Feature Article: Artisan visit-Michael Drake

[alden]

I have a pocket square which is a perfect version of the latter, and find that it harmonizes with just about everything

Matt,

If you post a picture of your pocket square or email me a pic, I will send take when I am next in London with Michael Drake.

Yes, the olive green, navy blue and a good brown would be a great start. The creamy white with a brown dot would be good in the second round choices in time for Spring



Cheers

Michael

[Cary Grant]

The creamy white with a brown dot...

Actually Michael,

I believe we were saying the reversL brown with a cream dot.

[alden]

Yes, the olive green, navy blue and a good brown would be a great start. The creamy white with a brown dot would be good in the second round choices in time for Spring

Cary

Reread your script (oh these actors!) After we have done navy, my olive green and brown w cream dots, and in the second round of makes we can think to do a cream with brown dots as in the illustration.

And in the second round as well (if we get that far) we could do the orange and maybe a light blue for Spring.

In any case I think the first three colors are a good place to start.

And if you were to choose ties to go with your Clothclub Fall 2008 fabrics, what colors would they be? I already have a few ideas.

Cheers

Michael

[NicolausN]

I sincerely hope that we get to the second round (I will find a way to buy at least the navy from the first round).

Has anybody thought about a brown check on a cream ground for the second round? The illustration seems to show a check (shepard's or houndstooth?) and the idea intrigues me. However, sometimes reality is a bit different from Mr. Fellow's illustrations.

And as long as I'm posting, how does Mr. Drake manufacture these scarves? I assume that he at least sew and cuts them. But does he weave or commission a weaving of cloth, or does he print the silk blanks? I'm simply curious.

[iammatt]

I have a pocket square which is a perfect version of the latter, and find that it harmonizes with just about everything

Matt,

If you post a picture of your pocket square or email me a pic, I will send take when I am next in London with Michael Drake.

I'll be back home at the end of the week. Then we will have to count on my rather shaky photography skills, but I will post the best pic I can. It is a Ralph Lauren square from some years back, and one they happened to get just right.

[iammatt]

Here is the pic, and it is not a particularly good one. The brown is a slightly grayish brown, which I think works with almost everything. The spots look white in the pic, but since they are not high contrast, i think you can tell that they are not pure white. Sorry for the poor photo.

[alden]

Matt

Thanks for the photo. See its not easy to get these pictures right. The brown is not too far away from the brown herringbone I used in the last overcoat, a useful color.

I think it will look even better in the larger format.Very chic

Cheers

Michael

[JDelage]

What is the right size to wear as "mufflers" (as per AA's terminology - we call them "foulards" in France), in lieu of a tie and tucked inside the shirt? The AA illustrations often show a lot of volume but I have seen worn much smaller pieces that had a more discrete size.

Thanks,

JD

[whnay.]

I think purple with gray diamonds would be nice. Or burgundy with lime green.

[alden]

This scarf is another great look. It could be done in a variety of colors after we do the large dots.



M Alden

[alden]

These two men are also outfitted nicely with silk scarves.

[JDelage]

What I think would be very interesting is a scarf of madder silk, like that of
this tie. The 2 gentlemen in brown in the 2 images above look like they have scraves with the dusty madder finish.

[JDelage]

I keep coming back to this topic...

I'd like to understand the benefits of a square scarf over a long, rectangular one. Will it not bunch up in the back?

Also, I'd love to see a smaller version (again, my preference I think is for something much narrower than a square - usual scarf proportions), to be tucked in a shirt, rather than a coat.

[Jordan Marc]

JD:

A long narrow length of silk is really a muffler. That doesn't necessary mean it's confined to being worn under the lapels of an overcoat, tied or shawled. It can be worn under the lapels of a suit coat or an odd jacket. You can even wear it artfully knotted under a sweater or an open shirt collar.

But it hasn't the versatility and style of a 35-inch silk square. That's the advantage of a scarf. There are numerous ways to knot or tie a scarf--some simple, others intricate, still others incredible--that go way beyond mufflers. Choosing a scarf and mastering the art of tieing it to complement the design of the pattern in the silk takes a bit of practice and patience. If there happens to be an Hermes store nearby, you might be able to find a charming salesperson who will tie you up in knots.

JMB

[JDelage]

Jordan,

I think you are right; thanks for helping clarify my thoughts. Maybe I should rephrase my suggestion in maybe having 2 sizes - one large enough to be worn tucked into a jacket / coat, one smaller to be tucked into a shirt.