Tag: pocket squares

The Vintage Shirt Company

This post was written by Lindy Dandy.

I’m a firm believer that you can find just about anything on the internet, if you search diligently.  The Vintage Shirt Company, based out of the UK, supplies shirts and accessories for use in period costume dramas; everything from the 1700s to the present day.  A huge thanks to Lindy Shopper for pointing out this site to me.

According to their “About Us” page, “All the stock is adapted from original garments to ensure an authentic period look. Close attention has been paid to the detailing and standard of finish which means they can confidently be used in film work. We also stock a range of traditional underwear and useful accessories.”

This company features a ludicrous number of stiff, detachable collars.  Detachable collars?  According to the common legend, the detachable collar was invented by Hannah Lord Montague in Troy, NY in 1827; she found that the only soiled part of her husband’s shirts were the collars, so she snipped off the collar, washed it, then sewed it back on.  Nowadays, detachable collars are largely unnecessary as they are very formal and very tedious.  If you’re looking to dress in a 1920s to 1940s style, detachable collars are a bit old-fashioned, even for you; detachable collars are more of a turn-of-the-century style.  The World Wars forced more practicality into men’s clothing, so attached collar shirts became the norm.

an example of a detachable collar, the Standard Wing Stiff Collar

It’s interesting to see shirt designs from the 1920s onward, if only so you can notice that things have remained largely unchanged since then.  The “dress shirt” as we know it, was standardized by that time.  Only the fabric, patterns and proportions have oscillated with the times.

just a regular dress shirt, right? This is described as a "1920’s Spearpoint collar attached shirts in White with Blue/Black stripe"

As you can see, this is a pretty simple striped dress shirt, one that you might be able to find in a dozen different places.

The true advantage of this store, then, is that it is a great one-stop shop for vintage inspired accessories.  They’ve got a killer collection of braces (suspenders), sock garters, scarves, handkerchiefs and gloves.  These are the sorts of details that can take your looks to a higher level.  Keep in mind that this one-stop shop is going to be on the pricier side, especially since they’re shipping from the UK.

Here are some of my favorites:

I prefer braces with white fasteners because they match all colors of shoes (though few people are that picky about it), Henley stripe button braces, starting at £35 + VAT.
These are a bit whimsical, but I like them. Reading Glass Monocles, £45 + VAT.
Arm Bands can really bring together a vintage look. £7.5 + VAT
They also carry some handsome pocket squares, £8.50 + VAT.
Forgive me for geeking out, but they carry Panthrella socks, some of the nicest (and pricier) socks that are made made in the world. They're hard to find. £8.25 + VAT
If you want to be the most uniquely dressed guy at a sleepwear dance party, you could wear a nightshirt. (if you do this, we want photos)
If you're putting on some Shakespeare or plan to do some swashbuckling, this is the frilly shirt for you. Square cut frilled cotton lawn period shirt, £54 + VAT.

For more on detachable collars, check out this site.

Summer Pocket Squares by Prepidemic

This post was written by Lindy Dandy.

What a fortuitous discovery after yesterday’s discussion of summer suiting!

The gents over at Prepidemic have extended their blog brand to their “house label,” Bocca al Lupo, and put out some nice pocket squares appropriate for Spring and Summer. (as pointed out here and here).

They’ve got all their bases covered: seersucker, madras and denim.  All made from American and Italian fabrics, then lovingly crafted in New York.  The best part? They’re $15!  That’s a steal compared to other stores that I’ve seen sell pocket squares for 3 and 4 times as much.  (Some of those were silk, but still, that’s just unaffordable).

According to Prepidemic, “The brand was formed as a reaction to the outrageous markups we saw in stores, especially on the simplest of accessories. So we decided to go out and hunt for fabric and then track down the best manufacturer to produce a collection that we would sell at a reasonable price.”

If I had to pick one, I’d definitely go for the green seersucker square, but I’d love to have any of these peeking out of a blazer or sportcoat this (and every future) summer.

Bravo, gents!

Bocca al Lupo for Prepidemic

By the way, if you haven’t seen the blog, it’s a good read with (mostly) good recommendations, interviews, and guides.