The Curated Wardrobe - The New Classics
My take on the essentials, items that I believe every man should consider adding to his wardrobe or style aesthetic.
The Camel Overcoat...
There are coats that keep you warm in the winter and then there is this. The caramel color of this camel hair overcoat is the perfect foil for those well tailored, darker color suits, particularly in navy but you can still dress it down with a henley and some selvedge denim if you want. This coat will be a timeless piece to include in your closet. The coat pictured is the J.Crew Mayfair which is a wool and cashmere-blend with four pockets, notch lapels and a single rear vent.
The Wingtip...
I for one, being a smaller guy, am glad about the fact that menswear is now focused more on sleekness and tailoring as opposed to the more clunkier styles of the past. This fact pattern is very visible in footwear as well. Gone (hopefully) are the days of the square toed shoe. The wingtip is a must in every man's wardrobe. With so many options out there, the wing tip can go dressy or casual. The pair to the left are the Gaziano and Girling Rothschild wingtip which are some of the most beautifully constructed shoes I've ever seen.
The Vintage Watch...
Nothing against the new watch designs, but there is something about a vintage watch that has some patina to it. It's great when your watch not only tells the time, but can also tell a story. Of course, the older and rarer a watch is, the more interesting they can be, not to mention expensive, but I appreciate the idea of being able to pass my watch on to my son. While there are tons of auctions out there, I do advise caution when purchasing so you don't end up with a "fake new vintage" watch. This one is an Omega from the 50's that I picked up at an estate sale last year.
The Leather Briefcase...
Nothing beats the smell of leather in the morning, right? Right. Again, gone are the days of the old Wall Street briefcase with the combination. The new leather briefcase is a bit less refined and could look like something that came off the side of a saddle in an old western movie. The longer you own it, the more beat up it gets, the more character it acquires. I was intrigued when I saw this one in H&M by that fact that it was made of all genuine leather, the hardware was actually solid and then the smell...sucked me right in. Never thought I'd see the day when I'd pay over $100 for anything from H&M but I pulled the trigger that day. Of course, depending on your tax bracket, you have plenty of options out there. I've got my eye on one from Colonel Littleton myself.
The Stick Umbrella...
A gentleman should always have an umbrella. Preferably one that had enough room to be shared with that someone. As with all the other details of your look, your umbrella can say a lot about you and how you carry yourself. It's one of those things that you will inevitably need, so why not invest in a quality classic stick umbrella that is refined enough to use when you're wearing a suit yet doesn't look weird when you are wearing jeans. I got this for a steal from Lands End Canvas a while back.
