In the history of the game of golf, you would be hard pressed to find a more nattily attired player than the great Bobby Jones. In fact, if GolfThreads, and the good ol’ Internets for that matter, had been around a century ago, Mr. Jones would have taken up permanent residence at or near the top of our annual best dressed list. I’m sure he would have been proud to have added a few Threadies to his trophy case to go along with five U.S. Amateur, four U.S. Open, three Open Championship and one British Amateur trophies.
Embed from Getty ImagesAs with all well dressed gentlemen, what separated Mr. Jones from others was his modern threads and attention to detail. Modern, by 1920s standards was formal attire, and Mr. Jones nailed the particulars with crisp white dress shirts, perfectly knotted ties, well-tailored slacks and killer spectator shoes. But what would Mr. Jones wear if he were playing today?
The designers at the Bobby Jones brand face this question on a daily basis. This spring, they have answered with a collection that includes new contemporary fits, a mix of technical and natural fabrics, and a fashionable palette with an array of classic and vibrant colors.
Can’t you see Mr. Jones attacking courses with a titanium driver and a solid core golf ball while sporting a well-tailored polo and technical pants? Hmmmm. Well, maybe those first two things are a stretch, but the on point looks are not difficult to imagine at all.
Tailored Fit Polos
The best addition to this spring’s Bobby Jones Collection is the line of tailored fit polos. The new design of these polos is right up my alley. They offer a sleeker silhouette with less excess fabric compared to the brand’s range of Heritage Fit polos. The sleeves are more than 3” shorter and hit mid-bicep. They are also 1 1/4” narrower and have a higher armhole. Through the body they are more fitted and 1 1/2” shorter. This is how polo shirts should fit!
I like the fact that Bobby Jones has created the Tailored Fit polos in the brand’s Supreme Cotton and XH20 fabrics to give players the choice between natural and technical materials. Personally, I prefer cotton as it transitions well to off course environments. It can easily be paired with well tailored chinos or shorts on the course, and jeans or shorts on the street. From a performance standpoint, both fabric options provide all the stretch you need to get a few more yards out of that hard eight iron.
SEE ALSO: Bobby Jones Apparel: Elegance Redefined
Apparently, I’m not the only one who is a fan of the Bobby Jones Tailored Fit polos. Kevin Kisner, who battled Rickie Fowler to the end at The Players Championship, has been sporting them with great success on the PGA Tour this year.
Embed from Getty ImagesNo need to size up on the Tailored Fit polos. Go with your normal size and enjoy the clean aesthetic.
Crown Jacquard
If you haven’t heard by now, prints and patterns are in and Bobby Jones is prepared to outfit you in a range of polos that feature elegant jacquard patterns for the season. The Crown Jacquard polo is undoubtedly the best of the bunch. The jacquards offer a great entry point into the world of prints and patterns as they are easy for anyone to wear. They add depth and texture to any outfit, while still being sophisticated and subtle.
Like a fine luxury car, the Crown Jacquard polo is well appointed with up-market details, such as 100% Egyptian Cotton fabric, laser engraved mother-of-pearl buttons and Mobilon stretch tape across the shoulders for playability on the course. I’ve worn many incredibly soft Egyptian Cotton shirts in my day, but Bobby Jones has taken ‘soft’ to a new level with this polo. Once you put it on, you won’t want to take it off.
The coordinating print under the collar may be a hidden detail, but it epitomizes the class and sophistication that Bobby Jones apparel is all about. I’m not a proponent of popping the collar, but whenever I wear the Crown Jacquard polo, I can’t help but taking a peek at the pattern every once in while.
The Crown Jacquard features the brand’s Heritage Fit, providing a bit more room through the body and longer, wider sleeves.
Seersucker and Cotton Stretch Shorts
Here in California, seersucker isn’t a fabric that gets a lot of play, but after wearing the new Roberts Seersucker Short a few times, I’m determined to start a trend on the left coast.
Seersucker is the quintessential summer fabric, and its classic preppy vibe is a perfect fit for the Bobby Jones Spring Collection. Seersucker is woven in such a way that some of the threads bunch together, giving the fabric a wrinkled or bumpy appearance. This raises the fabric from the skin, allowing air to circulate and heat to escape. The Roberts Short pairs nicely with a solid polo, such as the Tailored Fit polo.
Joining the Roberts short, is one of the signature pieces in the Bobby Jones Spring Collection — the Stretch Plain Front Short. Tailored shorts that hit just above the knee with a slight taper are the trend for the season, and this short will certainly keep you looking your best.
The Stretch Plain Front Short was my go-to choice last summer, and I’m happy to say that the designers at Bobby Jones took a ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’ mentality with it this year. This is a highly versatile piece that plays as well on the course as off, and it pairs well with the jacquard and stripe polos in the brand’s line up.
The little bit of stretch in this short goes a long way in delivering performance and comfort in a variety of environments. The mesh lining in the front pockets is a well thought out feature that allows for air circulation around the thighs and prevents the pockets from getting that sticky feeling in humid conditions.
XH20 Stretch Tech Pant
Bobby Jones has always done cotton pants very well, but something that has been missing from its line has been a technical pair of trousers. Consider that void filled with the introduction of the XH20 Stretch Tech Pant. Too often, technical pants take on a very athletic look and lose any semblance of sophistication in exchange for performance. What makes the XH20 pant unique is that it maintains its classic good looks and elegant drape, while also delivering the moisture wicking function, UV protection and breathability that you would expect from a technical garment.
The fit of XH20 pant is likely to appeal to a wide range of players. You won’t be reaching for a spatula when slipping these on and off, or worrying about a wardrobe malfunction when reading a putt. This pant offers a comfortable amount of room through the hips and thighs without being baggy, and the slight taper through the lower leg provides a modern silhouette. If Mr. Jones was strolling the fairways these days, I’m willing to bet we would see him in this pant more often than not.
If you are going to get this pant tailored, I say ditch the v-notch hem and ask your tailor for a military hem. A military hem is an angled hem that is typically a half-inch shorter in the front than in the back. This allows the pant leg to brush the top of the shoe in the front, while covering the rear of shoe. The result is a very clean look that eliminates bunching around the ankles.
The Bobby Jones Spring 2015 Collection is the brand’s best collection to date. With a wide variety of fits, fabrics and colors, there is something for everyone. Look for Bobby Jones apparel at your local green grass shop, upscale resorts or on the web at BobbyJones.com. In addition to Kevin Kisner, Bobby Jones is worn by Miguel Angel Jimenez on the Tour, however, slipping it on won’t make you the Most Interesting Man in Golf. That part is up to you.
Bobby Jones on the web: bobbyjones.com
Bobby Jones on Twitter: @bobbyjonesgolf
Bobby Jones on Facebook: facebook.com/bobbyjonesshop
Bobby Jones on Instagram: @bobbyjonesgolf