Spring is "Checking" In - The Windowpane Jacket

Editor: Katerina Theocharis

With the early nuances of Spring already checking in and invitations to outdoor brunches, or early afternoon cutting shapes at smart casual cocktails pouring, we’re more inclined than ever to stroll in the fresh radiant light of today’s charmer: The Windowpane jacket !

Forty years ago, one could break down the dominant suit silhouettes into three or four “schools” of custom tailoring. In England they call it “bespoke”. In Italy the word is sartoria. In France it’s known as tailleur. Each generic suit shape could be identified by its national custom tailoring tradition, which filtered down into a variety of ready-to-wear dress styles, several of which emerged over the long term to be almost immune to the vagaries of fashion.

The Windowpane Jacket

For the initiated, the pattern’s individuality and popular neglect are two of its main attractions, the third being its salutary effect on the male figure. Longer in length than width, its upright rectangular formation subtly elongates, while its facility for harmoniously combining with a second or third pattern, is another plus.

You only need a power player House to give you an erudite pattern like this, which, like Caesar’s wife, goes above suspicion, so my go-to for the occasion couldn’t be any other than the three-button Sciamat linen windowpane jacket, with slit pockets on the hips and “to boat” on chest. A totally unlined and uncanvassed piece that has Sciamat’s creed ” liberation through the freedom of movement” written on its every seam, right from Bespoke Athens.

The Look

And If you have deemed yourselves among those diehards who won’t consider wearing anything but handmade, you know of course I am talking about Vassilis Bourtsalas, the soft rather than stiff weaver of gent elegance, who won’t miss the chance to educate you on the mix and match charm of eye-pleasing pattern sizes. What better pair for my windowpane jacket than a Bespoke Athens cotton checked pattern shirt and khaki cotton chinos exuding that slightly worn-in, old-money look associated with genteel taste, and will allow for cool, breathing smart casual wear any given day.

As the windowpane’s open-box setting encourages dar more varied pattern mixes than a glen plaid, it is the perfect foil for accessories of all backgrounds and I believe I might have mentioned my affection for yellow. Be it buff, butter, gold, mustard, ochre, or even tan it can be treated like a neutral, serve as a mood lifter and still maintain a due degree of formality in definite town occasions. Paired to a timeless pair of chocolate tassel loafers, the grenadine three-fold tie from Bespoke Athens couldn’t be anything but handmade.

Whether you decide to go for a cool spin on your formal wear, with charcoal teal windowpane or add a flattering and on-trend skinny fit to your investment pieces, basic colors we all certainly carry in our wardrobes will ensure this bespoke jacket won’t monopolize most of your funds. Go bold and big-patterned and create a sharp look that will surely turn a few heads on your chequered-chap trim.