Ask a Trad Question & Get Answer: Quick Q&A

[Charles Dana]

I have been enjoying the Made in USA OCBD from BB given the large discounts. However, I was wondering if these shirts are considered formal or dressed up enough for professional attire where the rest of the outfit is a suit? Are these more for casual wear with chinos or can they be worn with a suit?

They are “dressed up enough” to be worn with a suit. In the 1920s, some prep school kids wore them with a suit in order to be fashion-forward. Things have changed since then.

Good enough for William F. Buckley Jr., good enough for you.

Since this is election day, I’ll ask you a question related to presidential shirts. Who are the only two presidents who, while in office, sometimes wore shirts with button-down collars with their suits?

Answer: Lyndon Johnson and Gerald Ford.

Johnson favored tab collars, but he wore button-down collars occasionally. When he signed the Medicare bill into law in July 1965, he wore a short-sleeve shirt with a button-down collar with his dark suit.

 

[TKI67]

They are “dressed up enough” to be worn with a suit. In the 1920s, some prep school kids wore them with a suit in order to be fashion-forward. Things have changed since then.

Good enough for William F. Buckley Jr., good enough for you.

Since this is election day, I’ll ask you a question related to presidential shirts. Who are the only two presidents who, while in office, sometimes wore shirts with button-down collars with their suits?

Answer: Lyndon Johnson and Gerald Ford.

Johnson favored tab collars, but he wore button-down collars occasionally. When he signed the Medicare bill into law in July 1965, he wore a short-sleeve shirt with a button-down collar with his dark suit.

A cool bit of history.

 

[Zim]

I'm buying my father an O'Connell's Shetland sweater for Christmas to replace one he lost 10 years ago. Does anyone know if the chest size is accurate in the sense of a 44 being exactly 44 inches around the chest or if there's some degree of extra allowance?

I couldn't get his sport coat size but his wife was able to measure one of his favorites sweaters at 23 inches across the front. I am note sure if I should be looking at a 44 or 46.

To muddy things a bit, my sport coat size is a 43l. Going by O'Connell's suggestion to size up I'd wear a 44 sweater. My father is a bit smaller in all dimensions that I am, couple inches shorter, as well as slimmer in the waist and I believe in the chest. I am worried a 46 would be a tent on him and that even a 44 would be large.

 

[Charles Dana]

I'm buying my father an O'Connell's Shetland sweater for Christmas to replace one he lost 10 years ago. Does anyone know if the chest size is accurate in the sense of a 44 being exactly 44 inches around the chest or if there's some degree of extra allowance?

I couldn't get his sport coat size but his wife was able to measure one of his favorites sweaters at 23 inches across the front. I am note sure if I should be looking at a 44 or 46.

To muddy things a bit, my sport coat size is a 43l. Going by O'Connell's suggestion to size up I'd wear a 44 sweater. My father is a bit smaller in all dimensions that I am, couple inches shorter, as well as slimmer in the waist and I believe in the chest. I am worried a 46 would be a tent on him and that even a 44 would be large.

Call O’Connell’s and talk to Ethan. Tell him exactly what you wrote above. He will clear up everything.

 

[August West]

Call O’Connell’s and talk to Ethan. Tell him exactly what you wrote above. He will clear up everything.

+1 to this. Alternatively you could email and Ethan will likely reply.