when having neckwear on. I am finding the sleeves about 1 inch longer than I can bear with. i tend to go for 33" in sleeves when it comes to other makers but for Drake's they are not making these options available (both 15.75" and 16" is measured 34" in sleeves so...). I am also curious how you would choose in my situation, or would you just go to a tailor and make the cuff tighter/shorten the sleeves. Ps, I do personally prefer tighter cuff and preferably conical (perhaps brainwashed by the Amoury).

the sleeves are too long for me as well. I wear a 15.5. I usually wear my oxfords with the sleeves rolled up anyways, so most of the time, not a big deal, but it is when I wear a jacket. It is easy to shorten the sleeve? I am scared my tailor would mess it up. For my size medium LS Armoury polos the sleeves are also too long lol same situation as Drake's

 

[Faroe65]

the sleeves are too long for me as well. I wear a 15.5. I usually wear my oxfords with the sleeves rolled up anyways, so most of the time, not a big deal, but it is when I wear a jacket. It is easy to shorten the sleeve? I am scared my tailor would mess it up. For my size medium LS Armoury polos the sleeves are also too long lol same situation as Drake's

Nice to see somebody feeling the same. During this last few years, Drake's is also starting to use models who have extremely long arms which really confuses non-model customers like me.
I don't think shortening the sleeves would be an easy job as finishing trousers cuffs for alteration tailors (you need to either open the cuff or the shoulder), and I don't really think a tailor tailor would bother to do this for me. However I think adding an extra button (or move the button inside a bit) is easy to do, has anybody done this for their Drake's? and does it generally affect the shape of the cuff? I am not currently finding a neat way to resolve this so am wearing those underneath knitwear or rolled up, same.
Well, the Armoury shirts are sadly on the same page, pushing for a 69cm in sleeves for 15.5" and 16".

 

[dieworkwear]

However I think adding an extra button (or move the button inside a bit) is easy to do, has anybody done this for their Drake's? and does it generally affect the shape of the cuff?

Have done this with some shirts. You can move it a little bit, but the more you move, the more you will distort the shape of the cuff. An easy way to figure out if you only need to move it a little bit is by using a needle first, rather than actually moving the button. Move the cuff to where you want it to button, and then pin it in place using a needle. If the cuff looks fine, then you can just move the button. If it starts distorting the cuff, you will need to find a tailor to shorten the sleeve. IME, this costs about $20.

 

[mossrockss]

The number one reason I don't buy Drake's shirts is that their sleeves are disappointingly short on me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

 

[adschus]

The number one reason I don't buy Drake's shirts is that their sleeves are disappointingly short on me. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

yeah I need 36” sleeves and drakes are just passable. I’m 6’3” if that matters

 

[adschus]

Does Drakes use Fox Brothers for their RTW jackets? If not, do they buy fabrics from a single mill?