27 January 2011

The Perils of Thrifting (A Tale of Two Jackets, Reprise)

It's not all a bed of roses out there in the wild world of other people's cheap junk.
In an effort to prepare the tattersall jacket we discussed only the other day, a thorough pressing was in order.But as I tried to get the wrinkles out, I just couldn't. It seems like the lining and the body of the jacket don't line up...and the scent of laundry detergent came off it...almost like someone washed it in hot water and it shrunk. Ironic, really, given that our man Thom Browne was known to wash suits in hot water in his quest to create the now famous "two sizes too small" look he's so famous for.  Touche, Mr. Browne, touche.

It's still a nice piece of cloth. Maybe Mr. Lee can fashion a vest out of it or something. Can't win'em all.

p.s. new items in the shop as of last night. Peruse at your leisure. Just don't expect to find any tattersall jackets.

10 comments:

F. Bordewijk said...

Good heavens! I had a Versace jacket that did this, which must also have been washed.
There is also the matter of pressing. You don't want to be taking an iron to a jacket like that. It's far safer to hold it just above the coat, while on your tailor's dummy, and hit the steam button.

Thad said...

Or, at the worst, it would make a nice set of pillows!

Cheers!

Zach said...

I think by "reprise" you mean "recant," G.

How did the stock-that-shall-not-be-named of shirts-that-shall-not-be-named work out for you?

Z

Claude said...

Heartbreak abounds!

Giuseppe said...

Zach,

I don't recant anything. I can't help it if some schmuck thought this thing could be cleaned in a household washing machine.

Bordewijk,

I steamed it on an ironing board through a clean cloth...repeatedly. It's never going to hang straight again.

David V said...

I once had a pair of trousers from an MTM suit that , for reasons my wife never explained, ended up going through the washer and dryer.

Sometimes bad things happen to good clothing.

Anonymous said...

If you were in Hong Kong, you could simply ask a street-tailor to remove the lining, press the shell, and then reline the jacket with new lining.

Young Fogey said...

All is not lost! Take it to your favorite dry cleaner, and see if he can work his magic. Certainly the jacket is worth that much effort, isn't it?

And yes, if you really love it as a jacket, Mr. Lee can put a new lining in for you.

Unclelooney said...

Have Mr. Lee Fashion a tattersall
rucksack or tote bag out of it-the next big thing. It's a great jacket, surely it can be fixed.

Aggie K said...

It looks like the lining shrank. If you can, take it out, and see if the jacket lies or hangs okay without it. If so, and if it's worth it to you, put in a new lining.