Linen on Linen
What I believe to be one of the most underrated and misunderstood fabrics, is undoubtedly one of my personal favourites. I won’t deny I have a passion for heavier textured winter fabrics as well, but there’s something unique to linen that makes me passionate about it. The ultimate Summer choice, this lightweight crinkled fabric is perfect to pull off intricate looks in the blistering heat, due to its breathability and unique fibers: and here is where opinions divide… Linen will always have a characteristic feel and crinkled look after wearing, which many consider rough and too relaxed or sloppy - for me, that’s just the beauty of it.
The unique charisma of a slightly wrinkled linen suit perfectly paired with horsebit loafers and unbuttoned shirt, it’s a hard one to match. Especially since nowadays ecru has given place to brighter shades and bolder patterns, allowing for endless possibilities of (un)polished elegance… As with all fabrics, quality linen comes at a price but there are a few affordable alternatives out there worth taking a look at, especially Zara: the Spanish giant produces not only some of the most original pieces but also with quite surprising quality. Both the vest and trousers feature a soft feel with just the right amount of roughness and stiffness to ensure a great fit (with some minor adjustments and tailoring of course). The intricately detailed vest pairs beautifully with the camo boat shoes while the rest of the look is toned down by a white dress shirt and navy pants.
Details: linen vest and pants by Zara, v-neck by Purificacion Garcia, dress shirt by Paul Smith, camo boat shoes by Asos, vintage floral pocket square, shades by Ray-Ban and watch by Daniel Wellington.
Model and Styling: Miguel Amaral Vieira
Source: beyondfabric
Polka Dots & Houndstooth
Taking garments and accessories out of their original context is one of the things that inspires me the most when it comes to menswear. This is something I’m constantly looking out for in new collections or simply by observing stylish individuals on the street. As menswear “rules” bend more and more, so do the limits of creativity and mixing and matching.
Bowties are no longer the epitome of formality nor limited to tuxedos…as a matter of fact, this is precisely one of the pieces I love dressing down with a relaxed candy striped oxford shirt and a pair of worn out jeans. A cashmere cardigan with contrasting houndstooth elbow patches and a reversible gillet add the final details to a casual, put together weekend attire…
Details: reversible gillet by Zara, houndstooth elbow patched cardigan by Annapurna 5+1, candy stripe oxford button down by Our Legacy, jeans by Levi’s (511), polka dot bowtie by Add On, cashmere scarf by Burberry, vintage braided leather belt and watch by Daniel Wellington.
Source: beyondfabric
Sunny Holidays
So it’s true that Portugal’s been going through some rough times with the crisis and all, but I believe that one of the things that keeps people going is our climate. Even if you’re broke, being able to take a walk down the seaside during a beautiful sunny day right before Christmas, is something that gets your spirits up. It definitely felt nice to strip a few layers down and roll the sleeves up while making use of seasonal fabrics. This vintage flannel button down was an instant grab due to the soft touch and bright color, a perfect winter alternative that can be worn by itself or as an overshirt. I have a thing for mixing garments with different levels of formality, taking them out of context either by breaking them down or dressing them up. The casual flannel shirt was a blank canvas for a put together look featuring a fitted denim gilet, cashmere tie, classic pocket square and dub monks…
Details: denim gilet by CAMO, vintage flannel button down, jeans and cashmere tie by Massimo Dutti, grained leather double monks by Meermin, black tortoise shades by Linda Farrow Luxe, MTO pocket square, vintage braided leather belt and watch by Daniel Wellington.
Model and Styling: Miguel Amaral Vieira
Source: beyondfabric
Review: Daniel Wellington Classic Cardif Watch
If you’ve been following me for a while now, you already know that my fixation for horological wristwatches was passed down to me by my father, literally…Not only did he share his passion for timepieces with me, but a part of his collection as well. However, as much as I love wearing high-end watches, sometimes, be it for practical, functional or even safety reasons, it’s nice to have a worthy alternative. Recently, the guys over at Daniel Wellington contacted me for a feedback on their recently released line of wristwatches.
Undeniably inspired by a preppy aesthetic, the Swedish brand draws its name from a great friend of its founder Filip Tysander, who had a thing for wearing Rolexes with his old army Nato Straps. Presenting an outstanding looking model suitable for every occasion, from a relaxed beachside cocktail party to black tie events, Daniel Wellington delivers a classic watch with sleek design: the lightweight, super slim 6 mm case is available in both silver or rose gold, with matching batons and hands over an eggshell dial. A generous 40mm case gives it an imposing character and there’s a wide array of bracelets available, from genuine leather to colorful nato straps.
Taking into account my current collection I decided to go with a more casual allrounder: silver casing with a brown vintage looking leather bracelet. Easy to pair with almost any look, I’ve been wearing it a lot these last few days making the most of its appealing aesthetic and light weight. The Japanese quartz movement is reliable and provides a “ready-to-wear” alternative when I’m in a hurry in the morning and lack the time to prep the automatics, as I don’t have a winding box (yet). If I had to name a downside, the only one I can think of is that the genuine leather bracelet takes a while to break in and adapt to your wrist, but it’s a minor issue which fades within a week.
They were kind enough to provide all Beyond Fabric followers the chance to purchase their watches with a 15% discount. Just enter the code “beyond” at checkout on their website (valid until the end of November).
Source: beyondfabric
