Uniqlo has a navy blazer out that was brought to my attention from Jakob in an email. You can check it out here. Jakob wrote:
To my admittedly novice eye for Ivy, it looks like this checks most of the boxes for the ideal Navy Blazer: sack-cut, undarted, swell stitching, patch pockets, and even brass buttons, distressed to a tastefully bronze patina.
Granted, it seems they’ve chickened out on details like the 3/2 button stance, and it all seems a waste on something 100% polyester anyway, but I think that the fact such a mainstream fashion brand would even consider all the minutiae they’ve chosen to add to such a recently-added garment either speaks volumes of the Japanese devotion for American style, the timelessness of trad clothing, or both.
Just to drive home the point of how strangely incongruous all this is, I’d like to point out that the said garment is offered in common alphabetical sizing (S,M,L,etc). Maybe UQ is trying to hook some untailored laymen out there on ivy style? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
I am going to do a book synopsis on each. I will credit him if he allows. I talked the other day about how P.J. O’Rourke was my fashion spirit animal, and how we even went back and forth a bit about it (he may have, ahem, been a reader here) BUT my vote for best dressed man of the last 50 years has to be G. Bruce Boyer. And he isn’t consistently Ivy, either. Which should tell us something about how to think about the Uniqlo blazer, if you are still struggling with my take on that.
On the Facebook Group, some people have started posting Orient Watches. I have no familiarity with them. Do you? They look good, and are very affordable, but that’s a double edged sword. Let me know if they are any good?
Seriously, the watch I am gonna show you later this week…
Finally, I got a boatload of emails asking to see a picture of the new dog. We put our old dog, an English American Coonhound named Cisco (after the beach) down after eight years with us. If I didn’t tell you the story: I used to volunteer at a shelter. When they were closing they called and asked me to go on local TV their last day and pitch adopting a dog. I agreed, and took The Package (my daughter – DO NOT write me about how she has an identity and that “the package” is a double entendre’ – because seriously, someone did) down to see the shelter with me. I thought it would be good for her to see good people doing good things. We went, and while I was live on camera she walked on with Cisco and asked in her 6 year old girl voice if we could, “take him home?”. He was so sorely missed that we went back to a new shelter and adopted Nugget. Here they are:
Orient make excellent-value entry-level mechanical watches (they also have a few quartz models that offer decent specs for the price). They are a subsidiary of the larger Seiko-Epson conglomerate, but operate somewhat independently from Seiko.
JB,
I was confused by your referring to the 3/2 button stance twice in the review, because it looks like a 2-button jacket to me. Have I misread what you wrote?
Let me go back quick. I don’t even know 🙂 – JB
Ok, so the first 3/2 was the reader who emailed, he was saying that they didn’t do a 3/2. The second 3/2 was mine, referring to the fact that I am ok that they didn’t do it, if as an entry level jacket this gets younger people into Ivy. – JB
Any always appropriate navy blazer is better than no always appropriate navy blazer
Yes, Orient watches are good for their price range. They are owned by the Seiko-Epson consortium. I have a couple and am happy with them.
In smaller sizes, the blue blazer might be a good deal for people who are now opting for private schools. Many schools operate an exchange “closet” for kids growing from grade to grade. Polyester should last awhile. The lining might have to be mended from time to time.
That’s an artsy pic of The Package and Nugget.
Sorry to hear about Cisco.
Agreed with Tom Conroy — Even imperfect navy blazers are better than no navy blazers. While polyester is a scourge of the garment industry and of the environment, I suppose it’s being put to a good use here.
And I do like the looks of those Timex Marlins.
I agree with the comments: the glass is at least half full. And, as Hardbopper points out, it could be just the thing for fast growing kids, who should have a a blazer in the closet for occasional wear, even if they don’t need it for a uniform.
Also, Nugget looks like a fine addition to the family.
I agree with you J.B. 100%. The turned up sleeves on a formal jacket are very Neapolitan sprezzatura.
Orient Defender, Seiko 5, and Swatch automatic were WSJ picks for best quality budget watches.
Like you, I used to volunteer at an animal shelter. Karma has been good to me.
GBB certainly is well-dressed, but he is not in the same league as Prince Charles or Mariano Rubinacci.
https://youtu.be/KzRANWgsy1A
Note the upturned sleeve cuffs.
I have two uniqlo blazers and they are the best. Unstructured and barely there (which is ideal in Florida).
Nitpicking, I know, but one problem with general sizing (S, M, L, and Supersize me!) is that items sized thusly fit very few people particularly well. That might work for ski pants with drawstring waists, but not for “tailored” apparel.
Kind Regards,
H-U
What is Mr. Boyer’s first name?
Cheers,
Will
G. – JB
JB –
Today it was 2:22:22 on 2/22/22, on a Tuesday, two times.
Wasn’t Monday the 21st supposed to be the beginning of Woman’s Ivy Day?
It was. We did. – JB
@Mitchell.
Bruce Boyer represents, for me, the epitome of combining the best of English country style and traditional American style in an original, but unobtrusive way. Prince Charles and Mariano Rubinacci are not my style idols.
“…my vote for best dressed man of the last 50 years has to be G. Bruce Boyer.”
Bruce would inform you, gently and with a smile, that this isn’t true. The answer to this question, from any Ivy perspective, is Norman Hilton. Ham Stockton is a close second.
If we extend the circle: Dean Acheson, Paul Mellon, and Josiah Bunting III.
Cheers.
Among public servants, there’s David Souter. The man–indeed, gentleman– had exquisite, old fashioned Anglo-American taste. Still wearing vested tweed suits, after all these years. Amen and Amen.
Further, he shed much-needed light on the significance of debate as a form of communal, and thus frequently messy, reasoning-and-discernment. An articulate rebuttal of ‘originalism.’ This one speech dismantled the philosophical foundations, already weak, of The Federalist Society and like-minded compatriots:
https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2010/05/text-of-justice-david-souters-speech/
I know what you are gonna say, but this is getting dangerously close to politics. But you are right, a tremendous dresser. Not Boyer, but tremendous. – JB
@Ted Grainger:
I didn’t say that Prince Charles and Mariano Rubinacci were my style idols. Personally, my style idol is Joseph Abboud.
One must give credit where credit is due. Prince Charles has won numerous accolades for “best-dressed.” Same with Signor Rubinacci and his son, Luca.
Finally, Joseph Abboud is the only menswear designer to have won the coveted CFDA award two times in a row.