I’ve been interested in getting a brown herringbone sportcoat for a while. I’ve had a rather specific mental image of what I’ve wanted for this jacket – a classic brown/tan color with a wide herringbone pattern, three patch pockets, and wide lapels. This idea in my head was definitely influenced by Gus Walbolt’s amazing “truffle hunting” sportcoat, as well as images of my grandfather at my age. I’ve occasionally thought about having this jacket made by Beckett & Robb, but have yet to find a swatch that really matched what I wanted.
Fortunately for me, Suitsupply released something this Fall/Winter season that not only checked these boxes, but came with matching pants as well. The suit is in the new-ish “Hudson” cut, which sports wide lapels, three patch pockets, and a slightly pleated shoulder. In terms of fit, it’s similar to most of their classic models (like the Havana and Jort), with the notably higher button stance of the Havana. I would prefer to have the button stance lowered by a good 0.5-1.0″, but overall the fit is solid.
The fabric is a flannel from VBC – Ideally, I’d prefer something heartier with a higher contrast pattern (perhaps a British tweed?), but the weight, color, and wide ribs are all there. This suit has been very easy to break up into separates, as one would imagine – in this instance, I’m doing my best Gus Walbolt impersonation by wearing the jacket with a beat up pair of jeans and an OCBD. Throw on a pair of scuffed up suede chukkas, and I think one could call this the winter version of the California tuxedo.
Sportcoat (part of a suit): Suitsupply | Shirt: Ratio Clothing | Denim: A.P.C. | Shoes: Loake |Sunglasses: Oliver Peoples
