Question:
Last night I stopped in at our Kilgour Trout, which I consider one of the two top menswear stores in Greater Cleveland, and - lo and behold - they not only had an array of silk vests but some actually from the great Favourbrook of the Picadilly Arcade in London! Guess when I went on a fervent hunt two weeks before the daughter's wedding they were one place I hadn't contacted.
Many were in the $400+s range, with some solid colors, such as black and silver, at $295, I believe. Some were sort of a velvet-type material. All or almost all had the black silk backs, and most had pearlescent-type buttons (with some metal?) - four or five. Tags said "Favourbrook...London." About my favorite was one of those subtle silvery floral patterns I like so much, but that one was a Zegna, and there were several by another company in Colorado. The Zegna was $315, I think.
I mentioned to the sales clerk I didn't expect to see these here, as I think of the shop as so Italian. He responded his merchandise had been almost 100% Italian, but they've been getting away from that and he thinks the Italians really like to copy the English. Hmm....
Anyway, it was great seeing real Favourbrook items from England, and were I to know about these a few weeks ago their prices would have been prohibitive. I told the guy I'd more expect these to be in the men's shops in our Chagrin Falls village (much English, "old-money," "horsey set" influence) , which is where I did get my vest (Canadian-made and I like it as well as any I saw yesterday) and he understood.
Answer:
As I see someone else posted some photos of a Carrot and Gibbs vest from Boulder, CO, I'll assume that's the company that made the American-made vests I saw at Kilgour Trout. I don't believe they had lapels, though.
As for the appropriateness of wearing a decorative silk vest or waistcoat with a tuxedo or dinner jacket, not only can it look extremely well but there's planty of tradition behind it. I mean for many decades and in the best of circles. I mean tasteful waistcoats, of course - the the garish ones that would be out of place in almost any setting, day or evening.
Answer:
And I mean you, dopey....
