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p l a i n c l o t h e s
2820 Linden Avenue, Homewood, Alabama
205.871.3391
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FALL 2011
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MEN

Love your old windbreaker? For many men that's the all-purpose outerwear jacket of choice. Our favorite windbreaker, or "blouson" as the Italians call it, is the Valstarino, a classic style that this company, Milan-based since 1911, began making in 1935.

Shown here in dark grey washed cashmere it's suitably nonchalant worn with low-key pieces like this flexwool turtleneck, black cotton moleskin pants, reversible woven suede belt, driving shoes and plaid patterned socks.

Choose to wear a Valstar coat or jacket this winter and you'll be helping the company celebrate its 100th anniversary.

You may not need a cashmere robe, or dressing gown as the British call it. Who cares what you look like in the privacy of your own home? Certainly not your wife-- after all, she's got you "for better or for worse".

But cashmere feels so good and you would look so handsome a la Cary Grant...Maybe you should treat yourself.

Pictured here with striped dress shirt, subtle tie and handmade pocket square. Just right for an evening by the fireside with some clever conversation and a bottle of champagne.

This bicolor cashmere cardigan is a new look from an old company. Started back in 1797, Johnstons' mills pioneered the weaving of cashmere in Scotland and has been famous for its sweaters ever since.

Wear this one instead of a blazer or sportcoat with a striped or checked shirt and a wooly tie. Add some tweed pants (cinched with a double o-ring belt), a blucher-style shoe chosen for its polished country look, and don't forget your tie bar.

This one sports a vintage enameled terrier. Doesn't he look a lot like Nick and Nora Charles' doggie playmate Asta?

Meticulously crafted in Italy this handsome reversible 3/4 length coat leads a double life, suede on one side and leather on the other. Soft and supple, it doesn't feel bulky at all, even worn as shown over a wool and cashmere v-neck vest and washed cotton plaid sport shirt.

Enjoy two coats for the price of one with this doublefaced brushed cotton 3/4 coat from outerwear specialist Valstar: the sporty blue plaid shown here reverses completely to solid blue. Worn either way it works well with a natural color Donegal crew neck sweater (made in Ireland, of course) and classic blue end-on-end cotton sport shirt.

Need a coat sturdy enough to ward off the cold and rain, snow, sleet or hail? Try this one, made in Austria by Schneiders from their trademark "Rainloden", a water-repellant, windproof, warm and nearly indestructible woolen fabric produced by traditional methods using no chemicals. Unlined, it's designed to be packable and it won't suffer from being stuffed into an airplane's overhead bin either. We like it with this tartan plaid, extra-fine merino wool scarf made by Johnston's of Elgin.

 WOMEN 

In 1910, fashionable ladies wore corsets and copies from Paris. But American designers soon invented sportswear for the country's increasingly emancipated women. A bold innovation then, sportswear remains America's greatest contribution to the world of what to wear.

This dress designed by Lyn Devon with its elegant cut and beautiful paisley silk fabric represents American sportswear at its best, reinterpreted for the 21st century.

Couture details and color are signatures of French-born, Brooklyn-based designer Sophie Theallet. Her clothes make the little girl in you want to play "dress up".

Here a simple, wearable wool jersey dress gets a quite literal twist as its front wraps across to a series of pleats on the hip and ties with contrasting ribbons. If the weather's chilly, add her bi-color cardigan sweater for a little extra warmth. Be sure to keep the jewelry, like this necklace, simple.

The best design falls flat unless it's made up in a beautiful and appropriate fabric. This sophisticated lady's jacket is made from a wonderful doublefaced wool produced by Italian textile manufacturer Loro Piana. Committed to producing the finest cashmere, vicuna and woolen fabrics this company each year awards its coveted World Wool Record Challenge Cup to the grower who produces the best bale of wool in Australia and the grower who produces the best bale in New Zealand, too.

Jacket shown with straight leg tweed pants and a silk twill scarf.

Suitcase-size, over embellished handbags from over hyped designers are yesterday's news. The clean lined, mustard color clutch shown here makes more sense and looks better, too. Its designer, Sara Barner, who handcrafts every bag, has a keen eye for both style and quality and her lovely collection of leather goods shows it.

We like the way the mustard color accents these textured and tonal grey pieces: a beaded and embroidered 3/4 length soft wool coat that can go casual as well as fancy, an irridescent taffeta blouse and unlined cashmere trousers.

Some designers know what they are good at and just do it. Our friend John Patrick truly understands what American women want to wear: wardrobe staples that are individually special but can be shuffled and worn in many different ways. Case in point, this scarf-neck sweater coat with pockets and elbow-length sleeves.

It will work over a dress, a turtleneck and skirt, a tee shirt and jeans (if you must) or as pictured here, belted over a skinny, flannel ankle pant and a band collar silk print blouse.

Safari-style jackets conjure up exotic colonial locales, places where wearing a pith helmet makes a lot of sense. Places synonymous with adventure and romance.

The lightweight cotton jacket pictured here with its patch and flap pockets, half belted back and windlatch collar is an of-the-moment version of the classic safari look. Put it on, close your eyes and think Grace Kelly in "Mogambo".

We've paired it with a long, slim cotton twill skirt, a stretchy belted tee shirt and a colorful pocket square.

On days when life seems especially complicated don't waste precious time dithering about what to wear. Amsterdam-based designer Marcha Huskes solves that problem for you with this colorblocked dress. Its relaxed silhouette, high-tech fabric and of-the-moment construction details make it both stylish and easy to wear. Just pull it on, step into your shoes, grab your favorite necklace (maybe this one made of clear and matte crystal nuggets and 18k gold), and go.

Experiment with color--it's an easy antidote to the sameness of all those dependable neutrals you've accumulated. The dark grey wool jersey wrap skirt here ties with pink grosgrain ribbons thanks to Sophie Theallet and contrasts with the apple green irridescence of Sylvia Heisel's taffeta shirt. Even the dramatic necklace we've added is a colorful mix of labradorites, ruby nuggets and 18k gold.

The best designers can keep things simple and still grab your attention. This softly gathered cashmere jersey skirt and handknitted matching turtleneck sweater from Lyn Devon prove it. We've added only a simple necklace of silver, vermeil and oxidized silver beads.

Soft coats are big news in menswear right now, but they work for women, too. This one is a classic glen plaid pattern, but its fabric is a sweatery, washed wool-blend jersey, unlined so it's neither hot nor heavy. Tailored? Yes. But the sloped sleeve hems with working buttonholes, contrasting suede undercollar, and pocket square say, "Don't take me too seriously."