THE JOURNAL

Every year, twice a year, after an exhausting succession of fashion weeks, MR PORTER’s very wise and all-knowing editors get together and tirelessly collate the new season trends. And, now that summer is but a distant memory, it’s time we shared them with you. Today: get to know the Alpine adventure trend. This outdoor-inspired mode of dressing is as much a state of mind as it is a practical undertaking. There are plenty of suitably sensible pieces of kit involved – think down jackets, cargo trousers and waterproof windbreakers – but there’s also a dose of smarter, city-specific pieces smattered throughout, as well as a helping of streetwear to liven things up a bit. The trick to getting the right balance between these elements is, as usual, all in the wearing. Follow our lead to get it spot on.
Weekend Wonder

Outdoors gear, by its very nature, is often a little rough around the edges; built with function rather than form in mind. As a result, in times gone by, if you were likely to encounter adverse conditions on your weekend wanderings, there was a trade-off between looking good and staying warm and dry. That, or opting to spend your entire Sunday indoors binging Netflix’s latest true-crime offering. Those days are behind us (OK, almost). Particularly now that brands and designers are getting wise to the merits of technical fabrics and details. Sacai’s down jacket above, for example, is made from water-resistant nylon yet still maintains a certain sleekness, while the Maison Margiela trousers (made from winter-appropriate virgin wool) are helpfully equipped with a detachable shell belt bag.

Bright and Bold

We’re not often the sort to prescribe lofty attributes to individual garments, but, to our minds, the fleece represents freedom: tangible proof that menswear has shirked its serious and staid inclinations in favour of much more fun ones. It goes to show just how far we’ve come that a once vilified item of camping attire is the pinnacle of style these days. This eye-grabbing orange variety which comes to us courtesy of AMBUSH®, a streetwear duo fronted by Japanese designers Verbal and Ms Yoon Ahn. Similarly, the juxtaposition of the grungy, graphic sweater from Off-White beneath and a pair of side-striped sweatpants from Maison Kitsuné’s recent collab with South Korean brand ADER, are a sure sign the scumbro niche has infiltrated fashion’s upper stratums. It goes without saying that each piece is also incredibly practical and comfortable, but that’s really beside the point in this case…

Into The Wild

For the most Practical (yes, that’s Practical with a capital P) take on the adventurous trend, there are several brands you should acquaint yourself with: The North Face, which makes exceptionally hardy outerwear and is responsible for the waterproof jacket that anchors this entire ensemble. Then there’s the aptly-named And Wander, which supplied the utility-inspired vest (or gilet, if you like), while innovative sportswear brand On provided the summit-worthy hiking-cum-running boots. All of which will prove themselves more than up to scratch if you find yourself in rugged regions, but also feel right at home in more urban territories thanks to military-inspired colour combos and well-considered cuts. Yes, there’s a lot going on – just think of all the things you can fit in those pockets! – but being prepared for anything means, well, being prepared for anything.