Product Detail

I packed the black blazer for Amsterdam and fully expected it to stay in the suitcase. It was September, the forecast said sun, and a long black blazer felt like too much. It came out on the first morning and never went back in. The wind off the canals is its own season, and a blazer this length works as a coat without looking like you gave up on the outfit.

The Black Blazer Look

The blazer is single-breasted and sits low on the thigh. The shoulder is dropped, not padded, so it slouches instead of standing to attention. I push the sleeves up, which is how you see it in the photos. Under it is a navy and white striped tee, and the trousers are black, high-waisted, and very wide through the leg.

A few things I noticed wearing it all day:

• The tee is heavier than the usual Breton, so it keeps its shape after washing.
• The trousers are a light cotton twill. They move when you walk, and they move when you cycle.
• I rode a hire bike along the Herengracht in them and never caught the hem once. Anyone who has tried that in a straight leg knows what a relief that is.
• The yellow bag is mine, not part of the set. It is the only colour in the look, and that was on purpose.

The Stone Utility Jacket Look

If you only buy one piece from this page, buy the utility jacket. It is stone-coloured and oversized, with a funnel collar that stands on its own, low patch pockets, and a self-tie belt. Left open, it is a big paper bag of a jacket. Pulled in with the belt, there is a waist, the sleeves have somewhere to go, and the collar frames the face properly. I wore it belted every single day.

A customer told me it looked like a sixties anorak, and she was closer than I was. The word comes from the Greenlandic annoraaq, a pull-over weather shell, and by the 1950s British climbing kit had turned it into the pocketed jacket most of us picture. Ours is lighter and will not keep the rain off for long, but the shape, the tie, and the low pockets all come from that family.

The shorts under it are white and loose, with a drawstring waist. They are cotton jersey, so they behave more like a Sunday short than a going-out short. That was the point. The more structure a jacket has, the softer the bottom half should be.

The Loafers

The loafers are cream leather, with an apron toe, a gold bar across the vamp, and a low stacked heel. They went under both looks and over about eleven kilometres of cobbles a day, and I did not need a single plaster. Here is why they work:

• The toe box is cut on a walking last, so it is wider than a dress loafer.
• The heel counter is stiff, so the foot does not slide forward on every slope.
• The sole has some give under the ball of the foot instead of being a flat plank.

I covered most of this in Why Your Stilettos Hurt, and it holds true at loafer height as well.

The tan bag in the second photo is mine too. I only mention it because the bag, the shorts, and the loafers are what most of the questions have been about.

What’s In The Capsule

• Oversized black blazer. Single-breasted, dropped shoulder, notch lapel, thigh length, two-button front, patch pockets, lightweight wool blend
• Breton stripe tee. Navy and white, boat neck, mid-weight cotton jersey
• Wide-leg black trousers. High rise, pleated front, full wide leg, cotton twill
• Stone utility jacket. Oversized, funnel collar, hidden placket, self-tie belt, two low patch pockets, cotton and nylon poplin
• White drawstring shorts. Relaxed, mid-thigh, elastic waist with drawstring, cotton jersey
• Cream leather loafers. Apron toe, gold bar trim, leather upper and lining, leather sole with a rubber insert
• Imported

Care

• Blazer: dry clean only.
• Tee and shorts: cold wash, gentle cycle, dry flat. Do not tumble the stripe tee. It twists at the side seams and never sits square again.
• Trousers: cold wash, hang to dry, and a cool iron on the pleats.
• Utility jacket: cold machine wash on its own, with the belt tied to the belt loop so it does not disappear in the drum. Hang it to dry. Tumbling creases the poplin in a way that looks like you slept in it.
• Loafers: brush off the dust after a day on stone, and use a cream shoe polish every few weeks. Mine got caught in one Amsterdam shower. A wipe with a damp cloth and a night stuffed with paper brought them back.

Size & Fit

The blazer is long and oversized on purpose. Take your normal size for the look in the photos. If you are under 5’4″ and the length worries you, go one size down, and it will sit closer to the hip.

The tee is true to size with a little room. Take your normal size.

The trousers are the piece to measure for. They fit at the waist, so measure there, not at the hip. The leg is very wide, and the hem is cut to skim the floor. At 5’6″ in the loafers, mine sit exactly at floor length. If you are shorter, plan for a turn-up or a hem.

The utility jacket is built to be belted. Take your normal size and pull the tie in. Do not size down to get shape, because the collar pulls and the pockets sit too high.

The shorts are relaxed and elasticated, so they forgive a lot. Normal size, or one down if you want them shorter and closer.

The loafers are true to size and slightly wide. If your foot is narrow, go half a size down or add a thin insole. The leather gives about half a size over the first two weeks, so wear them around the house for a few evenings before a full day on cobbles.

I am 5’6″ and wear a size S in the blazer, tee, jacket, and shorts, and a 26 in the trousers. On the S, the blazer body length is 33″, the utility jacket is 29″, and the shorts inseam is 6″.

Shipping & Returns

Delivery estimates are for in-stock items only. Two Day and Next Day estimates are for orders placed by 10 AM EST.

Size Chart

Body measurements in inches.

Loafers come in US 5 to 11, in whole and half sizes.

How To Measure

• Bust. Around the fullest part of the chest, with the tape level under the arms.
• Waist. Around the narrowest part of the torso, usually just above the navel. For the wide-leg trousers, this is the measurement that counts, because the waistband sits right there.
• Hip. Feet together, around the fullest part, roughly 8 inches below the waist.
• Inseam. From the crotch seam down the inside of the leg to where you want the hem. These trousers are cut to skim the floor in a low heel, so measure to the floor in the shoes you will actually wear.
• Shoulder. Straight across the back, from seam to seam. Worth doing for the blazer, since a dropped shoulder still has to land somewhere sensible.
• Foot. Stand on a sheet of paper, mark the heel and the longest toe, and measure the line. Do it at the end of the day, when your feet are at their biggest.

We offer easy online returns and exchanges within 30 days of the shipment date, excluding clearance items marked as Final Sale. Exchanges for like items (same style and colour in a different size) are free. For returns, a $6.95 return postage charge will be deducted from your refund.