The London Lounge

Alright, trying to get myself in LL shape, wardrobe wise, I have come to ask the following...

1. Does one match shoe leather and braces' ends, colourwise? So brown shoes require brown ends? I'm leaning toward Thurston's white ends, if that is the case.

2. What are the most versatile colors/patterns for braces? My means are rather limited for furnishings, and I'd like to have a small number of "very wearable" braces.

3. Are braces buttons worn outside the waistband too outre? I saw a photo of a young Gary Cooper, and have been taken by the idea ever since. The caption avered that no doubt he had discarded momentarily his vest, by the way.

4. Dressing for Funerals--sadly, I have one to attend for a friend's brother this Friday. Is a black/white nailhead suit unsuitable? My other option, sadly, is a (prepare yourself) black 4 button SB that I picked up in my younger, more avant garde (that's French for "often tasteless" I believe) days. Also a question of color is my "everyday" steel grey fedora--should I instead wear a black one?

5. What makes the lapels roll? Is it simply a matter of pressing a pleasing shape? Another question I have on lapels--I have inherited a dinner coat that has notched lapels. Since the lapels would be covered in silk, could one convert it to peaked, to make it more appropriate?

Thank you, and I'm sure I'll be back with more inane, esoteric and odd questions.

Tucker

Welcome to the Lounge, Tucker. I think you'll enjoy it.

In reply to your questions (you may in future wish to post each in an individual thread in other sections of the Lounge), some quick, admittedly idiosyncratic comments:

Tucker wrote:1. Does one match shoe leather and braces' ends, colourwise? . . . .

One needn't; I tend to favor brown ends, save with formal or semi-formal clothes (I now wear white with each, after finding that Thurston's black leather ends can bleed upon my shirt).

Tucker wrote:2. What are the most versatile colors/patterns for braces? . . . .

I seldom wear suspenders (the older word for "braces", still current America, in this context). Two pairs of whites, one each of solid blue, solid red, and solid green have proven sufficient for me.

Tucker wrote:3. Are braces buttons worn outside the waistband too outre? . . . .

'Depends upon environment. I might see the utility if one is splitting wood or otherwise is engaged in hard manual labor in the country. Otherwise, that fashion reminds me of the Southern Appalachians, or of the wearer's desire to be noticed; neither context suits me.

Tucker wrote:4. Dressing for Funerals--sadly, I have one to attend for a friend's brother this Friday. Is a black/white nailhead suit unsuitable? My other option . . . is a . . . black 4 button SB . . . . Also a question of color is my "everyday" steel grey fedora--should I instead wear a black one?

I'd wear the nailhead and no hat (but I seldom wear a hat nowadays).

Tucker wrote:. . . . I'm sure I'll be back with more inane, esoteric and odd questions. . . .

None of these questions was; but I do hope that you'll continue with us.

RWS

Thanks RWS.

I was concerned that the nailhead might be too "light" for the task.

I definitely will in the future be posting in the various sub-forums--I just wanted to have my first barrage of questions in one post, and this seemed best.

I will definitely avoid the Thurston black leather ends. Thanks for the tip!

Tucker

Anonymous wrote:1. Does one match shoe leather and braces' ends, colourwise? So brown shoes require brown ends? I'm leaning toward Thurston's white ends, if that is the case.

I do, if they are black or brown, but not necessarily to the SHADE of brown.

Anonymous wrote:2. What are the most versatile colors/patterns for braces? My means are rather limited for furnishings, and I'd like to have a small number of "very wearable" braces.

I like light / medium grey, white, light blue, dark blue, black, maroon.

Anonymous wrote:3. Are braces buttons worn outside the waistband too outre? I saw a photo of a young Gary Cooper, and have been taken by the idea ever since. The caption avered that no doubt he had discarded momentarily his vest, by the way.

I have my front buttons sewn inside, but the back buttons sewn on the outside because otherwise I find them uncomfortable when I sit for a long time against a backrest - when driving, for instance.

Anonymous wrote:4. Dressing for Funerals--sadly, I have one to attend for a friend's brother this Friday. Is a black/white nailhead suit unsuitable? My other option, sadly, is a (prepare yourself) black 4 button SB that I picked up in my younger, more avant garde (that's French for "often tasteless" I believe) days. Also a question of color is my "everyday" steel grey fedora--should I instead wear a black one?

May he rest in peace.
I think a full black suit is not a good idea especially if you are not very closely related to the deceased. In my opinion a restrained black&white nailhead is appropriate, with black shoes of course, a white shirt and a sober, dark tie (I woud not wear a pocket square), but I would recommend a black hat on such an occasion - which you would keep in your hand anyway while attending the funeral.

Anonymous wrote:5. What makes the lapels roll? Is it simply a matter of pressing a pleasing shape? Another question I have on lapels--I have inherited a dinner coat that has notched lapels. Since the lapels would be covered in silk, could one convert it to peaked, to make it more appropriate?

On a bespoke coat the lapels roll due to the handstitching applied while the canvas is being rolled in the tailor's hand, plus a matter of correctly ironing the coat.
I don't see how you could turn a notch lapel into a peaked one...

Costi