[Vecchio Vespa]

I noted that in 2006 there was a favorite outfit thread with no action since. The categories were rather rigorous. A lot has changed in the ensuing years. So my question is what are your favorite warm weather and cool weather outfits, both involving ties and not.

In hot weather if I’m wearing a tie I find a seersucker suit, a white OCBD, a repp tie, a very dark brown CXL belt (because I don’t have a shell belt), tassels in #8, and merino Pantherellas in navy hard to beat. Watch is a thin Chopard with Roman numerals and a lizard strap. If things are totally casual I’m going with pink twill Bermudas, Sperry Gold Cups, a navy surcingle belt, a white Orvis polo, a cheap white gimme cap, P3 tortoise shades, and, if a watch is required, a very basic fifty year old stainless Rolex with a navy and white striped nylon band.

If it ever gets cold again (I hope so) I’m looking forward to Oxford grey flannels, the same tassels, a navy surcingle belt, a rust madder neat, a blue OCBD, a black and white herringbone jacket, and warm navy socks, maybe cashmere. For casual I’m thinking of heavy dark green cords, a yellow surcingle, the same Sperrys, an old, soft chambray work shirt, and a medium grey Shetland.

If I ever again wear navy pinstripes or black shoes (other than with black tie) it is because I’ve lost family or friend.

 

[Peak and Pine]

In order for me to post anything here I'd have to come up with something to envy or emulate, which I can't do under the confines of the thread's title. Curious why anyone might be interested in my favorite stuff since, being self centered in this particular realm, I'm not much interested in anyone else's. Unless, that is, I'm given something to envy or emulate. The initial post is not doing that.

Understand please, I'm sure Tim looks very good in what he's described. As do I, I think; I've got all that stuff. (Except the Rolex, which I would only wear if captured and the thing surgically attached by my evil captors.) But nothing to drool over. And what's with all the surcingle belts? I would be filled with envy and attempt to emulate were I to read that somone had their pants tailored in such a manner that no stinkin' belt of any kind were needed, and the loops absent. (But my weight fluctuates. Well stop it from doing that).

Alright, I'll give it a feeble go. My favorite outfit for the sake of this thread is a pair of new-old-stock, olive gaberdines (USA Korean War new surplus) (because of the quality, you might pay $1K for these if privately made, or two bucks if you could find them at a church sale and I am very religious), retailored with a narrower leg and a 1 3/4" cuff (guardsman's, which are very difficult to do with cuffs), beltless (unneeded) worn (the pants) with any of my 30 tweed jackets.

 

[Vecchio Vespa]

I just like surcingle. I like the variety of colors. It’s a preference I acquired in Virginia. So yes, it’s probably Southernism.

As for watches, I have three. Due to their provenance none will be retired. Oldest is a GP pocket watch that was my great grandfather’s. Next is a $50 Rolex (Yes, the price is for real. Bought at the old Henderson Hall PX.) given to me for high school graduation). It doesn’t keep great time. Hey, it’s a Rolex. They don’t. I like its minimalist look, though. Newest dates to the late seventies and was given to me by my wife. I got home from work, and, as usual, the dog was bouncy. She asked me to give him a biscuit. I reached into the biscuit box, and there was the package containing the watch I described above.

As for the thread itself I just thought it might be interesting to see how self-identified Trads choose to dress in the most common settings in 2019. It’s a random social commentary, but it also shapes and fills out the identities of the inhabitants of the forum.

 

[Peak and Pine]

I thump the little lightning bolt at page top and am taken to the latest posts regardless of forum so I did not realize til now that this one is in the Trad forum, and now knowing that, I would imagine the outfits TKI has listed are close to grail. But I am not trad and have zero credence here which is as it should be. I will sit back down now.

 

[Vecchio Vespa]

I thump the little lightning bolt at page top and am taken to the latest posts regardless of forum so I did not realize til now that this one is in the Trad forum, and now knowing that, I would imagine the outfits TKI has listed are close to grail. But I am not trad and have zero credence here which is as it should be. I will sit back down now.

Peak, you may not be Trad, but you appear to be very New England. As such you would IMO reflect the true roots of Trad, a style borne of comfort, practicality, and frugality. Regardless of whether you are such a New Englander or not, I enjoy your insights. I'm sure there are as many types of Trad as there are types of anything. I don't have a large closet or dresser, and what I have is far from full. The things I love are things that will serve me well for a very long time and be truly comfortable. If there are any areas of my wardrobe that one might deem excessive it would be either three surcingle belts or half a dozen bow ties. I like bow ties because they look sharp, don't get spilled upon, are easy to tie, and cost half the price of four in hand ties!

 

[Peak and Pine]

Peak, you may not be Trad, but you appear to be very New England. As such you would IMO reflect the true roots of Trad, a style borne of comfort, practicality, and frugality. Regardless of whether you are such a New Englander or not, I enjoy your insights. I'm sure there are as many types of Trad as there are types of anything. I don't have a large closet or dresser, and what I have is far from full. The things I love are things that will serve me well for a very long time and be truly comfortable. If there are any areas of my wardrobe that one might deem excessive it would be either three surcingle belts or half a dozen bow ties. I like bow ties because they look sharp, don't get spilled upon, are easy to tie, and cost half the price of four in hand ties!

You word it well. I understand you. On this ground though, I may understand myself a little less so; the years twisted me this way and that and I was an easy mark.

Trad was all we knew where and when I grew up. We didn't call it trad then, we called it clothes. But there came a time when I outgrew those clothes and that time came when I stood by Exit 8 of the Maine Turnpike holding cardboard signs and shouting, Hell no we won't go. This period, the war, has had a lasting effect. (I did not go.) It gave birth to years of scruffiness and when I cleaned up I looked around and found that few were wearing the early 60s anymore. Probably because it was the 80s and I had some learning to do. And did, and had no idea where to stop and ended up being one of a handful here who rips on receipt, takes apart whatever's made of cloth and within arm's reach and rebuilds it in the Peakean manner, the jacket on my back, the drapes aflutter here at the open window and the upholstery on the oak chair on which the part of me freed from that Tarentino movie (see Hollywood thread) now sits.

I can respect those who stuck with trad through thick and thin, those who were there when it all was fresh, like yourself, like my brother and many of those remaining from my high school Class of '62. (Tho not so much the reinactors who populate the net.) But to me, and probably just to me, it's pretty much over.

 

[Vecchio Vespa]

I didn’t stick to it through thick and thin. The war years were my LA years. During those years I wore jeans and T shirts. I still do, more frequently than not, probably to the horror of many Trads. To me Trad is simply a choice when dressing up in the least to wear things that are comfortable, serviceable, nice looking, and definitely outside whims of fashion.