Report from the Road
Sometimes, simplicity is all you need
I've spent the last two weeks on the road for the holidays. First, I spent a week in North Carolina and the last week in Chicago. Countless other menswear newsletters cover packing in detail, so I won't go down that road. Instead, today, I wanted to talk about the piece of clothing I wore the most during these last two trips—my Junior's Scotland Shetland sweater.
It was cold in North Carolina when I was there, averaging in the 40s each day, but it's been freezing since I've been in Chicago. Really cold. As I write these words, the wind chill is 8 degrees, as it has been every morning for a week. The one thing I did forget to bring was a large winter coat, as I didn't want to lug it through a series of airports, and when I left, back on December 23, my ten-day weather forecast wasn’t able to predict that days 11-17 of my trip would feature sub-arctic temperatures.
What I did bring, however, is my Junior's Scottish Shetland sweater. I've worn it every day for two weeks, and in my humble opinion, it's the perfect choice for these frigid days. Its simplicity, incredible versatility, and style make it my go-to choice for these chilly days.
I bought this sweater long before I met Glenn Au and made my video in his shop in Philadelphia. Since then, my adoration for him and his product has only grown. When I pass through Philadelphia later this month, I'll most definitely stop by his shop and pick up another.
My favorite thing about sweaters is their versatility. You can honestly wear them with anything. I know I'm not a rocket scientist when I say that, but that's not always the case. We all have worn a sweater or two that feels a bit itchy when wearing a short-sleeve shirt underneath. I had been trained to accept this fate and was nervous about wearing just a T-shirt underneath in the morning for fear of extreme itchiness on my arms, but that's not the case here. The sweater, made of 100% wool in Scotland, is one of my favorite pieces of clothing. At $205, it's a reasonable investment for a piece that will last. It's not cheap, but it's not exorbitantly expensive either.
Often, I like to wear a collared shirt underneath it for a more formal look. It’s essential for me that when I do this, the sweater's collar fits snugly with the collar of the collared shirt, as this sweater does. I don't think it looks as good when there is a sag in the crew neck of the sweater. Of course, we all know it can be worn with a blazer, with or without a collared shirt underneath.
It may not be the flashiest item on the market, but if I've learned anything on this trip, it’s just how essential and valuable this sweater is to my wardrobe. The Junior's Shetland Sweater is my go-to.
