Too Much of a Good Thing?

Once upon a time, I wrote about that most unsung of American tailoring heroes, Mr.Sidney Winston. Mr. Winston, when he wasn't working on JFK's new suit, was the creative genius behind such American classics as the 4 panel pants, embroidered cords, and perhaps most famously, the patch madras jacket.



As my mother would periodically exclaim, especially near election time, "if a million people have a bad idea, it is still a bad idea." Sometimes though, even good ideas go bad. Rarely do they turn rancid all at once. Bad ideas need time to fester.

The jacket below, from Huntsman, just might fall into the good idea going bad category. It's good enough to be entertaining, but...



Patch Tweed. I doubt many British clients will sign up for this number, it feels too American.

Lest you be confused, I like patch tweed, in moderation. Last fall, Ellie Stager created a PT scarf for me, which I will wear until I die, if I can get it away from my bride.


To get to the good idea going rancid, we need to turn to the latest Orvis catalog. I have a love/hate relationship with Orvis. I like the idea of many of their clothes, it's the execution which leaves me cold. I want their stuff to work,especially their tartan trousers, yet it rarely does on me.

From their catalog I present the patch tartan jacket. Another idea which should work. Has a the right bells and whistles, is priced fairly, yet falls flat.



A man needs to limit himself to one variety of patch. To patch in all seasons is trying too hard. I'm sticking with the summer mad, thank you very much.

Toad