Photo by Muffy Aldrich
The Modern Guide to The Thing Before Preppy

Monday, April 26, 2021

Shorts and Sweaters

Photo by Salt Water New England  (Repost)
Late summer, spring, and early autumn are the perfect times for the paradoxical combination of sweaters and shorts.  (And for some in Maine, year-round.) As with all of The Uniform, it enables action.  It is the perfect solution to the conditions famously described by Charles Dickens: "It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."

The combination is especially ideal by the water, where everything below the knees somehow, despite best efforts, becomes soaked.  And those sweaters that get dragooned into a day of activities end up with the sleeves rolled up.  

Shown here, an Extra Fine Merino Sweater, which many have called their most used and versatile sweater.   
  • Patagonia 9" Stand Up Shorts (RIP)

23 comments:

  1. I love seeing people wearing sweaters in the summer. I just find it so hard to imagine. But the outfit looks great! :-)

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    1. Especially in Maine (New England) on the coast. Even on a hot summer day the weather can change in a heartbeat: wind changes to onshore; fog rolls in; a sweater makes the day enjoyable.

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  2. This is a fine Labor Day Weekend evening-out kit. Good show !

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  3. This headless man sure knows how to dress appropriately.

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  4. This is really such a classic, elegant look. Just wonderful.

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  5. It is indeed a classic outfit, but I must agree with Susan. In Austin that outfit might be too warm for Thanksgiving!

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  6. Most excellent! Thanks so very much!

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  7. Love this. Seeing this image reminds me to keep things simple and classic.

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  8. The merino jumpers are excellent value in the sale. My late summer choice is a cricket/tennis sweater in cotton or (when it's really chilly) wool. Since the apparent demise of Smart Turnout, they have been hard to find at a reasonable price. $240 and above (e.g. Polo RL and Rowing Blazers) is excessive. If you know of any other sources, please post a link.

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  9. Patagonia's lightweight hemp shorts are a good alternative to the discontinued longer stand up shorts. Made from a 76/24 cotton/hemp blended fabric and available with both 8" and 10" inseam.

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  10. We are about 10 weeks away from wearing even a cotton sweater, let alone wool.

    Enjoying the sun and warmth--flowers are as well.

    Prost!

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  11. Style never goes out of fashion. With 90+ temps. the last two weeks, and likely to remain through next week, however, it's hard to even think about wearing a sweater right now. That said, this picture captures my usual spring and early fall "uniform", as my wife calls it. I prefer to wear a sweater over the ubiquitous fleece. While fleece has its place, a sweater adds a bit more class.

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  12. Smart get-up, that. However, I prefer a Lavender coloured boat shoe.

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  13. That's a perfect Navy blue. I went to the website and the colour appeared lighter. This looks great!

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  14. Does anyone know where the boat shoes are from in this photo?

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  15. That's pretty much my early & late summer outfit, especially when we're on the coast and the temps drop 20 degrees at night. In fact, just broke out my cotton Guernsey, which I will likely wear to the Annapolis boat show this weekend.

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  16. One of my favorite feelings is warm days that turn into afternoon/nights that require a sweater. It is one of my favorite Block Island memories of my youth.

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  17. Spring attire on the New England coast. Love it!

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  18. Real style, never goes out of fashion! Thank you!

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  19. How about a short-sleeve sweater? Had a couple when I was in college, probably Pringle.

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  20. I usually opt for a rugby jersey with shorts for cooler late spring-summer-early fall evenings when we sit on the (screened) back porch here in Mid-Michigan.

    Kind Regards,

    Heinz-Ulrich.

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  21. Your Dickens quote is so apt. Biking weather in MAY in down east Maine is temperature and wind direction whiplash. Microclimates in every turn in the road.

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