Drake's Diary

Tie and Hank combinations Available online and at No.3 Clifford...

Fri, 17 May 2013 10:53:00 +0100

Tie and Hank combinations

Available online and at No.3 Clifford St

Woven Reppe Bow Deco Yacht Print Hank

Wed, 15 May 2013 11:13:15 +0100

Woven Reppe Bow

Deco Yacht Print Hank

Nackymade will be returning to No.3 Clifford St for another...

Tue, 14 May 2013 13:57:50 +0100

Nackymade will be returning to No.3 Clifford St for another Trunk Show, May 23rd-25th.

MD in Summer Gun Check Available at No.3 Clifford St

Mon, 13 May 2013 11:58:43 +0100

MD in Summer Gun Check

Available at No.3 Clifford St

Ancient Madder AW13 Sneak Preview

Fri, 10 May 2013 16:14:00 +0100

Ancient Madder AW13 Sneak Preview

Lambswool with Suede Patches

Thu, 09 May 2013 11:18:15 +0100

Lambswool with Suede Patches

JKF in Shetland Wool Fairisle New colours coming soon for AW13

Wed, 08 May 2013 14:50:37 +0100

JKF in Shetland Wool Fairisle

New colours coming soon for AW13

I was wondering if you could provide your thoughts on what sport jackets would form the basis of a gentleman's wardrobe. Thank you in advance.- James from the USA.

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:48:00 +0100

Hi James,

Thanks for the question. Most ‘Wardrobe Essentials’ lists these days advocate a classic Navy Jacket as a key piece for someone who is building a wardrobe from scratch. We would have to agree with this sentiment, but rather than dispense the same advice we would like to recommend a Tweed Jacket as an alternative option.

A well tailored Tweed Jacket either in a solid or check pattern, from the brown or green colour scale can easily be dressed up or down. Pair it with a wool or cashmere tie and play the textures off one another. Alternatively Ancient Madder and Repp stripes are also great with tweed.

Best,

JKF, Drake’s

Mogador Silk and Cotton

Fri, 03 May 2013 10:51:00 +0100

Mogador Silk and Cotton

Linen x Tweed

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:14:00 +0100

Linen x Tweed

MD in Drake’s unlined tweed and camel hair sleeveless...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 08:58:46 +0100

MD in Drake’s unlined tweed and camel hair sleeveless cardigan

MH enjoying the Spring heat in London

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:20:34 +0100

MH enjoying the Spring heat in London

Photo

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:21:22 +0100

Bicycle Print

Tue, 23 Apr 2013 11:21:00 +0100

Bicycle Print

Spring has sprung New window display at No.3 Clifford...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 09:56:00 +0100

Spring has sprung

New window display at No.3 Clifford St

Featuring the hand-crafted, feathered friends of artist Catherine Frere-Smith

Friends of Drake’s Douglas Cordeaux of Fox Brothers...

Fri, 19 Apr 2013 09:07:00 +0100

Friends of Drake’s

Douglas Cordeaux of Fox Brothers Woollen Mill in Somerset

In Drake’s Silk Knit

Habotai print silk hank worn by JKF

Wed, 17 Apr 2013 14:21:10 +0100

Habotai print silk hank worn by JKF

Colours of No.3 Clifford St

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:20:05 +0100

Colours of No.3 Clifford St

Dear Sir, How appropriate are Shantung silk ties when it comes to formal attire (law firm), and what about dotted ties (dot or spot ?). Thank you.

Thu, 11 Apr 2013 20:25:57 +0100

Hi there,

Here at Drake’s we tend to view our Shantung ties as slightly less formal than say our 50oz Royal Twills. Generally speaking the rough texture created by the slubs of the Shantung silk lend itself to a more casual outfit.

However, we would hesitate from prescribing a specific way our customers should wear our ties. You would be the best judge of your work enviroment and whether or not informal neckwear would be deemed acceptable. Ten or so years ago, Shantung would perhaps have been seen as breaking the ‘formal’ rules but the work place has become slightly more relaxed, sartorially speaking. Having said all that we have also seen our customers wear Shantung in a more formal way. It doesn’t necessarily have to be worn with a soft, unstructured jacket and a pair of jeans, it can work equally well using the texture to contrast against a sombre, darker suit.

Regarding dotted or spotted ties, if they are made in an appropriate fabric, both would nicely suit a formal environment.

Hope this helps!

Best,

JKF, Drake’s

Houndstooth linen 4 different ways

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:22:05 +0100

Houndstooth linen 4 different ways