Hi there
When we re-did our old kitchen a few years back, the built-in dishwasher was fitted too tightly between the adjacent cabinets. 11 out of 12 months a year, it's unnoticeable. But every year in August, the increased humidity makes the wooden structures of the kitchen swell, and the dishwasher's inadequate maneuvering space makes itself known. On every open, and every close, it produces a sound: Squeak. Squeak. On repeat. The melancholic onomatopoeia has etched itself into my nervous system – an irritating reminder that summer is decaying, day by day.
And from one day to another, it goes quiet. My mood lightens. Instead of gloom, I feel anticipation thinking of autumn: harvest season, soft lights, new beginnings and the imminent return of layering season. In August, this is what I wear.
Few garments clean up a look like a crisp oxford cloth button down. Our 175gsm oxford weave fabric has been in production since our The Oxford Shirt launch in 2016, with only minor tweaks to fit and details over time. The cloth is dry and crisp to the touch after laundry – then gradually warms up and breaks in over the course of the day. Over the summer months I wear it as a lightweight overshirt, unbuttoned and cuffs rolled, over a T-shirt. In fall, it comes out standalone paired with our straight cut
Regular Fit Chino for a more considered appearance. If you go for one color only to play both positions – pared back and dressed up – I'd go for a striped option.
Another Asket classic. Back in 2017, we modeled our inaugural chino on an Italian pair of chinos we stumbled across at the time. The key features: a peachy, brushed sateen weave with a hint of stretch, tailored details including an overlapping waistband and herringbone lining, and a tapered, slim fit. We've worked with the same fabric quality, supplied by TBM Tessuti Italiani, since its inception, but a few things have since changed. We removed the peachy feel (no longer brushing the fabric) for better longevity and a more refined look, and – most significantly – last fall we introduced a regular fit with a straight cut leg alongside the slim, tapered fit. The Regular Fit is now my go-to for a pared-back but put-together look. I tame its sartorial nature by wearing it either with a crew neck Sweatshirt and loafers, or an Oxford Shirt and sneakers.
I live in these at home. Every day, all day of the year. The second I get home, or at the very latest the second the kids are in bed, they come on. They're like a release valve for the pressures of the hectic day-to-day. But during the summer months, you'll find me leaving the comfort of my apartment in them too – for long weekend mornings, late evening errands, or just all the time during those blissfully uneventful summer days.
Coincidentally another fabric champion – we don't change winning concepts. This piece has been cut from the same Italian fabric, supplied by shirting powerhouse Albini, since 2018. It's seen practically no changes or revisions for 8 years – until now. Together with Albini, we've finally managed to replicate the fabric using organically farmed cotton. The perfect sartorial bridge between late summer days and back-to-work looks, just got even better.
Wishing you restful remaining summer days and a good start to the autumn season.
Sincerely,
August
Co-Founder of Asket
