The Cutaway Oxford

We're not even four full days into 2011 and my list of favorite sartorial frivolities for the year ahead is already deeper than I could ever have imagined.  So it goes.  But one item is perched firmly at the pinnacle of said list - the cutaway collar oxford.  I can't think of a more perfect shirt.  Dressed up or dressed down it cannot lose.  With a tie or without a tie it cannot lose.  Are you still with me?  For my money there is not a single shirt that combines more of what I love about both Anglo and Italian style.  American and European influences mesh perfectly together to create a shirt that I could seriously wear seven days a week.  I couldn't find any being sold off the rack so I had the good folks at New England Shirt Company draft me up two slick samples - one in white and one in blue.  To say they did a bang up job would be doing those guys a disservice.  The fit, quality and style are off the charts.  I know this blog isn't really about me per se, but this is gonna be my shirt for 2011.  And beyond.  I'm working on bringing these to ROTM so hopefully it can be yours too if you feel so inclined.

-L.A.S

[Editor's Note: Paul, I see you.  I also really need to snip that thread off my Ovadia & Sons tie.]

From New England With Love

What do Sid Mashburn, J. Press, Wharf, The Andover Shop and O'Connell's all have in common?  They get their shirts made by one of the last and most storied shirting factories in the United States of America, of course.  New England Shirt Company, based in Fall River, Massachusetts, runs the most impressive private label shirting operation in The States today.  While their main function is supporting their retail partners, January 2011 will mark the true debut of their own in house brand, which will be sold under the "Made In New England" label.  The line, showing January 14th-18th at the Warwick Hotel, is a well edited collection of sport shirts, dress shirts, vests, ties, and trousers.  Having chatted with New England Shirt Company's proprietors, Wallace Palmer and Robert Kidder, I can vouch for the passion these guys put into not only their own line, but domestic manufacturing in general.  Anyone who has ever felt a Sid Mashburn or J. Press shirt will surely agree.  Here is Robert speaking on New England Shirt Company's overall approach and philosophy:

"Our factory has been in operation for over 75 year and for the past 15 years has been slanted towards making product for the 'better' market. When we re-started this past December ( operations were suspended last March) our goal was to provide special and distinctive product to a particular spectrum of customers. They range from the classic, traditional and up-dated  men's stores to a new emerging market that we felt had a great appreciation for US made product and was looking for a younger and fresher approach to American classic. This factory and its heritage understands the great classic product of American traditional, but we think we also can take  vintage and interpret it for today' customer. The product is not complicated. Rather it is classically simple. It is about beautiful fabrics, made in a New England factory for a market that wants to buy well- made, beautiful American product."

You can purchase a New England Shirt Co. shirt at any one of these locations and be sure to keep you eyes open for the full reveal of the Made In New England collection - from the small looks available now it is surely going to impress a lot more people than just myself.  I've got some shirts headed my way as we speak so I will be sure to do a hands on review once they arrive.

[Pictures courtesy of FREE/MAN.]

-L.A.S