The unofficial Drake's London Appreciation Thread

[zetl]

I received a cream oxford shirt from the archive sale in the mail today, and I’m genuinely a little confused by the quality. The entire shirt is spackled with small brownish dots, almost like the sort of thing you’d find on a linen shirt. The fabric is also decidedly more lightweight than a standard oxford (also not unlike linen), or at least the ones I’ve handled in the past. There is no indication on Drake’s site that any of their oxfords are like this as far as I was aware.

View attachment 1615041

View attachment 1615042

View attachment 1615043

View attachment 1615044

The SKU seems to match up with what my order confirmation indicates I purchased (though the description indicating “Multi Plain” instead of cream is curious).

I’m wondering if anyone has any first hand familiarity with these shirts and can weigh in? I’ve been looking for a nice cream oxford for some time but not sure the discount is steep enough to warrant keeping it. At this point I’m leaning toward returning it and just going with Mercer and Sons for a little bit more money.

Honestly a big disappointment unless they perhaps just sent me the wrong shirt, which would also be a disappointment I guess lol

Any thoughts?

I bought this same cream oxford during the last archive sale—it is definitely a much lighter weight than any other oxfords that I own. It's the only one I've ever purchased from Drake's, so I can't say anything about their shirts in general, but this one is noticeably light. But mine does not have any of the brown spots that yours does.

 

[VK1234]

I bought this same cream oxford during the last archive sale—it is definitely a much lighter weight than any other oxfords that I own. It's the only one I've ever purchased from Drake's, so I can't say anything about their shirts in general, but this one is noticeably light. But mine does not have any of the brown spots that yours does.

I also got the cream Oxford and mine also came with all the brown specks. It is also lighter than my other oxfords but the material still feels great!

 

[Dadacantona]

Sad to report that the Brown, Green and Burgundy Houndstooth jacket is probably going back. The fit is impeccable, but unless I'm mistaken, the jacket is entirely uncanvassed. There's a 3x5" piece of what appears to be fusible interlining near the armpit area on the interior of the jacket and that's it.

It's one thing for a jacket like this to not have any canvassing but for Drake's to advertise "Half-Canvas Construction" is unacceptable, especially at the prices they charge. I'm curious if this design was a one-off or perhaps some of their other tweeds are made the same way but this lack of transparency leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I had this issue late last year, and posted some pics of the interior on here. I tried two tweeds from last season and both were fused with no canvas. It really doesn’t work for me as I need at least some light structure and I wouldn’t have purchased had I known. You’re right, advertising as half-canvas is appalling.

 

[hpreston]

Why You’re Unlikely to Tell Between a Fused and Half-Canvassed Jacket

Tailor Jeffery Diduch, who maintains the rather illuminating blog Tutto Fatto a Mano, was nice enough to contact us a...

putthison.com

 

[Gus]

Nice polo but what's the significance of the logo. I get the D is for Drakes but the other is a "C"?? And it stands for?

 

[dieworkwear]

Nice polo but what's the significance of the logo. I get the D is for Drakes but the other is a "C"?? And it stands for?

View attachment 1616420

It's a setup

"What does CD mean?"

"C Deez Nutzzzzzz"

 

[Jon 1981]

Nice polo but what's the significance of the logo. I get the D is for Drakes but the other is a "C"?? And it stands for?

View attachment 1616420

I thought its meant to represent a duck = drakes?

 

[jalebi]

Nice polo but what's the significance of the logo. I get the D is for Drakes but the other is a "C"?? And it stands for?

View attachment 1616420

The description covers it:

"This one has a subtle embroidered emblem on the chest, in which a capital 'D' playfully transforms into a duck, or 'drake,' if you will."

 

[Dadacantona]

Why You’re Unlikely to Tell Between a Fused and Half-Canvassed Jacket

Tailor Jeffery Diduch, who maintains the rather illuminating blog Tutto Fatto a Mano, was nice enough to contact us a...

putthison.com

That may be true in most instances, but with these drakes tweeds the fusing is literally paper thin, giving the jackets very little structure. May be fine for some people but for me they were very rumpled in the chest and wore like a completely unstructured jacket.

 

[kentpope]

That may be true in most instances, but with these drakes tweeds the fusing is literally paper thin, giving the jackets very little structure.

It’s actually even less substantial than that. The paper-thin “fusing” on the Drake’s jacket is literally just a small piece of fabric covering some of the area surrounding the armpit. It’s presumably there to offer some reinforcement against tension caused by your arms moving, but that’s it. It’s actually so thin I have a hard time imagining it doing much of anything at all but it’s there, though only near the armholes and not behind the chest area.

From the article linked above:

“All garments – fully-canvassed, half-canvassed, or fused – will have a floating chest piece, so feeling a distinct layer there means nothing.”

The point I’d like to reiterate here is that the Drake’s jacket does not have a floating chest piece. At all. It‘s just an outer shell, butterfly lining for the sleeves, and some pockets sewn in.

It’s of course totally fine for them to make their jackets this way if they wish, but I agree that actively marketing them as having “half canvas construction” is appalling.

 

[GabrielJF]

Just received an Oxford regular fit white shirt. It seems far thinner than any Oxford shirt I’ve ever owned and is cut long like a dress shirt. Anyone had one of these from drakes? I know some oxfords are smarter than others but this is truly a thin material and seems a ridiculous price to charge for it

 

[Trevallon]

They are not heavyweight oxfords, it's true. I have a couple from Land's End that are much "meatier" indeed...

But they don't have the Drake's collar (which to me is already worth a premium), they are not made in Dorset but in India and they just don't fit like Drake's. I actually like the lighter fabric.

So, if you are asking me: I don't think the price is ridiculous at all, especially during the sale.

 

[GabrielJF]

They are not heavyweight oxfords, it's true. I have a couple from Land's End that are much "meatier" indeed...

But they don't have the Drake's collar (which to me is worth already worth a premium), they are not made in Dorset but in India and they just don't fit like Drake's. I actually like the lighter fabric.

So, if you are asking me: I don't think the price is ridiculous at all, especially during the sale.

hmmm fair enough! I was just surprised by quite how obvious my chest hair was behind the material. Not usually what you want from an Oxford. Or any shirt in fact. Perhaps it’s just smarter than the slubbier material that I like!

 

[Dadacantona]

Anyone else still waiting for archive orders? I ordered last Thursday but never received a confirmation email. Customer services confirmed the order was received and that Crosby St were handling it. As yet I have not received shipping confirmation and customer service say they have contacted Crosby street for an update without reply.
I’m not the type to become impatient but it’s a bit disconcerting when no one seems to know what’s going 8 days after ordering.

 

[jalebi]

Final haul from the archive sale:

• Teddy polo coat
• Waxed linen D43 jacket
• Corduroy blanket blouson
• Surf breaker jacket
• Donegal integrated collar jumper
• Cashmere intarsia golf jumper

Regrettably they sent me the Teddy polo coat in a 42 (I ordered a 40) and it's a bit too large for me, so it's going to be going back. The D43 is a beautiful fabric, but the cut and the epaulettes don't suit me all that well, so that will be going back too.

Everything else was absolutely excellent, in particular the integrated collar jumper and the corduroy blanket blouson. The surf breaker surprised me, really nice cut and very practical.