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Long-lasting Viyella robes found online, or in England

Q. My dad had a great-looking plaid Viyella wool robe that I inherited and wore for years, but somehow managed to burn a hole in the sleeve. I would like to get something like it without spending $350. Is there such an item and somewhere to find it?

A. You are right that men's and boys' Viyella robes were treasured classics years ago. I recall that when my four sons were little, we had a navy plaid Viyella robe that was bought for the oldest of the boys and that was eventually worn by all of them. It always looked good and it never seemed to wear out. They are rarer now, but still not outrageously priced, especially considering their endurance.

Viyella, the patented name of a fabric, not a designer's name or a clothing manufacturer, was -- and still is -- a unique blend of 80 percent long-staple pima cotton and 20 percent Australian merino wool. Among its many desirable properties: It is cozy-feeling, warmer than cotton but not as delicate as wool; it is lighter weight than wool; it's machine washable even though most wool garments have to be dry-cleaned; it is somewhat expensive, but not extravagantly so; and, although it comes in solid colors, it is primarily found in handsome, masculine-looking tartan plaids. If you were not aware of the actual percentages, you might think the fabric was lightweight all-wool ... which, for some reason, happens to be washable.

Historically, Viyella was renowned for more than two centuries for its soft hand, warmth, colorfastness and durability. Known as the world's first branded fabric, it was first woven near Sherwood Forest in Nottingham, England. The cotton/wool blend provides comfort and breathability; its high-count weave produces garments that remain colorfast and that seem to get better with age. These robes remind me of the charming tagline used in advertisements for what is perhaps the world's most upscale watch: "You never actually own a Patek Philippe. You merely look after it for the next generation." Similarly, Viyella robes have a slogan of their own: "The only thing better than a new Viyella is an old one."

Unfortunately, Viyella robes are more difficult to find these days than they used to be. They are sold at A. Hume and elsewhere in England, but I presume you are interested in something closer. Here are a few U.S. sources.

Hansen's Clothing (HansensClothing.com), a family-owned company that has been in business in Spencer, Iowa, for 110 years, has Viyella robes for $185, Viyella sport shirts for $125 and scarves for $80. They also carry many other top-of-the-line classic menswear lines, including Pendleton, Bill's Khakis and St. Croix (fine knitwear).

Dann Men's Clothing has been in Indianapolis since 1972. Now it is exclusively online at dann-online.com. The site features many of the world's finest brand names. Their Viyella robes are $172.50. Viyella sport shirts are $122.50. Their luxe lambswool-and-cashmere-blend robes are somewhat similar, but cost $395 and are not washable. Their 100 percent cashmere robes (satin lined) cost $1,500. Neiman Marcus, too, sells cashmere robes for $1,065. Clearly, these make the Viyellas seem like a major bargain.

Pendleton, one of America's finest men's clothing companies, has been producing beautiful robes since 1910. Though they do not make Viyella robes, they have robes in heavy wool and also in the company's own wool brand fabric called Washable Whisperwool (not a cotton/wool blend, but a fine lightweight 100 percent pure virgin wool fabric woven in American mills). The robe has a shawl collar, three patch pockets, turn-back cuffs and a 72-inch self-belt. It sells regularly for $240; some are now on sale.

Wherever you find it, I'm sure you will enjoy wearing your robe for many years to come.

Send men's fashion queries to Male Call:

Lois.Fenton@prodigy.net

High Profile on 01/18/2015

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