Polo cashmere cableknit sweater, plaid shirt and houndstooth tie | Brooks Brothers oxford chino | Sperry Top-Siders 

Polo gingham shirt | Merona cableknit shawl sweater | Ralph Lauren Purple Label paisley tie | Hilfiger trouser | Alden longwing brogues

Today's Outfit

Just in from eBay - Aran Shawl Cardigan

Just in from eBay - Colorful Cashmere

I've been very lucky finding cashmere on eBay these past few months. Since October, I've picked up eight Polo cashmere cable knits, but these are my two most recent acquisitions. Since purchasing my first Polo cashmere a few years ago, I've slowly accumulated various colors, only to have purple and pink elude me until now. The pink sweater (Nantucket red-ish, really) cost $45.99, a little more than I'm normally willing to pay, but the seller was asking $60 and we worked a compromise. The purple sweater was an even greater deal in more ways than one. Not only was the piece a bit cheaper at $41.50, but it had never been worn. In all, I've spent $288.64 on my eight new sweaters. Sure, that's a lot of money, especially for an avid thrifter slowly working his way off a college kid's budget. However, at $36.08 a piece, I've saved, on average, more than 90% off the retail cost of a single sweater. Also, at the $288.64 mark, I'm still $133.12 shy of the $398 original price... and that extra cash should be enough for another four sweaters.

Today's Outfit - Red Rovers

Polo Ralph Lauren oxford tartan shirt, paisley silk tie, cable knit cotton/cashmere cricket sweater

Polo Ralph Lauren navy wide wale corduroy trouser

Smart Turnout regimental stripe socks

Austen Heller Red Rovers loafers

Today's Outfit - Spring Fever

As West Virginia weather goes, we're experiencing a week of warmth and sunshine shortly after a bizarre blizzard. So, today I broke out this rather springy combination of pastel pink and blue.

Colorful Cables

Cool in Cable Knit

Thanks, Rose & Born.

Cables o' Cashmere

Not my cashmere, but beautiful, nonetheless. Thanks, Tumblr.

If anybody comes across a Polo cashmere cable knit in purple, XL or XXL, let me know!

Wish List - Lyle & Scott

Houndstooth and Haileybury

Yesterday was one of those all dressed up and nowhere to go days. Cold rain, bitter winds. Although, excited to test out another pair of Smart Turnout socks, I pieced together this look and headed out to the bookstore for an afternoon of coffee and reading. Mostly coffee.  

Everything here is tied together in browns and greys, with notes of purple. The deep purple-grey houndstooth of the jacket draws into the trousers, pocket square and socks. While browns run through the sweater, the windowpane of the jacket as well as the jacket buttons, and the chocolate brown brogues.

Chaps Ralph Lauren houndstooth/windowpane sport coat (vintage, made in USA)

Northern Isles cable knit cashmere turtleneck (new from the thrift)

Worsted wool trousers (unknown brand from the thrift)

Daniel Cremieux silk pocket square

Florsheim brogues (vintage, made in USA)

Smart Turnout Haileybury socks (made in UK)

Elementary My Dear Watson's

Today at the thrift. $40.00? No. $19.99? No. $2.99? Yes.
I'd been wanting a cable knit cardigan for a very long time. Now I have one which was, amazingly enough, made in the U.S.A.

Moderately Monochromatic

A lack of bold color doesn't mean boring. 

Sometimes you can make as much of a statement when you keep things simple.

This entire outfit is based around one muted color, but I think it works. I paired up the top pieces with (camel, sand, khaki, whatever) Polo chinos and tan Sebago Campsides. Visual interest is drawn from the texture of the sweater, along with the navy in the shirt and tie.

Plainly Purple

 Shirt - vintage Nautica windowpane

Sweater - Polo silk cable knit

Tie - Polo silk paisley

Pant - Polo corduroy

Shoes - Cole Haan tassel loafers

eBay Abounding

I've been looking for a truly pink cable knit sweater for months. I'd managed to find two silk cable knits in the spring - one in rose, one in pale pink heather. Should I call this one bubble gum? Cotton candy? My patience finally paid off when I picked up this piece on eBay for under twenty dollars yesterday.


I'm attending my cousin's wedding this weekend. Any thoughts on formal, summer wedding attire?

eBay Abounding

I'm not only a fan of thrift shops but eBay as well. I hadn't made a purchase for several months until yesterday when I simply had a feeling I would find something great. My feeling completely paid off. After finding a lot of four sweaters in February containing two Polo cashmere cable knit sweaters in green and brown and two cotton cable knit sweaters in yellow and light green for a total of $20 with shipping, yesterday I found this lot.


A Buy It Now price of $199 was posted, with a Make an Offer option. I offered $144 and the price was accepted. For $9 shipping, I'm getting these four cashmere sweaters at $153, approximately $1650 off of original retail.


While $153 is quite a bit to spend, I had to think about the purchase in relative terms. Aside from saving $1650, I've found pieces that I would almost certainly not find in a thrift shop. The authenticity was guaranteed by a seller with perfect feedback and over one thousand sales. Also, $38.25 a sweater is even less than a Ralph cotton cable knit would cost at clearance.


Never underestimate the value of investment pieces, the staples of a wardrobe that might be hard to find but that one shouldn't do without.


Here's the entire lot. I can't wait for these to come in the mail.


What's your greatest eBay find?

Search thoroughly. Invest carefully.

Country Club Classic

Okay, so the heading might be misleading. I certainly don't have the money to join a country club, but I feel I carry the classic style reminiscent of one. I also must admit that I watched Caddyshack the night before coming up with this outfit and played tennis on this morning, so you might appreciate the interpretation. Spring is very near and the outfit reflects that as well.

In case it's not so clear, I'm wearing a vest, not a full sweater. Probably no surprise, the whole outfit is Polo. Not pictured are my navy chinos and go-to brown Aldens.


I love cable knit sweaters - hence the blog title. I also love cricket/tennis sweaters, especially those with contrast collars. This sweater in pima cotton is perfect for any season.


Though I feel it's not essential to match the tie to the sweater collar, the pairing ads understated sophistication. While I love button-down shirts, I again went for the more formal look with a semi-spread collar and made sure to wear a thick tie to fill the gap.


Thanks to both my new and old commenters for the support! How's the pattern mixing this time?

Strength in security. Stability in steadfastness.

Fine Lines and Fine Finds

You never know what a bargain you'll find on eBay until you take a long, hard look for what you're hoping to find. I'm often on the search for cable knit and pima sweaters. Not every seller knows what to properly call an item, so unfortunate word choice leads to low or no bidding. The cable knit cotton sweater vest below was listed as "chunky ribbed sweater," and the pima cotton sweater as "classic crew sweater shirt." Taking the extra moment to examine the photos led me win these great pieces on minimum bids.

Sweater vest: cable knit cotton Polo ($8.55)

Sweater: pima cotton Polo ($13.95)

Winter at Bay for a Second Day

Another sunny day brought about any brightly dressed day. I utilized two of my most recent eBay finds, which I'll be discussing in my upcoming posts. Today marked only the fourth time I've worn a bow tie out and about since my early youth, when my parents dressed me the way I prefer to dress now.

The classics never go out of style. Then again, style never goes out of style.

Hat: Merona ($5.49)
Shirt: Polo ($12.00)
Sweater: silk Polo ($10.00)
Bow Tie: cotton Brooks Brothers ($22.50)

Grand Total: $49.99