Tweed is always stylish in winter, pair it with crocodile accessories or rich brown leather shoes, gloves and handbags. Brown in town may not be usual, but it can be very elegant.
I was going to write about tweed for gentlemen. Specifically how to make it look less professorial and more of the moment, but I’ve decided to go a different route.
One of my favourite advertising images is from an old Ralph Lauren campaign (you’re not really surprised are you?) It is so well done that Mr. Flusser uses it as an example of mixing patterns in his book “Dressing the Man: Mastering the Art of Permanent Fashion” (highly recommended as a resource.)
I wish I had the original tear sheet as I would have it framed and hung in my dressing room. It is a perfect example of choosing the road less traveled. Or, at least, avoiding the expected in favour of the un-. Another good example may be the penchant exhibited by certain men to choose black leather interiors for their black cars. It’s a safe choice. So is grey. But isn’t saddle tan so much richer?
Today I am wearing an old pair of flannel, houndstooth trousers. Although they are black and white, the “read” grey from a distance. Which allows me to pair them nicely with a charcoal tennis/polo collar sweater (brown buttons), a cream soft shirt and chocolate suede shoes.
Now if I only had a pair of glen plaid socks.
This fall consider pairing grey and brown, whether charcoal and chocolate or heather and camel, it is an easy choice to make and an elegant decision.
I don’t have my collection handy at the moment, but I recall that ad running in the 9/95 or 10/95 GQ, or maybe in both. You should eventually be able to find one on ebay.