THE JOURNAL

We’re spending the next three weeks on a coast-to-coast journey through the heartlands of US style with our latest project, MR PORTER In America. It’s one of our biggest ever, with more than 40 of the country’s most exciting brands contributing a staggering total of more than 600 original pieces. And it’s all exclusive: you can only find it here at MR PORTER.
But where to start? It’s all too easy to get overwhelmed with projects of this scale, which is why we’re serving up a quick-fire edit of our personal highlights from week one. From Rhude’s Napa Valley-inspired varsity jacket to rainbow cashmere sweatpants from The Elder Statesman and even a patchwork denim teddy bear from Gallery Dept., it represents a wild, diverse and undeniably colourful vision of contemporary American style.
Stay tuned to The Journal over the next couple of weeks as we reveal more about the people and inspirations behind MR PORTER In America – and to check out the entire collection in all its glory, just click right here.
01.
The Rhude letterman bomber jacket

Mr Rhuigi Villaseñor’s acclaimed menswear label is one of the best things to have come out of the Los Angeles streetwear scene in recent years. His subversive takes on American style staples such as the varsity jacket are a particular highlight of his work. This jacket – adorned with the faux-logo of the Rhude Vin Club – is inspired by the Napa Valley wine industry. Cheers!
02.
The tie-dye POLITE WORLDWIDE® hoodie

POLITE WORLDWIDE® is a great champion of sustainable materials, so you won’t be surprised to discover that this spotty pastel tie-dyed hoodie is made of 55 per cent hemp fibre, which uses less water to produce than cotton. The embellished star logo is accompanied by the words “City Of Stars” on the back, which, if you’ve watched La La Land, you might recognise as a reference to the brand’s home on the western end of Mulholland Drive, a road that winds across the Santa Monica mountains all the way into the heart of the Hollywood Hills.
03.
The Les Tien camo drawstring trousers

We’ve been raving about Les Tien’s garment-dyed sweats for a while now, but for MR PORTER In America the Los Angeles basics brand decided to do something a little different. These vintage-military-style camo trousers in ripstop cotton are finished with sewn-on badges inspired by the 1960s anti-war movement. If you like them, don’t miss the matching jacket, too.
04.
The Elder Statesman rainbow cashmere sweater

Mr Greg Chait’s The Elder Statesman is famous for its brightly coloured cashmere, but this rainbow-hued tie-dye sweater is bold even by his standards. One for the more adventurous dressers, then. Or, if it’s too far outside of your comfort zone, a great piece of ultra-cosy loungewear for weekends spent at home. (And yes, there are matching sweatpants.)
05.
The COME TEES statement T-shirt

COME TEES, the fashion side-hustle of Los Angeles-based artist Ms Sonya Sombreuil, has earned a cult following for its smart cultural references and its distinctive DIY aesthetic. This exclusive colourway is from a collection that echoes the design of vintage rave fliers; we have no idea what “most powerful manifester in the universe” means, but we’re totally OK with that.
06.
The zebra-print John Elliott drawstring shorts

Mr John Elliott is one of a crew of Los Angeles-based designers that made their names answering the demand for exceptionally well-made basics (see also: Les Tien, James Perse). What sets Elliott’s namesake brand apart from its peers is the way it subtly leans into fashion and streetwear influences by experimenting with fraying, embroidering, and even the occasional bit of animal print – a point illustrated by these excellent zebra-print drawstring shorts. Wear them on your next trip to the zoo. Wild.
07.
The Camp High logo trucker cap

The founders of Camp High – two chill dudes called Greg, one bald and one with a beard, who together boast experience at Stüssy, Union, Supreme and Burton – are on a mission to spread positive vibes through clothes, and seem to understand better than most the relaxed, open-minded direction in which luxury is headed. Their take on that all-American classic, the trucker hat, is a case in point.