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From what I understand, the 2 letters denote the artist, the first 2 numbers denote the model year and style and the last 2 denote the color and pattern... something to that effect. Is that what you are on as well?

Originally Posted by onix

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Yeah, the number is only meaningful to some, especially to collectors. I have a reference built by myself, and I am sure that other collectors also have their own references, but no-one ever put them online. Unlike Hermes scarf which has extensive online reference. I guess, us guys just want to keep things to ourselves.

when I tie my bowties I have one side with a bow and one side with only fabric on the other side. I am doing it wrong or are there just different ways to tie bow ties? Is this the SF approved way?
GM

Originally Posted by SpooPoker

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From what I understand, the 2 letters denote the artist, the first 2 numbers denote the model year and style and the last 2 denote the color and pattern... something to that effect. Is that what you are on as well?
The numbering system is a bit more complicated than most people think. And it evolves over time. Here is a brief overview. Here is for the silk twill. - Hermes first introduced Hermes ties and labeled them "## xx" (for example, the popular 59 EA). Now, most documents online claim that the xx is the name of the artist, or the code for the design department, or the one who hand stitched the ties, etc., but I personally highly doubt that, since all of them end with A). - In the early 70s, they started expanding their market and introduced a lot new designs, thus, the 2 digits must be extended to 3 digits. Hence we have "### xx". - At the end of the 80s, the 3-digit numbers ran out, so they started using 4 digit, hence "7### xx" - At the end of the 90s, these 7000s numbers ran out, so they started "5### xx". So the newest ties are 5000s, with the higher the last 3 digits the newer. For example, 5465 to 5486 = Fall/Winter 2009, 5430 to 5460 = Spring/Summer 2009, etc., Other than silk twill: Also at the end of the 80s, the company started producing different lines (heavy silk, wool, cashmere, linen, etc.), and new numbering system is required. So they labeled all of them with the following format: "##-####-T##" where the first ## indicates the type: 00 means the classic silk twill, 75 means the heavy silk, the second group of 4-digits #### is the design number. The last 2 digits = the color code. For example, this popular zebra one is 00-7110-T55 (00 = silk twill, 7110 = design number, this is about 1992, 55 = the color code, here is orange). All of these codes can be found in the price tag, around the bar code, or in the new heavy silk ties. Another example, this is 48-8906-T02 (48 = winter weight wool, 8906 = design number, 02 is the color code)

Where do you draw the line for wearing balmoral shoes in regards to formality? Suits only? Slacks? I saw a guy in MC say that he wore his AE Park Ave's with jeans. This confused me.

Do you guys think this suit is authentic? I'm not too familiar with Armani suits, but would this be a decent purchase if authentic?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

is a welt which is attached to the insole automatically a goodyear welt?

Originally Posted by daruma

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is a welt which is attached to the insole automatically a goodyear welt?
No, there are other kinds. I'd suggest taking a look at Andew Harris's "Shoes explained" article which is linked from the pinned "HOF: Glossary of terms/ Best posts/ FAQ/ Links" thread in the Men's Clothing forum.

Originally Posted by daruma

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is a welt which is attached to the insole automatically a goodyear welt?

No, it also depends on how things are attached. Scroll down just a little on this page:

http://www.bexley.com/Bexley/shoe-TE...L-TECHN-EN.htm

Originally Posted by Jay Gatsby

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Where do you draw the line for wearing balmoral shoes in regards to formality? Suits only? Slacks? I saw a guy in MC say that he wore his AE Park Ave's with jeans. This confused me.

Yeah, I think that before you accept something posted in MC as accurate or reasonable, you need to have some degree of consensus among a majority of posters or if you are going to take a minority position, you need to recognize some form of elevated credibility or authority from those posters. As an example, DFWII and bengal-stripe are very credible individual posters on the subject of men's shoes and I would be considerably more likely to trust information from them on that subject. Lately there has been an influx of posters who, whether from ignorance or otherwise, frequently advocate ideas that are either out of the mainstream of traditional men's tailored clothing or aesthetically questionable or both. I would consider bals with jeans, especially sleek captoe bals such as AE Park Aves, as well outside the norm. I see that combination as a fundamental clash between the implicit formality of the Park Aves and the implicit informality of jeans.

As for the precise line where bals may no longer be worn, I think you need to consider a variety of factors that contribute to the formality of your attire. Not all balmorals are equally formal. For example, a mid-brown brogued bal is considerably less formal than a sleek black captoe. In the same way, not all odd jacket and trouser combinations are equally formal. A navy blazer paired with flannel gray trousers is more formal than a rough tweed jacket paired with moleskins. Black captoes could certainly be worn with the former but would look out of place with the latter. I think there should be a kind of corresponding sliding scale between the formality of your shoes and your jacket and trouser combination.

Need urgent help please. Whats the best formal black oxford cap toe style shoes money can buy in India specifically Mumbai. I need to be able to try the shoes before buying (the only condition).

I dont know of any bespoke shoe-makers in this part of country. All we have are some luxury brand names like ferragamo, canali, hugo boss and some local brands.

Any help is much appreciated.

When getting your clothes altered from a tailor, if you are not satisfied with the results and you want them to fix it up, would you have to pay extra to get the tailor to redo it or should the tailor fix it up for free?

Originally Posted by click here

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When getting your clothes altered from a tailor, if you are not satisfied with the results and you want them to fix it up, would you have to pay extra to get the tailor to redo it or should the tailor fix it up for free?

The latter - assuming the tailor goofed.

Any suggestions for how to sport white color wingtips? Thanks.

Originally Posted by enarchay

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I've heard that Brooks Brothers outlets mostly sell made-for-outlet lines that are of significantly lower quality. I've heard that the line is "346." I went into an outlet today for the memorial day sale and almost all of their items were "346." There were a few "1818" shirts, but they were non-iron. For which BB models should I keep a look out, and which ones should I avoid (besides 346)?

Thanks.

I think where you are getting fouled up is that at the outlet, they hang tags that say 346 on everything, even if it is fancy stuff like Black Fleece. You need to look and make sure that there isn't anything that says 346 that is on the garment itself.

Originally Posted by jhva3

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I think where you are getting fouled up is that at the outlet, they hang tags that say 346 on everything, even if it is fancy stuff like Black Fleece. You need to look and make sure that there isn't anything that says 346 that is on the garment itself.

No, I'm talking about actually inside the garment, on the tag. The only other shirts I could find were the 1818s, but it was a very small selection and all non-iron (I'd prefer iron, I think).