Archives for October 2011

The Shearling Coat. Where do we begin with this? The shearling or sheepskin coat has a checkered history on the Anglo side of the pond. A post war staple worn by the Chelsea set in their Austin Healeys with suede chukkas and a windowpane check viyella shirt (also worn by the girls - think … [Read more...] about The Ivy Shearling Car Coat. Sawyer of Napa for LL Bean circa 1969.

Here's something to ponder. Most of us who buy 'the look' these days will insist on natural fibres, cotton oxford, cotton corduroy, chinos, real suede, and so on. But back in the days we hark to, technology heralded a brave new world of mixed and distinctly unnatural fibres. Many of these products … [Read more...] about Levis Stretch Jeans. Unnatural Fibres in 1963

A kind of American version of the Original Playboys, Bates Floaters from the Wolverine Shoe Corp had a similar profile to the playboy but with a man made cushion sole. Often featuring a shearling or mock shearling inner, they were featured as comfort shoes or more commonly bad weather or apres-ski … [Read more...] about Bates Floaters

Just when it was all about to go autumnal and fall, just as Herb Lester emailed me last week to say 'great weather, all corduroy and suede chukkas' we get the Indian Summer of a lifetime. Back to Madras and white Levis for a last gasp summer fling. Next week, snow, no doubt. Then the fun … [Read more...] about Last Gasp of Summer…