While I was in Manhattan last week I stopped by to see Paul Winston at Winston Tailors (no web site but he also offers specialty items for dog fanciers at Chipp2) and gaze at his tussah silk jacketings. Tussah is a relatively inexpensive plain weave silk from wild silkworms that is even nubbier than shantung, and Winston may be the one tailoring shop in the western world that has it in a variety of colors (the raspberry is nice). I have been pondering the cream for a shawl collared one button dinner jacket.
The major thing holding me back is the non-trivial obstacle that I would have nowhere to wear a cream dinner jacket. Further, I cannot think of occasions I could begin attending for the purpose unless I was to convince my better half that we should begin taking Caribbean cruises. Or open a casino in North Africa.
$1500 for an odd jacket made to measure.
Hmmm.
Wednesday, May 5, 2010
Temptation Resisted
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10 comments:
Will,
Your volunteer proofreader suggests changing colored to collared:
...for a shawl collared one button dinner jacket.
Cheers,
LaoHu
Shawl colored, that's what I really want. Egads.
I could see this working in Palm Beach or Bermuda.
Though a Savile Row tweed jacket or worsted suit may cost 3-4x as much initially, on a per-wear basis that would be a much cheaper expenditure.
If we're volunteer proofreading, then it would actually be "shawl-collared" as a compound adjective should properly be written.
I agree that it would take an extraordinary lifestyle to incorporate such a jacket.
Hmm, whether to buy such a jacket and then make room in one’s life to go to places or activities to wear it does seems to make the jacket quite expensive, unless its precipitation of more to do and see in life is viewed as adding invaluable, intangible joy. And vice versa, if you add the things to do and see first that ought to be enjoyed in such a jacket. In either case, maybe it is a bargain?
I did give in to exactly that urge and had Joe Centofanti here in Pennsylvania make me a white silk shawl DJ. Not tussah but somewhat slubby nonetheless. My wife and I ballroom dance and the tropical rules seem in effect here at East Coast venues with ballrooms.
It is a great shame, but as a man who lives in the United Kingdom and rarely dines in the tropics, I have had to come to terms with the fact that I have no reason to own a cream dinner jacket and that, therefore, it is better to resist the temptation and spend my money on better things.
It's not easy, though...
Well, I would think that the jacket pictured would hardly need more occasion than a sunny summer 9or Spring) day.. though it seems markedly more versatile than the single-button dinner jacket you mention in the text. This is not a fabric I recall seeing very often.. more's the pity.
Will, in India, where Tussah comes from and is widely used, a typical use of this fabric would be a Nehru-collared jacket or waistcoat. Have you thought of expanding your wardrobe in that direction? I think it would a useful garment for the Bay-area weather.
Beautiful material. If no cruises or trips to the tropics are in your future, why not get a nice odd jacket made? (For some reason, I don't like the ticket pocket with this material, but patch pockets would be the bee's knees.) Wear it with any summer pants (except your cream flannel "pents," of course), or with navy trews, and look great while staying cool.
If you felt the urge to wear a vest in the summer, I can see this material making about the nicest summer odd vest imaginable. I can see it with six buttons and two flapless pockets, with or without lapels.
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