There are very few things on earth better than an old worn-in oxford cloth button down (OCBD as they say on the boards) shirt. Heavy wool socks from the oven on a snowy day is up there. Breakfast at the Sugar Bowl in Darien when feeling hungover is close. But an oxford cloth in a state of deterioration is a gift from the almighty. The good people at Brooks Brothers still have a shirt factory hammering away (in North Carolina I believe), making American shirts for American men. Brooks is owned by the Italians now, but you can’t have everything now can you. Besides, I’ll take the Italians over Marks & Spencer any day. Speaking of OCBDs, J. Press makes a good great one too, and with a flap pocket. I’d venture to say that I wear one of these two shirts 90% of the time. They go perfect with everything, bathing suits, jeans, Sundays, loafers, your girlfriend. The possibilities are endless.
Below, a group of photos from the most stylish guy I know. His blogue can be seen here.
Sam Jacobs
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 1:09 PM:
Another good place for a hangover breakfast is Joe’s Diner in Lee, MA…especially if you’re into Normal Rockwell.
CRM
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 1:39 PM:
When I was a kid, the Sugar Bowl used to be open only on weekdays, so it was a rare treat when you got to play hooky and eat one of their deliciously greasy burgers. I haven’t been back in ages, but would imagine it hits the hungover-breakfast nail right on the head.
bran
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 2:44 PM:
I couldn’t agree more, with everything accept the socks part. I don’t know that I can agree with that.
mho
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 3:06 PM:
just bought a new ocbd from RRL and I don’t know if I’ll ever need another one again. the best i’ve ever seen.
TINTIN
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 5:05 PM:
That’s a terrific blog Mister Man has there. Reminds me of the power of the label and how brands can stay with you for years. I almost cried when I saw that Chipp label. I’m tempted to blow it up, frame it and hang it in my closet. Hey, I just designed another fashion product.
joanna goddard
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 5:59 PM:
ooh, i love myself a man in a button-down shirt.
calvin
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 6:53 PM:
From growing up watching Arthur and living in Canada I thought the Sugar Bowl was ficticious
Laguna Beach Trad
on Sep 3rd, 2008
@ 7:13 PM:
Fantastic post. The OCBD is a classic. I thought J.Press were retiring their flap-pocketed OCBD.
pit
on Sep 4th, 2008
@ 2:59 PM:
I heard the same thing about the Press shirts. However, rumor is that they will be back in a couple of seasons.
Also, Brooks regular OCBDs are made overseas. Only the Golden Fleece level shirts are made in the USA.
Michael Williams
on Sep 4th, 2008
@ 3:01 PM:
Is this Golden Fleece? http://www.brooksbrothers.com/IWCatProductPage.process?Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=663&Product_Id=500031&Parent_Id=662&default_color=Blue
Looks pretty regular to me.
The Press flap pocket OCBDs will be coming back, confirmed that yesterday with the GM over there…
pit
on Sep 4th, 2008
@ 3:08 PM:
Ah ha! I stand corrected. I was looking at the non-iron stuff which is from Malaysia.
Michael Williams
on Sep 4th, 2008
@ 3:13 PM:
No worries Pit, wasn’t trying to be a dick. Just a heads up. That non-iron shit is toxic….avoid, avoid, avoid…
pit
on Sep 4th, 2008
@ 3:30 PM:
It’s all good. It’s getting harder and harder to find a good cotton shirt, especially one made in the USA.
Russell Street
on Feb 17th, 2009
@ 6:08 AM:
Mmmmmmm…. Oxford….
Feasfaym
on May 8th, 2009
@ 6:47 AM:
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