Hickey Freeman herringbone sport coat | Polo rugby and sock | Hilfiger chino | Drake's foulard scarf | Vasque alpine boot

Polo gingham shirt and chino | Rugby shawl sweater | Liberty of London wool plaid tie | Vasque alpine boot

CKCloseup: Polo plaid shirt and linen tie | J. Crew rugby

Polo plaid shirt and linen tie | J. Crew striped rugby | Hilfiger chino | AE marled sock | Allen Edmonds Grayson shoe

Polo oxford and rugby | Levi's 501 denim | Pantherella socks | Polo nubuck Ranger boots

Before Ralphie's Rugby...

... existed Rugby Sportswear, plentiful with plaid polyester.

Today at the Thrift - Prepped Up

Vineyard Vines quarter-zip cotton pullover, perfect for the gym

Polo Ralph Lauren heavyweight pieced-cotton rugby, perfect for rugby 

Brooks Brothers dress shirt, perfect for pretty much everything else

Wish List - Rugby Shetlands

It may not be the gold standard J. Press shaggy dog, but Rugby's offering a great deal on shaggy shetlands right now. Entering code 4FAMILY will get you an extra 30% off the already reduced price of $69.99. Also of note are previously marked down belts, wallets and other accessories.

Wish List - Rugby Outerwear

Who says outerwear has to be boring? 

Also, who says outerwear has to cost $448 and $248? Damn.

I Love Football, But...

Collegiate Cool

Once in awhile, Rugby puts out some pieces that don't bear ridiculous faux-insignia. These pieces actually tend to be quite nice, like the shawl cardigan seen here. Though not yet available on Rugby.com, I would assume this to be Shetland wool, much like the shaggy Shetlands Rugby has offered the past few years. While I will certainly be putting this sweater on my Christmas wish list, I really like (almost) the entire outfit.

Though a jacket is pictured hanging from the duffle, a substantial cardigan offers an excellent substitute for casual occasions. The orange-red chinos compliment the yellow nicely and offer the outfit a pop of color not found in the subtle yellow. I would simply switch out the ball cap for a driving cap and, of course, roll down the pant legs.

It may only be the start of August, but I'm warming up (or would it be cooling down?) for my winter wardrobe.




What's your take on the cardigan?

Shades of Rugby

I believe there's not a more quintessential piece of classic sportswear than the rugby (aside from its sartorial cousin, the polo). These days, most rugby teams don skintight synthetics, but nothing compares to the real thing. A well-constructed rugby will last decades, with sturdy cotton twill that can really take a beating. Whether working around the house or working your way from a scrum, you should not be without a few, in classic rugby stripes like those shown above. Barbarian Rugby is perhaps the finest choice for authentic pieces, and Canterbury of New Zealand is great as well. The Polo rugby has always offered the perfect fit for me - trim cut, good sleeve length, and excellent durability. I've taken several through scrimmages, and they've held up as well as my Barbarian hand-me-downs. 

Polo puts out a number of basics each season (aside from the Big Pony monstrosities), which can be picked up around $30-$40 on clearance. Stocking up for summer, I snagged the rugby shirts pictured at a Macy's sale for $24. For an even better deal, hit up your local thrift shop or eBay. On eBay, you'll find vintage pieces from brands such as Barbarian, Lands' End, Umbro, and Izod for practically nothing.

Go in for a scrum, chum.

Wish List

Rugby Plaid Pea Coat.

Rugby Stoplight

Long-sleeve sport shirts are perfectly acceptable in summer, so why not long-sleeve rugbys? I'm not talking about the heavy twill variety, the ones used for actual rugby matches. Lightweight cotton jersey works on warm days, as long as you don't over-do it with your under-shirt. Stick to a simple tee, avoid even a polo for layering as extra heat will build, especially around your neck. Next, roll up your sleeves and lastly, never pop your collar unless evading some overbearing sunlight.

Enjoy the visual stoplight of some favorite jersey rugbys.

Happy Independence Day! I'll have an actual July 4th post up in the next day or two.

Rugby Revisited

After receiving some excellent comments on my Rugby All Around post, I went searching for local rugby photos. The result was an uncovering of old rugby clubs from across the state, with rather impressive photos from the 70's and 80's.

The last photo? No idea. More rugby to come.

Rugby All Around

Rugby, rugby everywhere and not a scrum to play. Sure, I haven't played the game for a couple years but I'll always wear the shirt.

I bought my first set of Polo rugbys about four years back and my collection has grown quite a bit since that time. My latest five acquisitions, pictured here, were all clearance deals found last week at Macy's.



From yard work to hiking, lacrosse to rugby, I find vast use for these things. Yes, I'm proud to say my old club rugby team wore the true stuff, not those collarless scraps of polyester. My less beat-up pieces stay in rotation with button-downs and jeans on cool days, while in summer heat I opt to pair with tees and equally worn-in shorts.



I suggest checking out Polo's basic rugbys - excellent quality and reasonably priced during the occasional sale, or Barbarian rugbys - makers of incredible classic rugbys as well as all sorts of professional gear.

Rugby Personal Preview

Right now Polo and Rugby are offering 25% off purchases with 10% of each purchase going to United Way Japan relief efforts. Never having enough shawl collar sweaters and wanting to help out a bit, I ordered these.

Even on clearance and with discounts, I've never spent so much on two sweaters (around $150 total), but I have high hopes these will live up to my other thickly-knit Polo sweaters which are pretty much indestructible.

The first piece is a 70% cotton / 30% cashmere jersey knit, with rack-stitching around the cuffs and nice contrast stripes.  The second is a flat-knit cotton with rope-and-toggle closure in Nantucket red and contrast stripes. They both certainly look great, but I'll have them in my hands in a couple days and will follow up with feedback and photos.



Until then, I'll be loading up on NHL playoff games as bearded and toothless gents vie for the Cup. Let's do it again, fellas.

Shetland Sweaters

We all know of the great Shaggy Dog Shetland sweaters made by J. Press, as well as huge variety made by O'Connell's. However, I don't have that sort of budget and am simply not a fan such heavy sweaters. Sure, I have plenty of sweaters but only around ten percent of them are wool. The rest are cotton, linen, and/or silk.


Rugby's currently offering a set of Shetland sweaters in a couple basic colors as well as the more vibrant ones I've shown here. First, the bad. These are marketed as Shetland sweaters, but who knows where they were actually made? If lucky, the wool is real Shetland wool but probably knitted in China.


The good. The leather elbow patches and shaggy feel (like J. Press) are pretty nice. The fit is rather trim compared to the other two brands (if you like that sort of thing). If you don't mind country of origin, the last thing to really consider is price. These are currently on sale $69.99, around half the price of J. Press or O'Connell's. While those might be worth the long term investment, these Rugby sweaters might last just as long for the first time Shetland buyer, especially given the elbow patches (which would receive the most wear).


Of course, if you're looking for a true deal then I suggest the land of eBay. Happy holidays!

Rugby Pieced Tartan

Several posts back, I found myself showing off Polo's pieced tartan shirt for boys. Now the big boys get to own one by Rugby. I generally like the combination here except for the pocket which sticks out horribly.


I even think the tattersall collar is a nice touch.


Not a bad view from the back. But still, that pocket just ruins it for me.


Would you wear this thing?

Rugby Tartan

While I'm in favor of bold and bright colors through summer, I tend to like more subtle touches in my winter wardrobe. These basic tartan shirts have one detail I just love - the collars. Sure, a totally superfluous addition, but something to appreciate that will earn a second glance.

In other news, thanks to MisterMidwester and his StyleShare. I'll have photos of my newly acquired ties soon, and I'll also be posting my own items to give away.