Spring/Summer 2014: Prepare For White Jeans & Chinos
March 7, 2014
Yesterday Brooks sent out an email blast of its spring catalog. Inside its pages I spied something that echoes our most recent post on GQ’s Nantucket photo shoot.
The common link is white jeans (and worn with sportcoats, no less). Here’s the catalog shot:
Last year I picked up a pair of off-white five pockets from the Stafford Prep collection. I liked the color, fit was great, and the price just right for something I wasn’t sure about. But I ended up wearing them often with sockless loafers and a navy polo shirt. Jeez, after this brutal winter, it’s hard to remember ever dressing that way.
White pants probably remind you of the famous photo of the super-cool 1964 Yalie with the blazer and shades, who is either wearing white chinos or extremely light khakis (they certainly look lighter than the ones on the guy walking towards the camera):
Same goes for this guy from “Take Ivy”:
So let’s put the vote to you guys:
[yop_poll id=”29″]
And finally, how did we ever miss this post from the leading men’s sewing blog, which asks whether Ivy is any good or not. There are 47 comments, in case you need another amusing distraction. — CC
( Funny comment from that sewing blog you linked to about ” Ivy Style, Yea or Nay ? ” : ” Ivy style inevitably endorses an ideology to which I say ‘ Nay’ !!! ” She doesn’t say what ideology she is referring to though.
Do and have already this year. Went to Florida two weeks ago and while the weather may have been rainy and in the upper 60’s, if I see a palm tree – the white jeans is on!
Off white yes, bright white no, to echo others. That last picture you posted is a nice reminder that moose knuckle isn’t such a modern phenomenon after all.
When people talk about the good fit of jeans and chinos, which are supposed to be casual pants, they usually mean that they hug the buttocks and package. When applied to a jacket, it usually means that it has a suppressed waist and is one size too small.
Not quite certain how to answer, as although I have never had any jeans of any sort (I am not a cowboy), I do have ivory flannel trousers, natural linen trousers, and white cotton twill trousers.
Speaking of Nantucket, there is a story about how “Nantucket Reds” came to be. Legend has it that Philip Murray, the owner of Murray’s Toggery Shop on the island of Nantucket, fell into a cranberry bog that stained his stone-colored chinos. His son, Philip C. Murray named the pinkish-red pants “Nantucket Reds” and trademarked the name.
The original 60s versions (Levi’s Sta Prest and its imitators) are cotton/poly twill with a perma-crease. It’s a lighter, cleaner look than regular heavy cotton 501-type jeans, and it matches better with a slim sport coat or windbreaker.
I’ll vote for white chinos. In a summer weight cotton. LL Bean had a nice pair last year. The best summer choice with a feather weight navy blazer. I have been wearing them for as long as I can remember. The dress uniform for a New England summer.
Tomorrow afternoon I’ll be attending, with my wife, a garden party wearing white Levis 501s, a blue and red web belt, a Brooks OCBD, and my Books summer weight navy blazer with my UVA brass buttons. Classicly American.
White dress flannel and linen trous standard fare for gentleman living well as the best revenge.
Off white – I already do
Bright white – absolutely never
( Funny comment from that sewing blog you linked to about ” Ivy Style, Yea or Nay ? ” : ” Ivy style inevitably endorses an ideology to which I say ‘ Nay’ !!! ” She doesn’t say what ideology she is referring to though.
Do and have already this year. Went to Florida two weeks ago and while the weather may have been rainy and in the upper 60’s, if I see a palm tree – the white jeans is on!
Off white yes, bright white no, to echo others. That last picture you posted is a nice reminder that moose knuckle isn’t such a modern phenomenon after all.
Got white 501s , chinos and linens.
Did you see this?
http://www.brooksbrothers.com/Five-Pocket-Pants/MR00313,default,pd.html?dwvar_MR00313_Color=RED&contentpos=1&cgid=0220
Were those pants spray-painted on the model?
White jeans and white chinos such as white ducks are two different animals
When people talk about the good fit of jeans and chinos, which are supposed to be casual pants, they usually mean that they hug the buttocks and package. When applied to a jacket, it usually means that it has a suppressed waist and is one size too small.
@Straight Arrow
There’s a difference between good fit and being an exhibitionist.
The truth is that if your trousers fit you don’t need a belt or braces to keep them up.
Not quite certain how to answer, as although I have never had any jeans of any sort (I am not a cowboy), I do have ivory flannel trousers, natural linen trousers, and white cotton twill trousers.
Speaking of Nantucket, there is a story about how “Nantucket Reds” came to be. Legend has it that Philip Murray, the owner of Murray’s Toggery Shop on the island of Nantucket, fell into a cranberry bog that stained his stone-colored chinos. His son, Philip C. Murray named the pinkish-red pants “Nantucket Reds” and trademarked the name.
The real story:
http://www.gilt.com/giltmanual/2011/06/know-your-terms-nantucket-reds/
@MAC is right about jeans, but wrong about trousers, which really do hang better from the shoulder etc., etc..
P.S. See also ‘The Sloane Ranger Handbook’ which states that a man’s trousers ‘should be cut well clear of anything tedious’…
How’s about white dress “poplins”, a navy blazer, burgundy weejuns, navy ribbon belt, and a blue/white stripped buttondown!
Can you say classic???
One more thing, leave out the socks!
The original 60s versions (Levi’s Sta Prest and its imitators) are cotton/poly twill with a perma-crease. It’s a lighter, cleaner look than regular heavy cotton 501-type jeans, and it matches better with a slim sport coat or windbreaker.
I’ll vote for white chinos. In a summer weight cotton. LL Bean had a nice pair last year. The best summer choice with a feather weight navy blazer. I have been wearing them for as long as I can remember. The dress uniform for a New England summer.
Tomorrow afternoon I’ll be attending, with my wife, a garden party wearing white Levis 501s, a blue and red web belt, a Brooks OCBD, and my Books summer weight navy blazer with my UVA brass buttons. Classicly American.