Anyone KNOWS about T&A cashmere quality ?

What you always wanted to know about Elegance, but were afraid to ask!
Scot
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Sat Jan 11, 2014 1:00 pm

perhaps I too should have a Martini ...... or three!
Three Martinis at Dukes and you won't be able to speak to the shop assistant! :lol:
alden
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Sat Jan 11, 2014 2:44 pm

One is not enough, two is one too many and three is lethal.

Of course, it depends on your level of training and preparation. A few weeks of three martini lunches and you should be in good shape. :wink:

Cheers..hic
Scot
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Sat Jan 11, 2014 5:08 pm

She likes a Martini, two at the most, three she's under the table, four she's under the host! :shock:

Who said that?
couch
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Sat Jan 11, 2014 9:05 pm

Versions of this have traditionally been attributed to Dorothy Parker, but see this investigation.

She is also often credited with a version of "Martinis are like a woman's breasts: one is not enough and three is too many." But again, evidence is sparse, and a better case can be made for others who have repeated it.

Parker seems, like Wilde, to be what Ralph Keyes calls a "flypaper figure"--one to whom witticisms good and bad get attached whether merited or not.
charles
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Thu Jan 23, 2014 2:44 pm

While you're all in Berk after your martinis, take a look at the camel hair knitwear there. Berk is the only place I know to buy it. It feels like a cross between good quality lambswool and cashmere and I love it. Only one colour option- camel. You'll get change from £200 as well so you can drown your sorrows after the session in the shop.
alden
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Thu Jan 23, 2014 2:53 pm

HI Charles

The wonderful Berks camelhairs are made by Lockie in Hawick, Scotland. I have lost count on how many there are in my wardrobe but I am wearing one as I type.

Cheers

Michael
andreyb
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Fri Jan 24, 2014 7:31 pm

Another option for a shawl-collared camel hair cardigan is William Evans on St James Street. I'm pretty sure made by Lockie as well.

Andrey
SMCK
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Sun Jan 26, 2014 9:35 am

Well done Andreyb,
I had been coveting the Camel collared cardigan on Drakes site for ages but couldn't bring myself to spend £350.
Last spring I saw he same in Berk ( made by Lockie) and @ £250 I bought it.
Now you have come up with the same again @£175
It pays to shop around....well done!
Byron
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Sun Jan 26, 2014 12:04 pm

I'm always surprised how most internet forums negate the existence of Italian cashmere products. While they are different from the Scottish, I think they're more suited to todays requirements in overheated rooms and houses. They are more expensive then Lockie, but it's worth looking at brands like Fedeli, Fioroni, Cucunelli or maybe Dalmo, which is maybe on of the best producers out there. They usually have a huge variety od styles and number of plys to choose from.
Julian
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Sun Jan 26, 2014 12:14 pm

What advice would people offer to someone of a slimmer build as far as fit is concerned? (Please don't say "eat more pizza" :) )

In RTW jackets I often find that even if I can find something in a size 36" chest(*) the shoulders are often still too wide. I realise that the sizing for cardigans is different but the Berk's camelhair for instance starts at a size described as 40" and the cashmere at 46" (according to the web site). I do note however that the William Evans shawl cardigan that Andrey very helpfully linked to specifies sizes as Small, Medium, Large etc and the size guide (on a tab on that cardigan's information page) seems to indicate a sizing of somewhere between 34 and 36 (inches I presume) for the smallest size. (The size guide specifies 6 purchasable sizes but has 9 columns for dimensions, I assume that the narrow-width columns are for chest sizes where a wearer might be on the cusp between two sizes and could go either way.)

As someone who is definitely on the slim side should I be deterred by manufacturers that seem to start their sizing at 42" or above?

- Julian

(*) RTW in size 36" chest seems to be a dying phenomena, an effect that was one of my major motivations for venturing into the bespoke world.
Russell
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Sun Jan 26, 2014 12:34 pm

Byron wrote:I'm always surprised how most internet forums negate the existence of Italian cashmere products. While they are different from the Scottish, I think they're more suited to todays requirements in overheated rooms and houses. They are more expensive then Lockie, but it's worth looking at brands like Fedeli, Fioroni, Cucunelli or maybe Dalmo, which is maybe on of the best producers out there. They usually have a huge variety od styles and number of plys to choose from.
Byron,

I can't pass comment on Italian cashmere as happily by buying Scottish cashmere from certain makers I can buy (arguably) the best & support local industry as well - buyers outside of the UK will naturally have a different perspective though & you make a fair point that we should consider knitwear from other places.

As Lockie (for one) produce knitwear in single ply through to multi-ply what particular quality does the Italian knitwear have which makes it more suitable to 'today's living'?

Regards
Russell
Byron
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Sun Jan 26, 2014 2:00 pm

I admit, buying local products is of course an exellent argument. Local avalabity happens to be another one, I don't like buying online but I happen to have two nice stores near me, one stocks Lockie and Laing and the other stocks Fedeli, who also have an online shop, and Fioroni.

Well, in my experience the lower plys are not as thick and warm as their Scottish counterparts. The feel is also more like cotton as opposed to the Scottish which feels more like wool, I like both but in this year's winter I've only had the chance to wear my Scottish jumpers 5 or 6 times. In terms of quality there isn't any difference, my Cucinellis, always bought on sale, have held up as well as my Laings ord Lockies. I don't want to tell anonye what to do, it's just while everybody bemourns the fall of the Scottish knitwear industry, new Italian companies like Fioroni have emerged with what happen to be nice and quality prodcts.
Concordia
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Sun Jan 26, 2014 4:08 pm

Getting back to T&A, I've not seen the most recent products but the cashmere sweaters and vest I have are good. Single and double-ply. I can imagine better, but I don't feel let down by what I've seen.
andreyb
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Sun Jan 26, 2014 7:05 pm

Julian wrote:What advice would people offer to someone of a slimmer build as far as fit is concerned? (Please don't say "eat more pizza" :) )

In RTW jackets I often find that even if I can find something in a size 36" chest(*) the shoulders are often still too wide. I realise that the sizing for cardigans is different but the Berk's camelhair for instance starts at a size described as 40" and the cashmere at 46" (according to the web site). I do note however that the William Evans shawl cardigan that Andrey very helpfully linked to specifies sizes as Small, Medium, Large etc and the size guide (on a tab on that cardigan's information page) seems to indicate a sizing of somewhere between 34 and 36 (inches I presume) for the smallest size. (The size guide specifies 6 purchasable sizes but has 9 columns for dimensions, I assume that the narrow-width columns are for chest sizes where a wearer might be on the cusp between two sizes and could go either way.)
I found that sizing of both UK and non-UK cashmere brands are all over the place.

As for WE vs Berk sizing -- what Berk sells is a part of Lockie's "stock service", while WE's version is a special order, a part of their 2013 "collection" (hence, the sale). They just decided to order from smaller size. And you can use this to your advantage.

Same thing with Drake's version -- note that it is 4 ply, not 2 ply, and has a loop closure. Thus, you can't buy *exactly* same cardigan elsewhere.

Andrey
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