The London Lounge

Cavalry twill for summer? It's the stuff of my heaviest winter trousers!

Mohair is an idea, though I'm wary of the shine. As usual it's all about finding the right token of a kind.

Thanks!

One needs to go the old school Solaro way or abstain altogether. You can find a high quality tan suit cloth worthy of a craftsman's considerable time and your considerable money. It seems a shame to trifle with both on insignificant fabrics. I know a lot of people disagree with me, but that has alw...

I've almost decided to order a Solaro suit, but I'm not sure I can pull off the manifestly iridescent look. Besides, the Smith original is too heavy for my intended use (summer in Northern Europe, Spring/Autumn in the South). By googling around I found this cloth by Ariston: http://www.styleforum.ne...

The pens I carry in my pocket every day are aluminium and brass Kaweco Sport models. I have fancier pens at home but don't use them that much, if I'm honest.

Thanks, both. I'm now leaning towards semi-peak: almost horizontal rather than upward-pointing, with a narrow V opening between lapel and collar. Acceptable compromise?

I need to order a dinner suit. I find midnight blue too conspicuous, so I picked the most matte black cloth in a Drapers book (something made in England, not sure about the mill). I know I want grosgrain facings and trouser bands. What I don't know is what style to go for. I'm 1,75, in my early thir...

Bedford cord?

I have something very similar in RTW corduroy. It has an action back and only a half belt. And in fact it's italian.

I agree that most odd jackets are limited in range. However the camel hair jacket is an often overlooked item that can span the range of some blazers and some tweed jackets. Black/white herringbone tweed is also quite versatile.

One button... modern coat... yes, good thought. Thanks again!

Thanks, Michael. I'm thinking not-too-pronounced fishmouth lapels (cran necker), very slightly slanted hip pockets and breast pocket (the former with flaps), four-button cuffs, three button fly front (i.e. hidden buttons), centre vent. How does that sound?

My (Italian) shirtmaker reluctantly made me a non-iron shirt as a test. I wore it twice, then donated it to charity. It had a papery feel. And yes, the seams looked glued as well as sewn, for lack of a better description. I do still have one RTW oxford buttondown shirt from Brooks Brothers which isn...

I have some full brogue oxfords with crepe soles by Church's which would probably be a good compromise for the original poster's needs. The come in beige and chocolate brown.

I just took delivery of the wonderful LL brown Donegal overcoating (thanks again, Michael, for seeing another project through to an excellent result). I'd like to make it into a three-quarter coat. Perhaps something like this, but shorter: http://i42.tinypic.com/jrbc5y.jpg So the idea would be to do...

I made two summer coats from a Drapers book (can't remember the name) this year: a 100% hemp in a PoW pattern and a light blue wool (or maybe wool/silk) which turned out to be made by Barberis Canonico (saw the selvedge at the fitting). The Barberis made up very well, whereas the hemp isn't quite as...