Last weekend was the Pop-Up Flea show, which has grown considerably. While mostly populated (yes, still) with a kind of hipster/workwear/urban lumberjack vibe, there were a few tradly items worth sharing.
First up is Bills Khakis, which was showing the tartan toggle coat above, as well as the quilted jacket below, which I believe is in waxed cotton:
There were some fine shoes from Rancourt & Co., including these handsome bit loafers:
These buckle loafers:
And full-straps:
Oak Street Bootmakers had these contrast-stitch loafers:
Harvard alum Alexander Olch had a selection of wool belts:
Multiple booths had striped watchbands:
And finally, one of the salesmen from Individualized Apparel Group was sporting this lovely jacket for the closet that has everything. A lovely navy herringbone with a nice shoulder and swelled edges:
… and then the surprises come, such as bellowed patch pockets:
… and a belt in the back:
Prices for made-to-measure from IAG were surprisingly affordable; I believe I was quoted something like starting at $600 for a sportcoat, and made right here in the US. — CC
I believe it’s an American take on the Norfolk jacket; the bellows pockets are designed for cartridges, though more suitable for rough shooting than for driven game.
I recently read an interview with Olch (in the WSJ or Esquire or something – I can’t find the link to it online). In it, he emphasized how his ties are meant for men who “choose” to wear ties, for men who want to incorporate a necktie as an element of style. For some reason this bothered me – as someone who wears ties out of necessity for work, I don’t like a tiemaker to explicitly link his product to men playing dress-up.
I get that it is required for your work, but some of us like to wear neck ties out of choice as well as necessity. It’s a bit derogatory to suggest that choosing to wear a makes it “men playing dress-up.”
Ha! I bought two things there: a striped watchband and a pair of Rancourts (chukkas, nothing you pictured).
Wear a tie*
PindotsandGrenadine – understood. I think I was just turned off that he mentioned how his company makes ties for a specific segment of the population. It was almost like, “There are guys who wear ties for work, but I’m not making anything for them, I want to focus on these other customers.” Why self-select your audience like that? Can’t he just make ties for everyone? It made me not want to buy one of his ties, because he doesn’t see me as his demographic.
Austin, I see what you are saying, and I agree with you on that point. My misunderstanding.
Love the jacket. It is perfect for this time of year.
The jacket reminds me of one I got in 1969. That jacket had a patch chest pocket, patch and flap hip pockets, brass buttons, basically looked like a normal navy blazer from the front.
In the back it was belted, center hook vent and had bi-swing pleats. It was very heavy wool hop-sack. Great jacket for a jock.
I also remember bellows hip pockets sans the center pleats on some great heavy tweed jackets from the 70s.
I too have a jacket with bellows hip pockets and a bi-swing back, but no belt. It’s a very heavy Harris Tweed in brown herringbone, flecked with blues, greens, gold, rust, etc. and has a 3/2 roll and center vent (straight, not hook). I feel a bit self-conscious wearing it without carrying my shotgun and a brace of pheasants, but it is too nice to leave in the closet. It was on sale for something like 75% off the original price at an Orvis store about 8 or 10 years ago, and I have never seen another one at any Orvis shop I have been in. Like a 25-year-old houndstooth tweed I bought at Brooks, the outer fabric will never wear out. I wonder if Brooks would re-line my old tweed. The lining is in tatters, but it is otherwise perfect and I still wear the thing at least once a week in winter.