my next suit?

Perhaps you saw Maxminimus's photo earlier this week of Gen George C. Marshall. I've worn out my new glasses looking at it. There is enough inspiration for several life times in that photo.

Maxminimus photo

I refuse to face that the end of summer is near. I have lived in comfy oxford cloth pants and shorts, seersucker and linen since the weather warmed. Mr. Wm King of Wm King Clothiers in Bristol Tennessee put me onto the good folks at Castaway Clothing in Nantucket early in the spring. "Put their oxford cloth pants on, you won't take them off", he said. Very near right.

Castaways photo

General Marshall got me wondering. Why have I never seen white Oxford Cloth pants? A need for lining? Am I missing something, shopping the wrong stores? I wrote to Castaways suggesting that next spring they expand the color range, add long white OC and while you are at it, add pink too. Marketing patted me on the head.

As much as I may wish otherwise, I am rumpled, my body is rumpled, my clothes, taking on my my shape are rumpled. In the hotter months I wear rumpled linen and OC, a lot. Seeing me neat and pressed after Memorial Day would offend those who know me too well.

One evening, beside the pool, the gin talking, I invented the an outfit so self indulgent, if it doesn't exist I'll create it. A white OC suit, as a lighter weight alternative to linen?

In a gin addled state, drunk on limes, it made perfect sense. As cheap as the fabric would be, the cost per wear would be astronomical, even if worn daily. My alchemist would plead to make it in Super 160's, but I'll put my foot down. Someone in South Carolina must still grow suitable OC fabric.

Toad

Castaway at Wm King

As Ralph repeatedly made clear on Oprah's show last week, men's clothing improves with age. Fashion doesn't play a very large part in our wardrobes. We'll wear the same clothes forever if we can hold our size.

Over time our duds gather a backstory. This is the jacket I wore when.... I bought this the same year that... Soon, the backstory becomes more significant than the garment. It's a story we wouldn't tell a soul, yet it's why we become so upset when our significant other tosses away a treasured item. That old thing? Yes, that old thing.

I received a phone call earlier in the week from my friend William King, of Wm King Clothiers. "Toad ya gotta try these trousers." He sounded serious. "Made by Castaway Clothing on Nantucket. They come with a great story.

The 2 lads who founded the line are great grandsons of the man who founded Murrays Toggery. Their granddad invented nanny reds. The boys have worked at Murrays since grade school, know their stuff, and began a line of clothes that hearken back to the days of our youth." Men, women's and children they cover it all.

Send them along, was all I said. While I wait for my blue oxford pantaloons, I'll share the link and some photos. I'll let you know in a couple of days (if you're still around) how much I love them.

Toad