It’s hard to wake up nowadays without feeling the fall nip in the air. The sun sets earlier, the days are shorter, and the mornings colder. September is the transition, the doorway from summer to fall, and with that the whites and the madras and the linen are stowed away until Memorial Day.
For many of us, it also marks the beginning of the end for tennis season, and the wholehearted return of squash. And club life begins to take on a different tenor. Black tie is busted out again, and the song and dance of the evening bar crowd relaxes into its more formal rhythm that I miss.
An Englishman once told me, among other things, that England was cool enough throughout the year to dress formally, to which I asked if he had ever been to New England, where you could dress formally and layer clothing eight or nine months of the year. We’re in that moment now, unless you are a Manhattan denizen, and might wait a few more weeks for that gnarly humidity to subside.
You’ll see me around with a newfound collection of tweed mixed in with some hand-me-downs and odd pieces. But there’s also nothing like waxing your Barbour jacket during the summer, hoping to put it on as quickly as possible. Dust out your shetland sweaters, navy blazers, and jumpers.
This issue, I bring to you my measly two cents on what one ought to wear, and Leonard Robinson brings you Dispatches from Clubland, while we’re both busy transitioning our wardrobes. - IJ
Dressing the Part: Fall
For men, Nicholas recommends trousers with a jacket over a jumper or a sweater. You can never go wrong with a sports coat: the khakis-OCBD-navy blazer combination is always beyond reproach, and retains both a schoolboyish charm and a quintessential air of sophistication without much ado.
If you want to change things up, Nicholas recommends plaid trousers. I’m not averse to a plaid tuxedo, either: just make sure that they’re shawl collared, and not with peak lapels.
The only exception to the no t-shirts rule is a turtleneck in the fall or the winter. Nicholas recommends turtlenecks with added texture, including cable-knit turtlenecks, for an added dimension of style.
Both men and women ought to bring out their Barbour jackets in the fall. Make sure you don’t wax them too religiously; you want the rips and the tears and the slightly un-waxed look on them, only to show that it was a hand-me-down or you’ve owned it for some time now.
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Dispatches from Clubland
Madison Clubland Embraces Big Smoke: Cigars are for sale at the Madison Club with members having a choice between standards like Tatuaje, My Father, Romeo y Julieta and San Cristobals – all for below $12.50 per stick.
Tidying up the Tanoan: Renovations are underway at the Tanoan Country Club in Albuquerque, New Mexico, per ACBJ. They’re not slated to be complete until winter 2027 and will impact about 70% of the clubhouse.
Prep is back in J. Press: Speaking of fashion, the king of prep and rumored club rat Jack Carlson is joining J. Press, as reported by the Financial Times. This is coming off the heels of his successful stint at Rowing Blazers which was ultimately acquired by Burch Creative Capital.