CKCloseup: Countess Mara vintage raw silk tie

Wish List - Green Gingham Trousers

I'm not a Vineyard Vines guy, but dammit I love gingham. Green gingham. Green gingham in pant form.

Wish List - Allen Edmonds Neumok

Simply Mint

Mint heather lambswool, made in Italy. A worthwhile investment of $20 at Marshall's.

In the Details

Though not my size, the details in this chino make it one of my favorite thrift shop finds as of late.

Interior tartan waist lining.

Lightweight yet sturdy construction.

Rear tabs above the pockets.



If anyone's interested, email me and I'll provide the exact measurements.

Summer in September

Once again calling on family for inspiration, I assembled today's church outfit in honor of my uncle Philip. Though he wintered in Coral Gables and spent summers here in Charleston, he shared a single wardrobe with both locales. That wardrobe was one of impeccable fit, vibrant colors and preppy styling. Living somewhere it's always summer has its sartorial benefits. For my uncle Philip, this meant bespoke linen and silk jackets of spring green, coral and lavender, crisp white linen trousers and equally crisp, monogrammed pocket squares. And though I now own those jackets and trousers, today's outfit is influenced by Uncle Philip but is all my own, pocket square (accidentally) not included.

Blazer - Paul Fredrick (very) lightweight wool/cashmere blend - paulfredrick.com, $75

Shirt - vintage Polo 120s broadcloth - ralphlauren.com, $36

Tie - Ralph Lauren Purple Label - eBay, $16

Trouser - Polo cotton chino (as mentioned here) - ralphlauren.com, $52

Socks (not pictured) - Club Room light blue (matches blazer) - $1.50

*Shoes - Allen Emonds - eBay, $22

*These are my favorite shoes - the most comfortable, (nearly) most beat up, most patinated, most burnished shoes I own - and I wouldn't have them any other way.

Going Green

In honor of my newly acquired green chinos (which I'll discuss in an upcoming post), I thought I'd share a selection of my favorite green trousers of the past few years.

Autumn Essentials - Country Casual

Based on you're locale, it might not yet be time to break out the tweeds, cashmeres, and cords. However, it's never too early to start shopping for autumn weather and plan some future outfit ideas.

One of my favorite color combinations is purple and green. Pink and green (you know, that blinding all-too-preppy pink/green combo) is not for everyone, but purple and green together is much more wearable. Whether pairing a dusty purple heather and olive or something more like the saturated tones shown here, this color scheme is understated yet strong.

Speaking specifically of this outfit, the pants are horribly short, but given practical application, all the pieces of the outfit look great together. When putting together a look like this, here a few things to keep in mind. An otherwise solid (in color) look is made whimsical with embroidered cords. Sturdy-soled boots are more appropriate for inclement weather than loafers or brogues. An equally sturdy belt is proper here, for something that is inherently a country (therefore, casual) look. A sport coat in herringbone, Donegal or birdseye tweed adds great texture to the outfit.

To set this outfit with a tie, I recommend a v-neck sweater, not a crewneck. Otherwise, a crewneck in merino or cashmere can't be beat. A solid oxford is your safest shirt choice, though a simple tattersall would be another classic option.


Would you wear something like this? This outfit, exactly as is? What might you tweak?

Twerrific Tweed

 It might be a little late for tweed...

but sometimes the best deals come out-of-season. Six bucks from the 'Bay.