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A blog dedicated to the interesting, scandalous, useful and cutting edge in the world of men’s style, fashion and grooming.
A.P.C. has let loose their fall and winter ’08 lineup, and we’re suitably impressed. Choosing a ginger model is a particularly seasonal touch, but the lineup of tweed, denim and generally tough fabrics is the real draw. They’ve been having a pretty good year—they rolled out a new denim style in April—and a recent Japanese expansion seems to have tempered their usual minimalism.
Naturally, the pants remain slim and the jackets keep their epaulettes.
It’s easy to overdo the knit look but, as this Nordic fellow demonstrates, overdoing it isn’t necessarily a bad thing. As things get colder, looking comfortable can be as important as looking sharp, and this piece of needlework looks very very comfortable.
It comes from Scandanavian designer Carin Wester, who’s currently only selling at Tres Bien Shop, a surprisingly consistent online boutique, but if they keep building up press like this, you may see them in person before too long.
Turning antiquated staples on their head is an old game, but classics are still classics and Technicolor isn’t going anywhere…
Gloverall has been making duffle coats for more than 50 years now, meaning they were around for the post-war boom, the gradual decline and now the hipster-fueled revival. Of course, it wouldn’t be retro if there weren’t a twist, so these come in a Pantone-approved range of hues, from bright yellow to a muted aquamarine.
And, surprisingly enough, it all works. It’s tough to pull off a strongly colored coat, especially for men, but the payoff is worth it. We suggest picking up the red version and holding it for the coldest day of the year. We guarantee you’ll be the most colorful thing on the street.
(Thanks to High Snobriety for the dig.)
It’s still fall, so your thin, non-rumply coat will stand up for a while, but at some point things will get very very cold, and you’ll want something embarrassingly large to protect you from the elements. You may only wear it for a few weeks of the year, but when winter really kicks in, it’s an essential. (At least, for everywhere outside of California.)
This anorak from Danish designer Henrik Vibskov should fit the bill quite nicely. It’s a slicker Euro version of the duffel coats we usually gush about, but if things get slushy, you may be glad to have the update.
And the zipper, for that matter.
It’s getting blustery out there, but there are still lots of options if you don’t want to give in to the synthetic parka just yet.
Fashion Indie just tipped us off to Harmon, a grayscale-prone line that just had the good fortune of landing at Oak, the most-favored boutique for downtown Manhattan fashion-heads. We have to say, it was a good pickup. They might be too forward for non-hipsters, but the duffle coat has been in great need of an update for some time, and these folks seem primed to give it one. Of course, if you’re willing to give the parka another try, we could recommend a place for that too.
A little goosedown can be a godsend this time of year, but we’re of the opinion it should be felt, not seen.
This goretex-equipped jacket from WhiteMountaineering covers up the slicker surfaces with rough wool for the best of both worlds. It might look a bit puffy from afar, but it’s hard to get much warmer.
Rabbit, Run: Surreal photography continues to scare the crap out of us. [NotCot]
Winter Sports: A friendly face introduces us to the terrifying world of snow polo. [Luxist]
Going Minimal: Does good design flourish during a depression? It depends how you feel about the barrel-top. [Unbeige]
Going Gray: The enduring appeal of the gray flannel suit. [A Suitable Wardrobe]
Big Black Boots usually fit into what might charitably be called “the industrial look,” but when it’s this cold, you may be able to work them into your wardrobe a bit more subtly.
It’s not a formal look, so we’d keep them as far away from your suit as possible, but when you’re trudging through the snow on your off-hours, you’ll be glad to have something heavy between your toes and the outside world—and it may match with your puffy coat better than you think. Like we always say, the right clothes for the circumstances will always be stylish.
And if you’re wondering which boots are the right ones, these Adam Kimmels don’t look too bad. Provided you don’t mind paying in Euros.
This time of year, it pays to have a pair of snow-ready shoes handy. They probably won’t be the best-looking thing in your closet, but they’ll spare you the trouble of galoshes and get you through the slushy time of year with all your finer footwear intact.
At the capsule show, Gourmet showed us some of the best examples we’ve seen so far, along with a respectable showing of straight sneakers. Their zippered shoes—which we keep wanting to describe as “spaceman shoes”—are definitely a good idea, but the crown jewel is to the right. Look at the matching rubber bottoms and you’ll start to get the idea. This is the first time we’ve seen a shoe that could genuinely call L. L. Bean an influence.
Score another one for Maine.
There are a lot of different ways to dress for cold, but the “British gent invades Poland” look is one of the more interesting ones we’ve seen.
Nom de Guerre’s F/W ’09 collection mixes a wide range of styles, but what sticks out for us is the rough fur boot covers that look like they were lifted straight from Genghis Khan. The usual prim British tailoring and preppy shawl collars still apply, but now they look like they’re ready for the eastern front. Unlike 90% of winter collections, this one tries to outfit you for the coldest days of the year.
And a few infantry movements, while they’re at it.
In honor of the beginning of Fall/Winter (in shops not calendars, of course), we thought we’d call attention to this skewed overcoat from Vivienne Westwood that just arrived at Sefton Men’s boutique in London. It’s not a bad way to kick off the season, especially if you’re gearing up for a brisk yet uncannily refined winter.
And if you have a top hat handy…now might be the time.
With the threat of winter already looming, it may be time to examine your footwear options. Galoshes are fine enough and by now you’re probably familiar with a few indestructible worker boots, but you may need something else to round out your options. Something a bit…puffier.
These Moncler slippers are a direct translation of their famous bubble coats into the world of footwear. That means they’re a little better suited for indoor lounging than outdoor trekking, but provided you don’t have more to do than fetch the paper, they should hold up just about perfectly.
And if you need to do a little trekking—you can always break out the boots.
via BehanceIn honor of the definitive end of beach season, here’s a peek at Jones Beach during the deepest stretch of the off-season, courtesy of Lee Balzano. If you were waiting to get your duffle coat out of storage, now might be a good time.
By now, you’ve probably got a few ideas about winter coats, but the coming snows require a pretty specialized set of footwear too. Our suggestion: something thick, heavy and completely impenetrable.
This newly arrived Wolverine Montgomery Boot fits the bill quite nicely, with thick leather and an inch and a half of rubber separating you from the slushy wilds. Throw in a rust-belt history that rivals Red Wing, and you’ve got a bonafide American stomper. Hopefully you’ve also got an industrial-strength shoehorn handy…
