Today's Outfit - Tuesday Orange

Polo semi-spread poplin shirt

Polo silk crewneck sweater

American Living paisley repp silk tie

Polo chinos

Lands' End cotton socks

Allen Edmonds tassel loafers

Today's Outfit - Fair Isle for Fall

Polo oxford - Macy's, $20

Polo fair isle cashmere sweater - $40, eBay

*Countess Mara vintage solid silk tie - thrift shop, $1

Polo slub twill chino - ralphlauren.com, $42

(not pictured) Club Room yellow socks - Macy's - $3

J. Crew vintage saddles - thrift shop, $2.49

*This tie was originally sold at Schwabe-May, a legendary menswear store in Charleston which, quite sadly, closed in the last decade. The finest menswear could be found here - suits from Oxxford and Hickey Freeman, fabrics from Loro Piana and Holland & Sherry.

Today's Outfit - New Cardigan

Polo green/white oxford - eBay, $15

*Merona cotton cardigan - Target, $25

Polo repp silk paisley - ebay, $7

Vintage linen/cotton trouser - thrift shop, $3

Cabot & Sons thick cotton socks, made in Vermont - Marshall's, $2.50 ($5 for two-pack)

**Allen Edmonds Park Avenue - thrift shop, $1

*This cardigan comes from the latest Merona line. It's lightweight yet warm and very well made for such a low price. Also, there's much more depth to the cardigan's colors than is visible in this photo.

**I would generally reserve brown cap-toe shoes for business, but having bought these so beat up, they're perfect for everyday wear.

Today's Outfit - Thursday Blues

Polo pima cotton sweater - eBay, $16

Polo broadcloth shirt - Macy's, $19

Polo tie - eBay, $6

Vintage worsted wool gabardine trouser - thrift shop, $3

River Island striped cotton socks - $3 (out of $15 five-pack)

Florsheim vintage Custom Grade shortwings - thrift shop, $1

Today's Outfit

Polo tartan oxford shirt - Belk, $23

Polo cotton/cashmere cricket sweater - eBay, $30

Countess Mara bow tie - Marshall's, $8

Polo slub twill chino - ralphlauren.com, $42

Smart Turnout Argyll and Sutherland socks - courtesy of Smart Turnout

Chaps bucks - Kohl's, $12

Today's Outfit

Shirt - Polo Ralph Lauren poplin - ralphlauren.com, $37

Sweater - Polo Ralph Lauren silk v-neck - eBay, $20

Tie - Polo Ralph Lauren repp stripe - eBay, $15

Trouser - vintage cotton/linen - thrift shop, $3

Socks - North Country marled cotton - Marshall's, $4 (two-pack)

Shoes - H. S. Trask bison loafers - thrift shop, $1

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.

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)

Easter Sunday and Eton Socks

On Easter Sunday - Orthodox, Protestant or otherwise - the motto is go loud or go home. To some, including myself, this marks the first day of the year to break out the full spring/summer wardrobe. This time around, I was fortunate to have my new Smart Turnout socks with me.

Polo Ralph Lauren bleeding madras blazer

Polo Ralph Lauren super 120s poplin shirt

Countess Mara repp silk bow tie

Club Room arygle sweater vest

Oak Hill Nantucket red chinos

Smart Turnout Eton socks

Chaps white oxfords

...

Based on a comment received, I should clarify. I would never wear all this together any other day. I'm neither that preppy nor dandy.

From Bangkok to Hong Kong

The most boring clothing at a thrift shop might present the most interesting label.

Want Raja to send you another of his custom shirts? No problem. Just drop an email or swing back around. You'll never forget his address because it's right there on the label!

And you thought NYSE meant New York Stock Exchange? Clever. Given that so much of America's wealth is handled overseas, it should come as no surprise that this shirt sporting the words New York comes from the British Crown Colony of Hong Kong.

Cord Shirts

Corduroy pants? Yes. Corduroy jackets? Certainly. Corduroy sport shirts?

Not sure. What do you think?

Womenswear Inspiration

As I aid the development of my friend's womenswear collection, I look at bold and simple fashions such as these. I find it interesting how men's shirting details can become so stylishly feminine.