Hamilton 1883 | Fall 2011

You're not going to lie: it's exciting when Hamilton 1883 drops new shirting. The designs for this fall utilize a variety of interesting fabrics, diverse in both weight and pattern. The fit of these pieces is on the slimmer side, which works perfectly for you. You don't hesitate to say that Hamilton 1883 are the best-fitting and best-made shirts you own, an all-around excellent investment.

Lacomare, Riou, and Aranburu in Namibia

www.french-connexion.tv

Supreme F/W 2011 Highlights

Where it is.

Bally Switzerland: Modern Craftsmanship Since 1851

In Aisce F/W 2011

In Aisce, which in Gaelic means "In Vain", is a New York-based label that debuted in 2010. Designer Jona operates out of an old factory building in industrial Brooklyn, where he is involved in every aspect of design and construction. All garment production is executed either in-house or at two small, family-run factories in the Garment District. The 28-year-old Jona is obsessed with craftsmanship, which means that In Aisce is a rare blend of creative design (see the moody and whimsical looks below) and quality.  

In Maine

Photo: Sam Stein.

Nike Air Max 90 Hyperfuse

You're liking these in either neon green or gray.

Billy Reid S/S 2012

Billy Reid’s work over the last few years has done a brilliant job bringing together several facets of contemporary menswear.  There are pieces in every collection that appeal to men who seek style, to men who just want comfortable, well-made clothes, and to men who want functional garments in which to work or hunt.  With his most recent collection for the upcoming Spring/Summer season, Reid again caters to a wide audience.

Reid, who is based in Florence, Alabama, is keenly interested in vintage-inspired Americana and the Southern prep aesthetic, and he mingles the two styles with great success.  The double-breasted suit in khaki cotton is perfect—slightly cropped and ready for the city or the country club.  Truncated linen sport coats, including some in plaid, are paired with patchwork shorts and sneakers.  Suede shoes anchor crinkled linen suits.  A bone-colored, double-breasted cotton trench is the outerwear highlight.  For the woodsman, Western-inspired chambray work shirts and unbuttoned henleys in ring-spun cotton are casually layered. 

As solid as the men’s offerings are, it’s Reid’s development as a designer of women’s clothes that stands out in this collection.  Simple, flowing dresses and skirts convey the easy essence of summer, while sheer, billowy pants and trim blazers are effortlessly cool.  

The interconnectedness between Reid’s men and women is evident in the neutral color spectrum, which includes browns, grays, and whites, and in several patterns and fabrics. In all the looks, there’s an easy-going, breezy air, and in keeping with his previous seasons, Billy Reid’s most recent work does not appear to take itself too seriously.

Outlier | Storm King Parka

Outlier's Supermarine Cotton is made using the longest staple Egyptian cotton fiber, woven together in a dense weave that swells up and seals when exposed to water. It's highly breathable, extremely water-resistant, and completely windproof, which makes it the perfect fabric for the Storm King Parka. It looks to be not only sharp, but also technical, with taped seams, Prim S closures, a two-way Riri Aquazip in the front, and half pit zips.

Buckler S/S 2012

There’s a certain amount of flair inherent in an Andrew Buckler collection that comes from his ability to add his own flourishes to classic silhouettes.  It also didn’t hurt that the British designer paraded his presentation of sporty streetwear literally on the street, converting a section of NYC’s Meatpacking District into a cobblestoned runway.  The outdoor staging accentuated several of Mr. Buckler’s design influences for the season, namely the steel- and iron-work in New York architecture and industrial America as shown by photographers like Lewis Hine.  This Buckler collection brings together the precision of the former and the grittiness of the latter.  Sharply tailored blazers and angle-zip jackets are paired with knee length shorts or denim in various states of distress.  Trousers have a more relaxed fit and are rolled above the ankle.  Hoods abound; sometimes they’re sculptural (as on a white and gray striped sweatshirt), but more often they flow as detachable swaths of jersey worn with a leather jacket or as an independent accessory.  

Primarily natural fibers (in particular, linen and cotton) are used to full effect in crafting comfortable looks that maintain their edge.  In much the same way, a muted palette of grays, blues, blacks, and beiges adds an air of seriousness befitting the industrial American laborer.  Mr. Buckler, who comes from a family of architects, understands the importance of simplicity in design, and the effectiveness of this Buckler collection is in its ability to find subtle ways to inject a little swagger into traditional forms.

 

Stone Island | Liquid Reflective Jacket A/W 11-12

Stone Island gets lots of love from you, and for good reason. You've experienced their work first-hand over the seasons, and the fit and construction are always top-shelf. The newest iteration of the Liquid Reflective Jacket looks like some futuristic blazing hotness. Be mesmerized by the video.

Janelle Monáe | The ArchAndroid (Suites II and III)

Next level.

Thanks, Mike.

Phillies Catcher Carlos Ruiz in S.I.

You're an inspiration, Chooch. Thank you. 

Kent Wang | White Paisley Cotton Pocket Square

You'll probably need one of these.

The Romantic Filipino

This was at the Goodwill store in Wahiawa. Obviously, a must-have. As it turned out, someone had stolen the tape inside the box. It remains a mystery why they would not have also stolen the amazing album cover. In the end, the checkout clerk didn't feel it was right to charge you for a box with no cassette in it. Score!