Summer Gray Redux

Regular readers may recall Cary Grant's gray odd jacket in the film To Catch A Thief that showed how well that color looks in warm weather, and my lament that there did not appear to be a suitable gray in the cloth books (well, Scabal does have a 9 ounce gabardine in that exact shade but I shudder to think how easily it would crease).

The principal challenge with summer jackets in my opinion is that so many of them look like not quite right tweeds and most of the rest are a limited selection of solids. The patterns that worked for my taste all tended to be silk or silk and something, and the one coat I had from that stuff has too much sheen for the sunshine. Well, I should have known the English would have a trick or two up their sleeves, and in this case it is the Minnis Ascot book from whence the blue jacket of yesterday came. The cloth is 50-50 silk and wool but the finish is matte.

And so, in the photo, a not-at-all-like-Mr.-Grant's black and white houndstooth silk and wool jacket from the same book that when finished will appear gray from a few feet away.  And though it probably would not have enough contrast next to his light gray trousers, it will be fine with taupe and mid-gray for day wear.

Note that the sale continues on the ASW store, with neckties now reduced 60% as well as new items added.