WIWT:
Navy wool blazer and cashmere tie by Massimo Dutti, houndstooth vest by Purificacion Garcia and MTO contrasting club collar shirt and pocket square by Gentleman Tailors.
Source: beyondfabric
Engineered Garments Cashmere Fair Isle Tie
Spring Showers
There’s a reason why every “Spring Essentials List” has a lightweight technical or waxed parka in it. Despite the outstanding last couple of days, the season has a special way of catching you off guard as we’re still in for several rainy days, the so called spring showers. Although waterproof technical fabrics are a great alternative, I can’t help to be drawn by the look and feel of waxed garments and mind you, Barbour is not the only way to go. This olive waxed cotton parka by Our Legacy is a favourite, lightweight and unlined, it’s perfect to throw over a shirt and cardigan when low temperatures are not an issue. Besides the parka which is a statement piece by itself, l love how all the little details come together: the shirt and cardigan shades complement the paisley on the tie and the boots and belt match the adjustable leather drawstrings on the parka.
Details: waxed cotton parka by Our Legacy, contrast club collar shirt (custom made) by Gentleman, cashmere houndstooth elbow patched cardigan by Annapurna 5+1, Levi’s 511 slim (tailored), waxed leather portuguese boots, black tortoise aviators by Linda Farrow Luxe, paisley cotton tie by Tie Rack and braided leather belt by Acne.
Model and Styling: Miguel Vieira
Photography: Rita Lino
Play It Fair…
If it’s generally accepted that certain colors have more in common with specific seasons, the same can be applied, although to a lesser degree, to patterns. To name but a few, stripes and gingham are usually sported in Summer whereas argyles, for instance, are more wintery. Even if within a fashion forward universe, this traditional approach is being overlooked, the concept still remains to a large extent. It there’s one such pattern that symbolizes Winter in all its frost white glory, it has to be Fair Isle.
Named after the homonym island located in Northern Scotland, it consists of a local traditional knitting technique where up to five distinct colors are combined in rows, creating a uniquely characteristic mosaic pattern. Originally found only in this island, its visual appeal has captured the heart of designers and stylish individuals alike, earning it a place in runways and shops worldwide. Its recent burst in popularity placed it on most Christmas wishlists and allowed designers to create a never before seen variety of items, in an array of fabrics and shades.
Top to bottom: Hat by Gant Rugger, tie by Brooks Brothers @ Park and Bond; Sweater by Raf Simons, varsity jacket by Junya Watanabe @ Mr. Porter and scarves by Drakes of London.
Urban Menswear Myths #1
No matter how much our society has evolved fashion wise, there will always be a few well cemented premises regarding one’s desired/accepted image. There’s a general idea of how men and women should dress and the notion of classic and distinct usually hits a common ground for most people. When it comes to menswear in particular, the array of acceptable options is much more limited than that of our opposite sex…
The intrinsic idealism of a man’s “standard” outfit gave place to several outdated assumptions, which are desperately in need of an update to meet society’s current needs, beliefs and demands. Add to that the misinterpreted conception that comfort equals baggy, loose clothes and we end up with a series of style conundrums. In this series, I’ll try to shed some light on these “urban menswear myths”.
On the first entry and still inspired by the remaining sunny days (it’s still 30ºC here in Portugal), I’ll get into the controversial topic of dressing up in hot weather. This is something I find myself getting in arguments over with constantly. Most men are adverse to the idea of buttoning up in warm days, stating that its utterly uncomfortable to wear a shirt, let alone a tie. There’s no doubt that shorts and a tee are the perfect match for those days, but lets face it, if you’re required to dress up for professional reasons you won’t be able to sport them anyway, so you might as well do it properly.
Looking put together in hot weather is perfectly doable if you take into account these two factors: fabric and fit. Linen, seersucker or lightweight cotton are all adequate alternatives fabric wise, which leaves us the not so easy task of finding fitting items. While all your items should be fitted, usually the most important one to assure comfort is the shirt: a perfect fit is crucial, especially on the neck. Obviously, made to measure is the way to go, but if you’re lucky enough you might be able to score off-the-rack versions that suit your neck size. Once you do, you’ll notice that buttoning up and sporting a tie is a breeze. If you take these two paramount variables into account, there’s no reason not to look your best.
A few examples of how hot weather does not deter them…
