In happy weekend news, Drake’s full spring/ summer collection is now available on their website. Included are some summer shirts made in their newly acquired Rayner & Sturges factory, as well as some ready-to-wear sunglasses from Nackymade. They’ve also expanded their colors for grenadines (now boasting many shades of green, brown, and blue) and considerably expanded their line of shantungs. In addition, the unique fuzzy mohair tie they introduced last season seems to have been kept, and there are some basicreppstripes to satisfy their more conservative customers.
Perhaps most interesting of all is their pocket square line. There’s a handsome cotton animal print that I think would sit well in the pocket of any tropical wool or linen sport coat, as well as some a spring/ summer version of their tile print design. I actually bought a couple of their tile prints last season and have found them to be incredibly useful. The print is unusual enough to not overly match any tie, but also conservative enough to not stick out too much on its own.
The best square of all might be the one honoring Josephine Baker - widely considered the “First Lady” of jazz and an important figure in the American Civil Rights Movement. Baker famously refused to perform for segregated audiences, and had a not uncomplicated relationship with French society as a symbol of Black femininity. I’ve included a great documentary of her at the end of this post, should you want to watch some fascinating Black history. There are also some things over at The Phoenix Project dedicated to her, although those are aimed at women’s wear.
Many thanks to Drake’s for not releasing a line of Bill Evans or Miles Davis pocket squares this season, for otherwise, I might have gone broke.