

When coronavirus arrived in the US, the trio behind Pieces, the Brooklyn-based home and product line, was preparing to open a liveable showroom in Maine on the coast of New England. Everything in Pieces Home Kennebunk, the name they gave their shoppable Airbnb in the small town of the same name, was photographed in situ and listed for sale online.

Check into the entirely shoppable, design-forward vacation home in Maine, where you really can try before you buy

Pieces Home Kennebunk: The Ultimate Airbnb, Where Everything Is For Sale



Technical terminology, by its very nature, can be hard to follow. “Technical clothing”, as a term, no less so. In fashion, the distinction is often deployed as a catch-all for articles made from synthetic fabrics. However, not all synthetic fabrics can be considered technical. And some natural fibres do certain tasks better than synthetic ones – take silk or even wool, which are increasingly finding their way into top-end sporting gear, or densely woven or treated cotton, which can repel rain. But then, technically, these also aren’t technical. Still with us?

Technical terminology, by its very nature, can be hard to follow. “Technical clothing”, as a term, no less so. In fashion, the distinction is often deployed as a catch-all for articles made from synthetic fabrics. However, not all synthetic fabrics can be considered technical. And some natural fibres do certain tasks better than synthetic ones – take silk or even wool, which are increasingly finding their way into top-end sporting gear, or densely woven or treated cotton, which can repel rain. But then, technically, these also aren’t technical. Still with us?


Everything you need to know about high-tech sportswear, performancewear and gorpcore – and how to work it into your everyday wardrobe  

The Stylish Gent’s Guide To Wearing Technical Gear In 2021



Ah, to be Mr Harry Styles. Picture the scene: you’re in your swanky hotel room at the luxurious San Ysidro Ranch in California, chilling out before your agent’s wedding, and suddenly it’s time to go and take some “pre-ceremony photos”. But wait, you’re still in your fluffy white bathrobe! Do you change into a suit like everyone else? Do you buggery – you’re Mr Harry Styles. Instead, you wander out exactly as you are, picking up a glass of something strong on your way outside, and flash the camera with your winning grin. Everyone around you, including the bride and groom, is beaming with joy – and Twitter goes wild for the audacious sartorial move you’ve just pulled.

No, MR PORTER hasn’t taken to writing bizarre fanfiction – all of this actually happened last week, when Mr Styles made headlines for showing up to his agent Mr Jeff Azoff’s wedding in nothing more than a robe and slippers from the hotel spa. It’s a little unfair that whatever Mr Styles wears, people will applaud him for it, but such is his magnetism. If you or I went viral on Twitter for wearing a dressing gown and clutching a glass of whisky at a wedding, it would be because people were worried. Someone would probably start a Go Fund Me.

Ah, to be Mr Harry Styles. Picture the scene: you’re in your swanky hotel room at the luxurious San Ysidro Ranch in California, chilling out before your agent’s wedding, and suddenly it’s time to go and take some “pre-ceremony photos”. But wait, you’re still in your fluffy white bathrobe! Do you change into a suit like everyone else? Do you buggery – you’re Mr Harry Styles. Instead, you wander out exactly as you are, picking up a glass of something strong on your way outside, and flash the camera with your winning grin. Everyone around you, including the bride and groom, is beaming with joy – and Twitter goes wild for the audacious sartorial move you’ve just pulled.
No, MR PORTER hasn’t taken to writing bizarre fanfiction – all of this actually happened last week, when Mr Styles made headlines for showing up to his agent Mr Jeff Azoff’s wedding in nothing more than a robe and slippers from the hotel spa. It’s a little unfair that whatever Mr Styles wears, people will applaud him for it, but such is his magnetism. If you or I went viral on Twitter for wearing a dressing gown and clutching a glass of whisky at a wedding, it would be because people were worried. Someone would probably start a Go Fund Me.


When Mr Harry Styles shows up to a wedding in a bath robe, the rest of us can do nothing but applaud

Mr Harry Styles Shows Off The Caddish Appeal Of The Bathrobe



With the non-starter that was 2020 in the rear-view mirror, with any luck, 2021 will be a year of discovery – one of reigniting scuppered plans and missed opportunities. So why not extend that sense of adventure to your wardrobe, too? Whether you’re a less-is-more minimalist, a fitness fanatic or an artisanal eco-crusader, our array of under-the-radar designers will give your wardrobe a cathartic refresh. It’s time to get out of your brand rut and try something new.

Whether you’re a sports man into Nike and Under Armour, or a Gucci and TOM FORD chap – here are some new brands to refresh your wardrobe with

15 Brands To Refresh Your Wardrobe With (Based On Your Personality)



As we collectively attempt to put the past 12 months in the rear-view mirror, we’ve picked out 33 of the most exciting global happenings next year to spark joy and give reason for optimism. Spanning travel and tech, art and culture as well as dining, gaming, shopping and sport, it’s a list that includes exciting debuts, much-hyped returns, promising global trends and life-changing products to ensure you welcome the new year with open arms.

From film releases to book launches and new hotels, here are the things to put in your calendar


33 Reasons To Be Excited About 2021 



It might feel like time has stood still, but guess what? We’ve still been ageing. And not just that – we’ve been ageing faster. According to figures from a recent survey conducted by cosmetics business Uvence, more than a third of Brits feel they have visible signs of stress and premature ageing brought on by lockdown and the pandemic. It’s a sobering thought, and as most of us are not Mr Pharrell Williams – a man who, despite being almost 50, somehow retains the wrinkle-free complexion of an eight-year-old – ageing into a crinkly, sallow husk of a man is simply the way it goes.

Looking as old as and tired as you feel? Here are some of the most hard-hitting products MR PORTER has to offer

The Grooming Products That Will Make You Look Fresher And Younger, Fast



Ressence’s 10th anniversary has been so successful that it has actually spilled over into 2021 – when the Belgian brand was founded in 2010, I’m not sure Mr Benoît Mintiens, the product designer and genial genius behind the brand saw that coming. You can watch our interview with him from summer 2020 here, where we discussed how, among other things, the early years of Ressence nearly killed him. That’s not an exaggeration: he worked so hard to perfect the award-winning Type 3 that one night he fell asleep at the wheel. Now, 11 years after he began, his watches have made us think twice about how we approach telling the time.

The Ressence Type 1² X is a titanium-cased, 41mm watch with an olive-green dial and a unique method of telling the time, limited to 40 pieces worldwide

Watch Of The Week: Ressence Type 1² X

Highlights



Motivation is hard to come by in January. No matter how many times that freshly reinstalled fitness app chirps at you, it’s tricky to overcome the mental and physical blocks that engulf us at this time of year.

It’s human nature in moments of struggle to turn to those things that feel comfortable and familiar. For some, that’ll be indulging in their preferred foods or a hug from their mum. But might we suggest the same logic applies to your workout gear?

Motivation is hard to come by in January. No matter how many times that freshly reinstalled fitness app chirps at you, it’s tricky to overcome the mental and physical blocks that engulf us at this time of year.
It’s human nature in moments of struggle to turn to those things that feel comfortable and familiar. For some, that’ll be indulging in their preferred foods or a hug from their mum. But might we suggest the same logic applies to your workout gear?


We all have that one piece of tried-and-tested workout kit we rely on. Here, the MR PORTER Team share the gym essentials they’re putting their faith in this January

The Workout Gear The MR PORTER Team Can’t Work Out Without



For those who are serious about skiing, meticulously planning their packing list for a trip to the slopes is second nature. High-definition goggles? Check. Pro thermal base layers? Check. Yet even the most seasoned slalomer may neglect a critical piece of kit: the grooming bag. Winter’s harsh conditions can play havoc with your complexion, so when you’re spending half the day on a mountainside a proper skincare regime isn’t just advisable, it’s vital. That specialist gear is all well and good, but it counts for nought if you emerge on the other side of your excursion chapped, cracked and red all over. If a jaunt to some snowy peak is on your agenda, make sure these five winter grooming essentials are in your suitcase.

Brrr, it’s cold in here… These are the hand creams, moisturisers and lip balms to add to your winter regimen

Grooming Tips For When It’s Really, Really Cold

Grooming Tips For When It’s Really, Really, Really Cold



The world of luxury sports watches can be a confusing one, and contains many a watch that you’d never imagine wearing for anything physical. But there are Swiss watches that are still made to take a bit of punishment, and moreover will actually aid your quest to get out and do some exercise while that New Year motivation is still coursing through your veins. From smartwatches with comprehensive fitness tracking abilities to traditional timepieces built for use in all conditions, here are our five favourite watches for sport and fitness.

Five watches from luxury Swiss brands that are perfect for exercise, sport and adventure, from TAG Heuer, Breitling, Montblanc, Oris and Ulysse Nardin

MR PORTER

THE JOURNAL

Pieces Home Kennebunk: The Ultimate Airbnb, Where Everything Is For Sale

Highlights

Discover More

The Workout Gear The MR PORTER Team Can’t Work Out Without

Grooming Tips For When It’s Really, Really, Really Cold

Five Of The Best Swiss Watches For Sports And Fitness