Rock the Coats: Menswear Edition

Pull & Bear Winter 2012-2013 Campaign

As James Bond has proved time and time again, all it takes is a well-fitted coat for a man to look his best all winter long. If you're not ready to embrace the cold months to come then don't worry because we've asked some very capable friends to pick their favorite winter coats so you'll be fashionably ready for what mother nature has to bring this year. 

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Albert
"Fall is my favorite season for fashion. It's the time of year where you can add variety and layer on several pieces of clothing and complete the look with a warm (but not too chunky) coat. I'm more on the slender side so I prefer my coats to be slim fitting and a little snug. 

I'm a big fan of large collars and hooded coats, which you will notice from the selections below. I especially like the leather jacket from All Saints. That store can be a little pricey but I usually find great deals during the holidays when many of their items go on sale. Being from Seattle a water-resistant jacket is a must. Northface is the popular choice here and I own a couple myself. However, if you want to break away from the usual give the links in Rain a try!"

Long

 left to right: Uniqlo, H&M, J. Crew

Short

 left to right: Levi's, G-Star Raw, Urban Outfitters

Rain

 left to right: Club Monaco, Burton, Aether Apparel

Leather

 left to right: Burberry, All Saints, Diesel

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Sabrina
"It's a known fact that men look great in layers, and in that respect winter coats are the proverbial icing on the cake. The utility or 'field' jacket is making a respectable comeback in the Pacific Northwest and for a shorter cut it fills out much better than the blazers of seasons past. If a long overcoat is more your style try something more minimalist. The lack of military detail actually lends itself to a sharper appearance, taking us further into the 21st century instead of the 19th. For raincoats, being adventurous with bright hues like red and orange helps combat grey skies while appearing more athletic. In tune with the athletic trend there's been a recent resurgence in letterman jackets. To prevent being mistaken for a high-schooler try a modern re-appropriation of the theme such as Junya Watanabe's long version or TopMan's plaid patterning."

Long

left to right: Burberry, Shipley & Halmos, Edun

Short

left to right: Pendleton, J.Crew, Gant

Rain

left to right: Jack Spade, Arcteryx Veilance, Scotch & Soda

Letterman

left to right: H&M, TopMan, Junya Watanabe

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A little about our friends...

Albert

Albert is a Designer from Seattle, WA. He enjoys many forms of design including graphic, fashion, and interior design. His go-to outfit consists of rolled-up sleeves, skinny jeans, and a pair of Air Jordans. Check out his Tumblr.

Sabrina
This is the 5th post Sabrina has contributed on this blog. She has picked out menswear for Valentines day and predicted menswear fall trend. She has also modeled for us to demonstrate how to sport oversized pieces while being so petite. Sabrina was also the photographer for one of Xiang's post. Check out her Twitter.

Rock the Coats: Our Favorite Outerwear this Season!

J.Crew 2012 Winter Coats

The colorful pastels and neons of summer seem to have found a home in this year's winter coats! We couldn't resist the temptation of taking advantage of the opportunity to find a coat that pops amongst the crowd and wanted to share some of our favorites with you. Here you'll find a coat for every occasion and more! Hopefully we've covered all the bases to make this winter as warm and cozy as it should be. Let us know how you like our picks!

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Xiang

"Chicago may be the windy city but San Francisco comes in a close second. Since it's windy almost all year long in SF, my favorite coats tend to be leather to block out the wind. Leather jackets can easily accompany casual looks as well as add a bit of edge to a dressy outfit. I also love long coats to keep me warm from head to toe. There's nothing like a long coat to accompany a dress and leggings to a formal occasion but they can also be worn everyday as well. I actually had a chance to try on the short Coach jacket recently and loved it! It matches perfectly with my new Coach purse even if I do prefer a longer jacket. Lastly, since I've lived in Seattle for a bit, I know to always be prepared for rain. Raincoats tend to be synonymous with trenchcoat but I tried to pick a couple others choices to accommodate the classic trench."

Long

 left to right: Madewell, miu miu, Maxmara Studio

Short
left to right: Coach, Ted Baker, Marc by Marc Jacobs

Leather

left to right: Free People, River Island, DVF

Rain

left to right: American Apparel, Jones New York, Free People

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Jen

"Xiang did a great job covering leather coats so I skipped that category all together and instead, I subconsciously included a coat with leather detailing in almost all of my categories. I mentioned in one of my last posts that leather panels were one of my favorite trends this year and, as you can tell, I really meant it. Every year I never miss an opportunity to hit the slopes so I included some snow jackets that I've been eyeing lately. I don't think I've ever worn a cape but I do think they are incredibly versatile and can look amazing no matter how dressy or casual the outfit. Even though Burberry makes the most perfectly cut jackets, I think my favorite is the long jacket by Club Monaco. For a quarter of the price of a Burberry coat, you get a coat that looks lux with any outfit. "

Long

left to right: Club Monaco, Moschino, Mackage

Short

left to right: J. Crew, Burberry, Rick Owens

Rain

left to right: Valentino, Victoria's Secret, Steve Madden

Snow

left to right: Mackage, The North Face, Moncler

Cape

left to right: Alexander McQueen, SheInside, Burberry

Fall into Fashion: Menswear Edition

Zara Man Fall/Winter 2012 Campaign

For most men, there is no question that Fall and Winter are the most exciting seasons for Men's fashion and for us, there is nothing more attractive than a man that is put together. So we asked some of our good friends what their favorite upcoming trends for men's wear are and here are the highly anticipated results! Let us know how they did.

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Sabrina
It's currently an exciting time for menswear lovers as last season's fall runway shows are quickly being converted into high quality lookbooks and cozy ad-campaigns (with a bit of eye-candy to boot). In general it seems like Fall 2012's trends are simply another step forward in exaggeration of what we've seen building over the course of the past few seasons. Here, I'll walk you through my top three:

#1: Literary Hero

It's a reflection of this year's most anticipated films, including the final installment of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy and this December's Baz Luhrman adaptation of The Great Gatsby. Gothic heroes and old school style are at the top of mind. While in the past we've seen subtle hints of this trend in tailored blazers and starch white pressed dress shirts, this season it seems like it's finally okay to go on full-on costume. Capes make a dramatic comeback, trench coat almost touch the floor with average hemlines moving to at least knee length or sometimes lower.

 

1205, Emporio Armani

Dior Homme

#2: Velveteen Rabbit

Perhaps another texture to tie us back to the style of the past, velvet is popping up everywhere from basic staples such as blazers and suit pants to clever accessories like skinny ties and scarves. The lush feeling and deep colors that accompany it seem fitting for fall. While this trend certainly gives off a classic Hugh Hefner vibe, let's just keep in mind to still keep it classy.

Burberry Prorsum

GANT by Michael Bastian, Tommy Hilfiger

#3: The Green Gang

Last year, navy was the new black. This year, we continue down the color spectrum as this season explores in all shades of green. It's as if menswear is slowly approaching the same revival and enthusiasm for color that women's fashion recently experienced a few years ago. It doesn't matter what the shade— emerald, jade, mint or hunter green, it's all fair game. These green hues provide the perfect accent to men's more popular fall neutral shades like beige, brown, and burgundy.

Marc by Marc Jacobs

Asos, H&M

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Hao
To me, men's wear needs to not only fit well but must also have something memorable about it. That something memorable can be something that stands out without being too flashy. So I picked some of my favorite trends that have an added edge and uniqueness but doesn't quite scream "look at me" all the time.

#1: Muted Color Block
I am very excited about the collaboration between these two iconic Japanese brands: Uniqlo and Undercover.

#2: Mix Texture
Wool is a great fabric for the fall because it keeps you warm and dry. If you want a slightly flashier look, you can simply layer leather with wool. However, if you want something more casual, layering different knit patterns can give you a put together look without calling too much attention to you.

Wings + Horns

#3: Floral and Camo Patterns
Patterns are an obvious way to add personality to your wardrobe. Two of my favorite trending patterns this season in men's wear is floral and camo.

Engineered Garments

Engineered Garments

Gitman Vintage Floral Shirt

Engineered Garments

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Vincent:
As fall is just about to hit us, it’s important to take a look at how we can still keep things interesting under all those layers. I am personally not a big fan of trends, partially because I come nowhere near to being able to afford what’s new each season. Still, it’s fun keeping up with designers and making your own interpretations for Fall. Here’s a quick look at some of the things that stood out to me for Fall/Winter 2012 Menswear:

#1: Thoughtful Highlights
If you’re a guy like me and have issues wearing a ton of color, keep it to a minimum and show a pop of color by layering or finding color in the details of sweaters or coats. Bright neons create an exciting contrast against dark shades. The little details can make a big difference and keep your looks interesting without feeling like a walking block of color.

 left to right: Alexander Wang , A.P.C. , E. Tautz 

#2: Form Over Function
Another fun go to this Fall is to look into the construction of jackets. While everyone else is sticking to simple sweaters, look into the technicality of a jacket and try something new. The shape and additional utilities of a jacket can make an easy and warm statement on its own.

top left to bottom right: Yves Saint Laurent, James Long, Dior, Valentino

#3: The Elegant Suwansanya
If you have the budget, look into Suphanut Suwansanya’s recent collection of architectural pieces. This Thai designer finds a really beautiful balance between minimalism and unique character in his designs.

Suphanut Suwansanya

These trends are overall a lot more practical and simplistic than some of the biggest looks that hit the runway this season. If you feel bold enough to pull off velvet pants or capes then I recommend you go for it, but for the average joe that just wants to stand out a little more than average, the use of highlighting colors and a well-constructed jacket can take you far.


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A little about our friends:

Sabrina
Sabrina is a designer living and working in San Francisco, she also co-runs a social media blog called Social Proof and a blog on interior design. When it comes to menswear, Sabrina has a love for tailored yet rugged pieces...so much so that she sometime enjoys shopping for guy friends more than she does for herself. She has provided us with two posts in the past(Menswear picks for Valentine's Day and Petite Gone Oversized).




Hao
Hao is a developer for Facebook, living in the Bay Area. He enjoys the modern, tailored fit style that is subtle but has a slight pop of personality to it. When it comes to menswear, Hao really likes the underground street wear style (minus the graphic tees) that is versatile and easy to dress up or down.




 
Vincent
Vincent is a senior Art-Business student at Cal Poly. He is intrigued with fashion where professionalism meets avant-garde and loves seeing people who can dress in a carefree manner and express themselves through their unique sense of style. Check out his Tumblr.