then I wear them 6 more months
― he said that you son of a bitch (Neanderthal), Thursday, 11 February 2021 23:09 (three years ago) link
Thanks woof. It seems unlikely that a product available in XXXL is, um, usual sizing.
― djh, Thursday, 11 February 2021 23:37 (three years ago) link
Learn to sew is good. But probably takes both time and space to do though. But great skill to have if you get the option
Can help create garments you can't otherwise find.
― Stevolende, Friday, 12 February 2021 05:32 (three years ago) link
I buy Old Navy jeans when they're on sale, and just pick up t-shirts and hoodies along the way when needed from various places. On the rarer occasion that I need shirts with buttons, I usually go to Burlington.
― Johnny Fever, Friday, 12 February 2021 05:43 (three years ago) link
I over thought the whole sizing thing to the point of missing out on the size I needed but (UK-ers) there's some heavily discounted Vetra stuff, here:
https://www.northern-fells.com/collections/sale/products/vetra-5c-short-dungaree-wash-cotton-twill-work-jacket-jade?variant=31668891680817
― djh, Friday, 12 February 2021 13:58 (three years ago) link
Those shoulders on that shirt look kind of narrow. I find workwear to be a bit of a crap shoot regarding sizing. I have to wear shoes with steel toecaps at work and different brands can vary drastically between oversized and undersized. My current pair are by Arco and are a UK 10 because they don't do half sizes and I wear a 9 1/2 usually. But when they were delivered it turned out Arco are on the oversized end of the scale. So it's like walking around in steel toecapped clown shoes. I've got used to them now but the first couple of days I was accidentally toepunting stuff.
― Being cheap is expensive (snoball), Friday, 12 February 2021 14:09 (three years ago) link
Also add to that "is it going to be too big or too small" category: boilersuits/overalls and hi-vis vets in XL that are too small to fit over a L sized lightweight rain jacket.
― Being cheap is expensive (snoball), Friday, 12 February 2021 14:16 (three years ago) link
hi-vis vests
hi-vis vets sounds like James Herriott joined the Blue Man Group.
― Being cheap is expensive (snoball), Friday, 12 February 2021 14:17 (three years ago) link
i bought two pairs of speedos for the beach.
― 《Myst1kOblivi0n》 (jim in vancouver), Tuesday, 6 July 2021 17:49 (two years ago) link
I think I mentioned this on another thread but I had good luck recently with Marine Layer short sleeve button shirts (one hemp and one sort of lineny cotton). They are targeted to my demographic (exurban dads who don't want to completely let go of pathetic attempts to be "cool" but also get that it's a bit pathetic and don't want to try too hard), they fit well, they're well made.
― longtime caller, first time listener (man alive), Tuesday, 6 July 2021 21:18 (two years ago) link
dads of instagram
― Tracer Hand, Tuesday, 6 July 2021 21:44 (two years ago) link
A sixteen year old has asked for "a cool t-shirt" for Xmas. I know it's subjective and what they think of as cool is going to change the answer but ... any hints?
― djh, Saturday, 30 October 2021 09:37 (two years ago) link
they're kind of dumb, but I like these:
https://i.pinimg.com/474x/1c/18/2c/1c182c80c8b51fedbd46f706dde02b66.jpg
― joni mitchell jarre (anagram), Saturday, 30 October 2021 11:28 (two years ago) link
I got an ad for some goodlooking band and music tshirts on FB, but I haven't seen what teh actual shirts look like or if tehy are actually more real than images on a web[age. But god, they have some nice ones if they are legit.https://www.cuptees.com/collections/3d-full-print-msd-collection/products/msd-bitches-brew-all-over-shirthttps://www.cuptees.com/collections/3d-full-print-trc-collection/products/trc-mr-fantasy-all-over-shirthttps://www.cuptees.com/collections/3d-full-print-rch-collection/products/rch-hallellujah-i-love-her-so-all-over-shirthttps://www.cuptees.com/collections/3d-full-print-tas-collection/products/tas-animalism-all-over-shirthttps://www.cuptees.com/collections/3d-full-print-xds-collection/products/xds-the-slider-all-over-shirthttps://www.cuptees.com/collections/3d-full-print-jea-collection/products/jea-after-bathing-at-baxter-s-all-over-shirtare a few of them, each band represented there has possibly another 5 or 10 designs on the site. & if they're not real would be a good idea to duplicate what the image suggests as a real shirt.
― Stevolende, Saturday, 30 October 2021 13:01 (two years ago) link
https://image.uniqlo.com/UQ/ST3/us/imagesgoods/428166/item/usgoods_00_428166.jpg
― missingNO, Saturday, 30 October 2021 13:19 (two years ago) link
Where would you buy a suit that wasn't for a wedding/christening/funeral? (UK)
― djh, Tuesday, 19 March 2024 19:42 (two months ago) link
Also, strangely panicked that Old Town is closing.
― djh, Tuesday, 19 March 2024 19:44 (two months ago) link
Isn't a suit that you'd wear to a wedding/christening/funeral just the same as any other suit?
― lord of the rongs (anagram), Tuesday, 19 March 2024 19:56 (two months ago) link
Funny, I just saw some recommendations somewhere else. Something called Suitsupply, something called Indochino, something called Nicholas Joseph, and something called Balani. Dunno what the prices are, or where these places are located. I saw other people suggest (dunno how seriously) that if you want a nice suit, it could weirdly be cheaper to fly to Vietnam or Thailand and get something custom there.
― Josh in Chicago, Tuesday, 19 March 2024 20:17 (two months ago) link
You don't need to do that. There are tailors based in Singapore and Hong Kong who travel around the West for business. You meet them, they show you their samples & take your measurements. They go home, make you your suit and mail it to you. You get a made-to-measure suit for the price of an off-the-peg one.
― lord of the rongs (anagram), Tuesday, 19 March 2024 22:25 (two months ago) link
Where do you find theseNomadic tailors
― I? not I! He! He! HIM! (akm), Wednesday, 20 March 2024 02:43 (two months ago) link
There's lots of them, search Hong Kong trunk shows.
― lord of the rongs (anagram), Wednesday, 20 March 2024 04:47 (two months ago) link
― Fizzles, Wednesday, 20 March 2024 05:45 (two months ago) link
so it looks like they’re closing their shop and just taking orders from existing customers? (and reducing their range).
― Fizzles, Wednesday, 20 March 2024 07:12 (two months ago) link
There's currently a waiting list to *place an order*, distinct from the wait for the clothes to be made.
My understanding was that they're retiring at the end of the year though that may have changed?
― djh, Wednesday, 20 March 2024 07:35 (two months ago) link
no, i think you’re right on further googling :(
― Fizzles, Wednesday, 20 March 2024 07:40 (two months ago) link
They have been saying for a while that they've struggled to find staff locally.
― fetter, Wednesday, 20 March 2024 08:11 (two months ago) link
Oh, I'd missed that bit. I'd had a weird hope that someone might be able to throw some money that way to keep *local staff* employed still. Well, when I say someone, I was thinking Celebrity Old Town Wearer Monty Don.
― djh, Wednesday, 20 March 2024 08:14 (two months ago) link
Reframed question: where would be your second favourite place for buying a suit in the UK be after Old Town?
― djh, Thursday, 28 March 2024 22:20 (two months ago) link
Drakes, if I could afford it.
― fetter, Thursday, 28 March 2024 22:29 (two months ago) link
That's a good shout.
Caveat - I am out of the game - it's 8 years since I thought hard about suits and casual investigation lately has made me feel like prices at off-row tailors like Chris Kerr have got a bit too much for my cost-of-living and deterred me from digging deeper.
That said
At Drake's prices for coat and trousers I'd think about a travelling tailor as mentioned earlier, one of the MTM tweed companies that cut overseas like tweed addict or stepping up to sort-of-bespoke at Cad and the Dandy or made to measure at Gieves or another row tailor. Choosing your cloth does make the suit feel yours.
Off the peg, something like Paul Smith & take it to an alteration tailor.
For that agricultural old town feeling… I dunno, it feels like putting together matching separates - could you do that with Vetra or someone?
tho can you say a bit more - what's it for, what kind of cloth/cut are you picturing & what's your budget?
― woof, Thursday, 28 March 2024 23:05 (two months ago) link
Mix and match at carrier company?
― woof, Thursday, 28 March 2024 23:09 (two months ago) link
They do suits
https://www.carriercompany.co.uk/products/boiler-suit
― woof, Thursday, 28 March 2024 23:10 (two months ago) link
This might be obvious but I also would not fuck around with things that look great online, not with a suit.
― woof, Thursday, 28 March 2024 23:20 (two months ago) link
Well, I've only worn Old Town trousers for about half a decade, maybe longer.
Quite often wear one of their jackets, too.
I'd always meant to save up and get a suit from there in something other than Stout Twill but the moment has gone (I've put weight on and would need to go in to the shop rather than buying the same as).
Not exactly sure what I'm after which doesn't help. Possibly something for sitting drinking red wine and listening to Tindersticks.
Did try trousers from Yarmourth Oilskins but they didn't feel right. Carrier Company might be a decent shout.
― djh, Friday, 29 March 2024 10:31 (two months ago) link
I got some North Coast black jeans very cheap/new-with-label off e-bay, had never heard of the brand before and found out they are a Marks & Spencer own brand. The fabric is so comfortable and a hard wearing kind of stretchy relaxed fit which is ideal for a lanky fat bastard like myself for both lounging about in and walking through mud.
― vodkaitamin effrtvescent (calzino), Friday, 29 March 2024 10:53 (two months ago) link
M&S always used to have an unusually good rep for suits - like best high street option, know what they're doing - & these things change but I'd look round at least. Probably a bit work tho.
Cos's current cuts and fabrics might work.
Tindersticks being fitted at Timothy Everest's on the 2nd album cover. God, if only.
― woof, Friday, 29 March 2024 11:14 (two months ago) link
My wedding/funeral suit is actually from the "Timothy Everest at Marks & Spencer's" collection!
― djh, Friday, 29 March 2024 11:19 (two months ago) link
i am still fond of Slaters which is probably because i'm the basicest
― Bitchin Doutai (Noodle Vague), Friday, 29 March 2024 11:20 (two months ago) link
― Fizzles, Friday, 29 March 2024 12:22 (two months ago) link
tbh agree on Drake's - despite thinking various things look great and haunting sales I've never actually bought anything except a tie (for my wedding so an important tie tbf)
Cannot help on the other points so useless paras coming up
For alterations used to like London Fashion Workrooms in Holborn, but they've closed apparently. I'm just googling too but if I throw styleforum or askandy into the search then maybe K.S. Tailoring Services, Hidalgo Brothers or Pinnas and Needles look legit (but potentially steep prices). Someone is saying 'fake reviews' about alterations boutique, so idk investigate.
Trousers, always an issue.
Now in the same boat as the rest of ILX UK menswear - Old Town had lured me into thinking this was at base a solved problem, that I had a default, but no, I have to start thinking.
I haven't really needed new work/nice trousers since the pandemic - I've mostly been in workwear because I'm still fully WFH and walking a dog 2+ hours a day, so I'm in Stan Ray 80s painter pants or Saucezhan fatigues or Carhartt twill most of the time.
I always have my Old Towns to fall back on, but I don't know what I'd do for something in that bracket now. My other good trousers are a mess of random buys picked up on sale - Ede and Ravenscroft baggy tweed, Mr P. grey flannel - so finding something right just feels like it's with the gods.
― woof, Friday, 29 March 2024 16:53 (two months ago) link
I do recommend the Stan Rays as a trouser that's decently made and more versatile than it looks - depends on the material but the khaki duck is excellent ime.
― woof, Friday, 29 March 2024 17:00 (two months ago) link
'a trouser' lol look who's writing for Vogue.
thx for tailoring info. on tweed i went into stewart christie in edinburgh over christmas and it was a delight. beautiful pieces all being made for v wealthy people in texas who only get to wear them when they come over to scotland for their “gathering of the clan” etc. also a gorgeous woman’s riding coat being made for someone in california.
― Fizzles, Friday, 29 March 2024 20:03 (two months ago) link
it wasn’t outrageously expensive tho for anyone who a) fancies a visit to edinburgh and b) would like a well made tweed garment.
― Fizzles, Friday, 29 March 2024 20:05 (two months ago) link
useful on alterations boutique. something about it smelled off to me. partly why i was asking.
“something” = intensely dodgy “high end vibes in a web UI” lol.
― Fizzles, Friday, 29 March 2024 20:18 (two months ago) link
Ordered two different trousers and a three button jacket from Carrier Company and they just don't work for me. Shame.
― djh, Thursday, 4 April 2024 18:42 (two months ago) link
went to pinnas and needles for my alterations. long waitlist but the experience of going to an anonymous door in soho, ringing the buzzer, going up the classic soho interior stairs to the clutter of the studio is great. as was whichever brother it was that i met. they were more expensive than some other services but not overly much. queuing for my trousers on the stairs and chatting with a bunch of other people with various clothing concerns and considerations.
plus and most importantly:
https://imgur.com/a/eJMgn6V
― Fizzles, Friday, 26 April 2024 16:55 (one month ago) link