r/NavyBlazer

I know there is no one canon list of clothes that make or break an Ivy/preppy (or whatever) wardrobe nor should there be. Nor is there a list of clothes that every man should own.

I was reading Graham Marsh’s The Ivy Look and he gives an overview of what the typical Ivy leaguer might have had in their wardrobe - if not a platonic ideal then certainly the group think essentials.

What are the clothes that if you were to begin again with your wardrobe what would be the clothes that you would buy unquestionably or see as essential to you.

Thread to share fit pics, fit questions, and overall discussions.

What is the general consensus on chinos? I have never properly invested in a pair that I am happy with (I have a pair of second hand drakes tobacco chinos but they were butchered by a tailor). I like UK based Community Clothing but that might be their general ambition as well.

Do people like J Press, O Connell’s, Bronson, Joe McCoy, Jack Donnelly etc?

Here's a chance to share what's been striking your fancy with the community, recommend it (or not), and receive recommendations of your own. Content doesn't need to be NavyBlazer-related.

Thread to share fit pics, fit questions, and overall discussions.

I’ll preface this by saying I’m not a very fashionable person. I just want to wear what’s comfortable and looks good for the occasion. My work uniform for the past four years has been a polo with Lulu ABCs. Then, about 10 weeks of the year, I wear suits from Men’s Wearhouse that I don’t like.

A few weeks ago I looked in the mirror and I hated my normal work outfit. The same things I hated in my suit fits, I was now noticing in my go-to polo and pants. It’s too slim. Why does it look like I’m wearing skinny jeans? Maybe I’ve gained a few pounds? But I’m still relatively the same weight. Anyway, since then, I’ve been going scorched earth trying to find some new pants.

I started looking on the Lululemon website for different pants, but they were all either the same cut I already had, or the wide leg trousers with no belt loops. Didn’t want either of those. That led me to looking at all those other brands I see advertised on instagram, like Quince and Vuori. Didn’t find anything I liked there either.

I thought maybe I needed to go back to the basics. I tried on pleated pants from LL Bean. They don’t sell these in my waist size, 32, so I had to order a 34. Obviously these didn’t fit and swallowed me. Still determined to give the pleated classic fit a shot, I ordered some pleated Dockers. I actually liked these, but they felt too much like the quintessential old man pants. Then I decided to go for what I thought was a similar style but from a more modern brand, Bonobos. Despite the tags reading the same size as the Dockers, they felt completely different. They were huge in the crotch and all throughout the leg.

Between the Lulus, LL Beans, Dockers, and Bonobos, these 4 pants would fit 4 very different people.

Through some posts online, I find out about eBay thrifting. I start noticing on eBay that lots of sellers include pictures of other measurements besides the waist and the inseam. They are also taking pics of the front rise, the thigh width, and the hem width (all terms I didn’t know at the time). In order to find out what I liked, and what I didn’t like, I pulled out every pair of pants from my closet, a tape measure, and a spreadsheet. It turns out, I’m not a 32x32. I’m a 16 1/4 x 30 1/2 x 11 7/8 x 14 5/8 x 11 1/2 x 7 3/4 (laid out waist x inseam x front rise x back rise x thigh width x hem width).

Back to eBay, I found a pair of Ralph Lauren Classic Cotton Twill Chinos in a 32x32 that was close to all of those measurements.. boom perfect. Little long but that’s good, I’m just gonna get the hem taken up to a 30 1/2. After shipping, these pants costs me like $40. After the $10 hem alteration, I’m still coming in like $70 below a pair of Lulus.

I think what originally drew me into the athleisure brands was the stretch, but they are solving a problem that doesn’t need to exist. The only reason you need the stretch is because our pants are getting slimmer and slimmer. What you actually need is well fitting pants. But you can’t rely on the tag. The tag’s measurements is only a couple pieces of the puzzle.

Due to current fashion trends, it seems very difficult to find what I’m looking for.. at least without paying an arm and a leg. I’m about to fill my whole closet with this thrifted stuff. It’s better fitting, cheaper, and is made with more premium materials. Instead of plastic, I’m going to be sticking to 100% cotton, wool, linen, or some blend of the three going forward. I did my measurements for polos and suit jackets as well. I’ve already got a couple polos in the mail and I’m waiting on a J Press blazer from Japan. Im completely addicted to the process.

Use this thread as a way to ask a simple question, share an article, or just engage with the NB community! Remember, WAYWT posts go in the WAYWT thread.

Scheduled posts

• Silk Road
• Deals and Steals

Use this thread as a way to ask a simple question, share an article, or just engage with the NB community! Remember, WAYWT posts go in the WAYWT thread.

Scheduled posts

• Silk Road
• Deals and Steals

Use this thread as a way to ask a simple question, share an article, or just engage with the NB community! Remember, WAYWT posts go in the WAYWT thread.

Scheduled posts

• Silk Road
• Deals and Steals