FYI

Want to add patches to a jacket or sweater you already have? You can buy them online and have your tailor sew them on for you.

Suede patches,
$5 at Atlanta Thread & Supply

Patch Things Up

It's a look that originated out of pragmatic necessity. Back in the days before disposable fashion, when the sleeves of a jacket or sweater were worn down to shiny, threadbare spots, men would have sturdy patches of suede and leather sewn on. That kind of wear and tear is less common today, but it doesn't mean the look doesn't resurface every couple of seasons. This fall, it seems, patches will be prolific in all sorts of fabrics. From the standard cow hide to such thoughtful incarnations as Tommy Hilfiger's corduroy and Rugby's herringbone tweed.