English Roll Neck Submariner Jumper - An All-time Versatile classic

Here having gone full 'Ahab':

This review of my British Roll Neck Submariner Jumper that I purchased from the good people at Outdoor Knitwear in the UK just in time for the arrival of Autumn in October of last year.  I had been considering getting one of these for a while and so full props here to Norton of Morton's timely and informative blog post for kicking me over the finish line.

Having enjoyed it for the past three months, I can certainly say that it's become one of my very favorite 'Go-To' cold weather companion pieces.  Yes it's beautifully cozy warm, and since it's made from pure British wool, is also great at regulating my body temperature so that I don't feel pull it off inside all the time.

Even after months of wear the ribbed cuff and roll neck have not stretch out at all:

Outdoor Knitwear states on their website: 'The Submariner's sweater has been manufactured by us for many years for the British Royal Navy. With its roll neck, deep welt (hem) and cuffs and an internal reinforcement patch to the neck/shoulder seam, it is made to an original 70 year old specification. The Submariners sweater is made using a 3-fold 100% pure new British wool, especially treated to prevent shrinkage.' I can certainly say that my Jumper has held up nicely over these past months of regular wear.  With not even a hint of a pill in sight.  

This jumper has the right stuff - seam reinforcements mean that this piece of kit is built to last:

However, the one of the best things about this design is that it looks great with just about any outfit and can be dressed up or down so easily:  It looks just a great with Selvage denim and work boots as it does with a Camelhair Glen check sports jacket and loafers.  Perhaps it's the Naval heritage, but it always gives off an air of masculine cool with any combo I choose to pair it with.

Here are just a few of the combinations I have found look great with this most versatile of sweaters.

With Barleycorn Harris Tweed:

Going full nautical with Blue flannel blazer with brass buttons:

Braving the wintry weather with a vintage Herringbone Harris Tweed Great Coat:

Taken today with my Brown Glen Check Tweed Shooter jacket from John Partridge Co. Ltd.:

With The Shackleton canvas box jacket and Selvage Denims:

With Glen Check Camelhair sports coat:

Just Arrived - John Partridge Shooter Jacket

(Click on any photo to enlarge)

Hello Tweed lovers!  This my first product review of what I hope to be many to come. I was very excited to receive 2 coats from the good people of John Partridge Co. Ltd. this past week and the need to review these was the final catalyst for my starting this blog!!  You may be saying to yourself  'This must be some jacket to have kicked me out of my lethargy' and you would be entirely correct.  This jacket is a real beauty and the build quality is top notch, base upon my consistent wear over the past several days of inclement Bavarian Winter weather - this coat is definitely what I would describe as built for the long haul.

Based in Staffordshire, England, John Partridge Co. Ltd. has been in business for a fair long while making great outdoor (what the Brits call 'Country Clothing) wear.  This item is what is technically called their 'Mens Shooting Jacket -Lowland -Hybrid - Brown', which I think is straightforward enough, but hardly gives this beautiful Tweed shooter it's just due.  The Tweed is a wonderfully English milled 'Glen check' brown tweed wool with just a bit of polyester added for extra durability (this jacket is also offered in 3 other Tweeds and cotton as well).  Having a taped waterproof breathable membrane between the outer and the lining will guarantee I'll stay dry no matter what mother nature decides to throw my way.

Big bellows pockets to hold your shotgun shells (or my mobile phone;-)

The pock flaps can even be held open with a snap tab to help with those fast re-loads

Weatherproof inner cuff

As a classic English shooter jacket, it comes loaded with all the great features that anyone would want for a day on the hunt including:

• Action back - for better range of motion through the shoulders
• Two-way front zip- better for driving
• Two-way storm flaps- to keep out horizontal rain
• Half adjusters across the back-keeps me looking slim
• Two outside pockets with matte brass studs
• Two hand warmers
• Stand up collar lined with faux suede
• Knitted inner cuff

If even comes with a Partridge 'on the wing' pin for inspiration:

Side tabs offer a bit more tailored look

'Action back' pleats for better range of movement 

All in all, I'm looking to be very cozy warm this Winter and for many, many Winters to come.   I couldn't be more chuffed with the jacket.  I think this is my first product review,  I've hit the jackpot!

PS: the Close-ups:
I have taken to presenting photo studies of the tweed I feature here on The Landless Gentry for my own enjoyment and for that of my tweed obsessed brethren.  Please also notice the beautifully finish 'John Partridge Co. snaps heads used throughout this jacket - another sure sign of quality because it speaks to the level of detail and thought that goes into every John Partridge product:

Landless Gentry blog Is..

This blog has been percolating in the back of my brain for a while and I think now it's time to just dig in.  I will be sharing with you my thoughts and reviews on some of my favorite products: Clothing and men's style, high-quality accessories, whiskey,  and occasionally my travels - anything which a gentleman might find an interest.  I'll also be posting some photos of my outfits that I assemble and share some of the brands and men's style looks that I like.  Of course, as you'll soon notice, I'm a bit tweed obsessed, so obviously you can expect to see quite a lot of that featured - especially in the Fall, Winter and Spring months.  Being located in Munich, Germany, the weather is often favorable for Tweed and I've been able to really explore this wonderful and infinitely varied fabric in ways that would never have been possible while living in California.

My personal style, while of course always evolving, is pretty traditional.   I've been interested in this style since I first saw 'Chariots of Fire' while still in high school.  I find that I've become more interested in Retro/Vintage styles of late, but while I love the styles form the 1920', 1930's (who among us can fail to have been impressed by the wardrobe in 'Downton Abbey' and more recently 'Peaky Blinders'), I am neither interested in embracing the total Retro/Vintage style/lifestyle nor am I interested in living in a reenactment (Although I admire those who do and follow them avidly on Instagram).  I do find that I do have a certain sense of nostalgia for the 'Good Old Days', which all seem to be before my time (if they ever existed at all).  I'm interested in traditional Men's style steeped in Anglo/English heritage with some Ivy League and even Italian style is thrown in for good measure (In the heat of Summer, the Italian style really comes into its own).

Kitzbuhel, Austria 2017

Some of the products that I love and discover will be reported hear as well as stores and towns that I visit in my occasional travels through Europe.  I have an especial fondness for high-quality handmade items and will be happily featuring them here as well including my own work on occasion, although I've already got a longstanding blog, Instagram and Facebook page for my work, so this blog will primarily focus of men's products outside my own watch strap business.  As many of you may know, I am a humble custom watch strap maker and so I am not, as they say 'made of money'.  Please don't expect a lot of very high priced goods such as bespoke shoes and tailoring, for while I love these things and hope to one day afford such luxuries, these are mostly beyond my current financial where-with-all.  Having said that, I am a keen bargain hunter and will find and share great items that I think are well priced for the quality (my mother didn't raise no fool).

Let the Blogging Begin!!