Oxford Spring 2018 Apparel Review

Introduction

With rebranding complete, Oxford has solidified their position as a strong cross-over apparel brand. As we highlighted in our recent PGA Show Recap, Oxford offers guys complete wardrobe options. The Spring 2018 collection includes fresh colors in core pieces plus a variety of new styles and fabrics across the spectrum of golf and lifestyle apparel.

Performance

Oxford’s popularity starts with their style options, but it’s performance that keeps golfers happy. Utilizing proven, world class fabric technologies isn’t the least expensive way to manufacture apparel, but it pays off in the long run. The new button down Bocaire polo in Faded Rose is a perfect example. Constructed of 100% COOLMAX, which dries 4X faster than ordinary polyester, the shirt wicked away perspiration with ease on a hot afternoon golfing in Central Florida. Even nicer for my playing partners, the polo also incorporated FRESHGUARD that kept odors at bay.

Staying comfortable isn’t restricted to golf polos with Oxford, as they’ve also incorporated fabric technology into sport shirts and pants. Not only does the Howell long sleeve plaid sport shirt look great right out of the dryer, the 95% nylon, 5% spandex material keeps the shirt lightweight and wicks moisture. While golfing or during routine daily activities, I found maneuvering easy in both the new Brookdale shorts and Hadfield chino pants. The Windsor performance pants remain the same as last fall, but deserve a repeat shout:

The Windsor Performance Pant is the long legged version of the Vickery shorts that I’ve been enjoying all summer. The 95/5 poly/spandex blend fabric is lightweight and moisture wicking. Sometimes pants feel cumbersome golfing, but that never crossed my mind with these – even when squatting to read a putt. And don’t worry about your shirt coming out in that squat, the Oxford script in the waistband has gription.

Style & Fit

Oxford continues its clean, refined style with the Spring 2018 Collection. They’ve done an impressive job creating performance apparel that doesn’t look like performance apparel. The Bocaire polo doesn’t scream golf, just as the Howell sport shirt keeps its performance features on a need to know basis.

My only slight disappointment with this collection was the casual short sleeve Glenwood shirt. I was drawn to the soft sky blue stripes and the thought of strolling mindlessly on a beach, but the cotton/linen shirt takes a lot of effort to look like the catalog pictures. The cleaning tag may state “warm iron if needed” but it should lose the “if”. I am hopeful it’s going to get softer and more user friendly with repeated washings. On the plus side, the removable collar stays keep the collar nice and pointy – no curling.

In my Fall 2017 review, I thought a shorter version of the Windsor performance pants might be better and that turned out to be true. For all their great golf attributes, I’ve discovered they are equally suitable for a dressier look off the course. I stuck with a 32” length on the oh-so-soft Hadfield chino pants and couldn’t be happier with the fit. All the pants and shorts had plenty of room in the waist, but I’d be reluctant to go down a size.

In my standard medium size, all the shirts had a wonderful fit. The polo is a regular cut, with room in the chest and shoulders. The sport shirt had a more athletic cut, but was far from snug – great for layering under a sweater or pullover. The Glenwood had a similar fit but with a shorter length that begs to be worn untucked.

Conclusion

The amazing aspect of the Oxford Spring 2018 Collection is that all the pieces I tested go well together. For a weekend trip, that makes packing simple, especially if you aren’t sure what the wife has planned or what time of day you’ll be golfing. Looking sharp and staying comfortable – Oxford can “Make Today Lucky”.

[carousel]

Author
Recent Posts

Matt Meeker

Senior Writer at Plugged In Golf

Matt - aka 'Meeks' - lives in the beautiful Lowcountry of South Carolina with his wife who allows his golf obsession to stretch the limits of normalcy.