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

Wednesday, May 3, 2023

English Bright

Photos by Salt Water New England

Shown from Cordings of Piccadilly:

Also shown, by Dubarry of Ireland

  



 

37 comments:

  1. These are sensational.

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  2. Frederick J JohnsonMay 3, 2023 at 4:22 PM

    While I love the variety and style of Cording's various trousers, the fit is not for me per their measurements. I am more comfortable with trousers from J Press which has a fit more to my classic "Ivy" leanings.

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    1. You probably just need to order a size up, Fred. Whenever anyone says "a fit more to my classic 'Ivy' leanings," they usually mean the trousers are too tight. On the other hand, if J. Press stopped trying to appeal to flyover state catalogue shoppers or a "trendier," younger group of shoppers that they'll never acquire, they might get on the ball with some of the colors Cording's have available.

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    2. Flyover state. Your pants are too tight.
      How obnoxious and condescending you are.

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    3. Cording's trousers are snugger than J. Press's traditional "Ivy League" fit, Anon 6:08. That's not "obnoxious and condescending," it's a fact. If you're unfamiliar with the difference between the two fits, that's a good cue for you to do some shopping, educate yourself, or chill.

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    4. Not looking at fact check, but tone. You miss the mark entirely. Telling someone to buy a larger size (of course they know one size up might work, who wouldn’t?) and the term “flyover state”, please.
      Thanks also for telling me I need to be educated, shop or chill.
      How charming and well mannered.

      Birds of a feather.

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    5. We are not discussing the state of humanity. We’re simply discussing clothes.

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    6. I also found the tone a bit snarky. I didn’t find any issue with Mr. Johnson’s post, and found it to be simply a thought shared. If he had pointed a finger at anyone in particular I might understand the less-than polite response, unless responder does indeed do the fitting for Cordings’ clothing. Anon 6:59, true, we are only discussing clothing, but wouldn’t it be a better world if we could be polite even when just discussing clothing? Having been reared with more ties to the south than a prep school, I learned it’s always best to be kind. Now, bless your hearts and let’s move on.

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    7. Bless your heart, you do realize, do you not that this is literally about the fit of a pair of trousers, and how Americans can fit into an English cut, and how disappointing J. Press has become over the years? I don't mean to be rude, but you honestly sound like someone who's never worn a pair of English cut trousers, and ascribes a moral value to American cut trousers.
      You. Size. Up. That's it. English retailers don't manufacture their corduroys to hurt Americans' feelings, trust me.

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    8. You have the power to “bless”?

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    9. Guilty as charged! True, I’ve never worn a pair of English cut trousers. Yes, I’m well aware this is about the fit of various trousers. Unfortunately, that’s all you have correct. I had no intention of of ascribing any moral (or other) values on American or any other cuts of trousers. Many items of clothing run differently in size depending on the original cut. No offense was taken, and none was implied on my end either. As for having the power to “bless”, if I did, I’d certainly bless the trousers of which we speak and move on.

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  3. “Flyover states” are different. For many inhabitants the catalog is the only access they will ever have to J Press. Perhaps they flip through the catalog while watching “Yellowstone.” You understand what you’re taught. You love what you understand. You protect what you love.

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    1. If anyone looks at the national county by county map of the results
      of the 2020 election, they cannot help but agree with anon 7:39 PM.
      The country’s mid-section, aka “flyover states,” are different.

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    2. I was wondering what a flyover state meant At first l was thinking of a fly over on a motorway Yes lm a Brit It seems a bit of a dismissive term for the majority of the land area of the US

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  4. This back and forth about flyover states and researching fits has a tone I find disappointing. If the differences between the traditional American cuts and English cuts could be overcome by simply sizing up, that would make them the same cuts with different sizing. Obviously, that is not the case. Many of us prefer the traditional American cut, finding it more comfortable. As for Press developing a more modern and eclectic palette, some of us find that Press is already changing more than we like.

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    Replies
    1. Ah, kudos to Ll Bean for offering various fits in women’s clothing. I now appreciate their thinking.

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  5. What's preppier, fly-over states or mid-section?

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    1. Mid-section. You’ll find there bastions of prep, a few. They would be scattered, Chicago lakeside and north, Detroit suburbs, etc.. Preps on the prairies are rare. They are fewer yet in the mountains and desert.

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    2. Depends on the expense of the mid-section, I suppose.

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    3. Preps, TNSILs, and just plain and simple New Englanders move for a variety of reasons. I am in ATX and have plenty of friends here who fall into one or more of those categories. This is no longer a world where we live in the same ZIP code except for spring breaks in Ft. Lauderdale or the Caribbean, ski trips to the Rockies, Europe, and wherever the SORC took us. We know where to find the clothing we love.

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    4. Stay tight with your prep friends in Austin. There aren’t many preps in town. Most folks on 6th Street, at HEB (or Central Market for that matter), are outfitted in t-shirts, cargo shorts, and what used to be called “shower shoes.”

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    5. Lolz, I meant which term, but thanks, all, for chiming in!

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  6. Americans will never be English Toffs no matter what they wear, try to cope.

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    1. If you think only "toffs" wear Cording's clothes, or that all Americans wear "American" clothes, you really need to get a passport and travel a bit. "Try to cope" indeed. Too funny.

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  7. I was under the impression purple was a no no for Preps. I’m happy to see I was mistaken as these slacks are quite lovely.

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    1. Gorgeous, right?

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    2. Very!😊

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    3. Never to be worn in the presence of Royalty ! Look at the photos of our King yesterday

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    4. Anon 4:19 Did anyone suggest wearing purple cords in the presence of Royalty....?

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  8. "Bless your heart". ;)

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  9. It is, but Cordings is British Sloane Style, not American Prep. However, the two styles work well together.

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    Replies
    1. Now, if we could only get the world to do the same.

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    2. Sorry Cordings is British country style

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    3. Anon 4:20 is fomenting a pedant's revolt.

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  10. Cordings are a true classic!

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