Mister Crew » Madras

Summer Madras

R.A. Schenck — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 01:20:50 +0000

A vintage Paul Stuart tie with a linen fedora and pocket square from Engineered Garments. When I have the time later, I’ll take a few more shots of the tie which has an exceptionally thick lining – they sure don’t make them like this anymore.

Madras Jackets

R.A. Schenck — Tue, 25 May 2010 04:33:00 +0000

The worst of the worst or the best of the best? Not many stores are selling patchwork versions these days besides Ralph Lauren (coincidentally, there is a good one on sale now), but J.Crew and Rugby both have some slightly safer non-patchwork versions available. I only have one in my wardrobe, which is probably one too many.

Originally there were matching shorts that were sold alongside it, but I thought that might have been taking it too far. The jacket is unstructured and unlined, which is really how they should be.

A background on the fabric, from an essay written for Land’s End in 1989:

The bleeding Madras fad of the 1950’s and ’60’s, brought the world’s attention to Madras, both the cloth and the city. And in the cloth’s heyday, over 150,000 new plaid patterns were fashioned, using homemade vegetable dyes that bled, ran and blended to create a stunning effect. (”Cool” was the word we used, way back then.) Today, of course, Madras no longer bleeds, because it is dyed with man-made, color-fast dyes.

But this, really, is the only difference, between then and now, in the making of the cloth.

Continue reading more.

Universal Works Patchwork Madras Shirts

R.A. Schenck — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 23:15:57 +0000

For those of you who live dangerously, available in red/blue and grey/blue.

J.Crew Spring Deliveries for February

R.A. Schenck — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 06:18:32 +0000

J.Crew has begun to update its website with new items for February, and local stores should be receiving goods in now. In addition to several great looking shirts, ties, and shorts, there are also shoes and boots from Alden, denim from Levi’s, classic Persol sunglasses, and a number of other accessories. The men’s catalog for February is online for viewing too.

Some of the new shirts, including a few with club collars and a new utility shirt made from a heavy oxford fabric. Good stuff.

Sun faded Stanton shorts.

One of the new Levi 501 models made for J.Crew, this one has gone through a salt soak according to the description (sounds like a gimmick). I wonder how they compare to the 501’s that Levi’s sells in their own stores.

A new “Cadet” jacket. I think its design would have been better if the epaulet straps were left off.

A very lightweight chambray scarf. I’ve checked this out in my local store and it’s surprisingly very soft.

Some of the madras ties. The first one is interesting in how the pattern was set horizontally to the ground, and that the tip is squared off. Seems pretty vintage like.

The classic Persol 649 sunglasses (a favorite of Steve McQueen).

A leather postal bag from Belstaff.

Made in USA Weejuns! Not bad at all.

And lastly the special Alden shoes. The indy boots are a bit better made than the regular stock 405 model (nicer leathers are used), and the calfskin longwings are probably on the Barrie last if you’re wondering.