Bill Blass vintage glen plaid tweed sport coat | Talbott shirt and patchwork tie | Hilfiger chino | J. Crew pocket square | Allen Edmonds tassel shoe

Brooks Brothers shawl cardigan | CB buffalo flannel | Talbott tie | Hilfiger chino | Johnston & Murphy boot

Polo gingham shirt and chino | Brooks Brothers cashmere sweater | Talbott patchwork foulard tie | Merona sunglasses | Lands' End sock | Polo shoe

CKCloseup: Robert Talbott vintage shantung raw silk tie

Polo striped oxford | Merona slub crewneck | Talbott duck motif tie | Brooks Brothers chino | Ray-Ban Clubmaster sunglasses | Rancourt suede boot

Today's Outfit

Stafford windowpane sport coat

Polo oxford

Talbott paisley tie

Vintage silk square

Just in from eBay - Patchwork

Yep. I bought another one of these horrid ties. I hate that I love 'em so.

Today at the Thrift - Four Ties

Today's Outfit - Simple and Shantung

When you're wearing a tie this bold, it's best to keep the rest simple. Aside from a complimentary pocket square, a solid blazer, shirt and trousers maintain a rather traditional combination.

Burberry navy blazer

Polo Ralph Lauren poplin shirt

Robert Talbott shantung silk tie

Vintage Japanese silk pocket square

Polo Ralph Lauren green chino

Merona navy socks

Chaps white bucks

Today's (Sort of) Outfit - For the Birds

Another highly-textured outfit today, built almost entirely with pieces from thrift shops. The orange and gold of the jacket comes out when paired with the burnt orange tie. The green pocket square pops when playing off the green stripe of the tie as well as the bird embroidery of the trousers. Below this, similar tones continue with burnt orange socks and chestnut shoes.

Polo Ralph Lauren poplin shirt

Robert Talbott silk/wool tie

Samuelsohn sport coat

Vintage silk pocket square

Orvis embroidered corduroy trouser

Lands' End burnt orange socks

Allen Edmonds Sanford chestnut captoe brogues

Today's (Sort of) Outfit - Combining My Latest

A combination of rather neutral colors blend together in today's outfit, centered around my new Talbott tie. The weave of the sport coat almost appears as solid from a distance, making the paisley pocket square stand out in contrast to the relatively bright tattersall tie. This is all grounded up top with a simple, white shirt. Below, my snuff-colored cords draw coordination with the warmth of the tie and below that, though not pictured, are standard argyles and longwings.

Polo Ralph Lauren poplin shirt

Robert Talbott woven silk tie

H. Freeman Bespoke sport coat

Vintage Italian silk pocket square

Polo Ralph Lauren snuff corduroy trouser

Merona navy/brown argyle socks

Florsheim Imperial chocolate longwing brogues

Just in from eBay - Talbott Ties

 Slubbed twill silk/wool from Italy - $7.50

Tattersall woven silk from Italy - $7.50

Both ties feature incredible texture which pair well with heavy jackets and shirts. I might have to try these out with the jackets from my latest thrift haul.

Just in from eBay - Talbott Paisley Tie

Wool and Windowpane

Polo Ralph Lauren yellow oxford
Robert Talbott repp foulard tie
Polo Ralph Lauren cardigan

(not pictured:)
Polo Ralph Lauren navy chino
Allen Edmonds brown tassel loafer


More than an entire year I waited to buy this cardigan as it made its way from $445 to $222.50 to $111.25 at a local menswear shop. At last, I pulled the trigger when I received an extra 30% off the final price.

Is $77.88 a lot to spend on a cardigan? Yes. For an avid thrifter and eBay shopper, that's a lot to spend on anything. Yet, the value of something like this goes beyond original price and the amount I saved. With a soft wool outer shell and pima cotton inner shell, this cardigan is incredibly well made. The lightweight wool makes for three-season use, while the very presence and styling of the cardigan serves as an acceptable substitute for blazers in not-so-formal occasions.

It make have taken a year, but my patience paid off and I couldn't be happier.

Latest Acquisitions

Polo Ralph Lauren

very vintage raw silk

Robert Talbott

repp silk patchwork

Just in from eBay

Two in from the 'Bay. Robert Talbott repp patchwork and Lands' End (Indian bleeding) madras. $20.

Madrasity

First time breaking out the patchwork madras this year.

Polo Ralph Lauren blazer, shirt and vest; Robert Talbott patchwork repp tie

Oak Hill tan linen trouser, Chaps white bucks (not pictured)

Feeling Green and Pink Again

Linen from Ralphie and raw silk from Robbie. $12 on eBay.

A Tale of Two Ties

So, you can't decide whether to go with a paisley tie or a foulard tie, huh? 

How about both?

Together. 

In one tie.

Who says patchwork has to be confined to madras?