THE JOURNAL
We’re now deep into what fashion editors cryptically refer to as the “transitional months”, that uncertain period when it’s not quite time to break out the heavy coat, but no longer warm enough to run errands in just a T-shirt. While this puts extra pressure on your wardrobe – versatility is the key here – it also serves up plenty of opportunities for adventurous, enjoyable dressing. If that all sounds a bit intimidating, fear not. MR PORTER headed to Upstate New York with a couple of suitcases full of new-season menswear and a photographer to give you a better idea of what we’re talking about. You can see some of the results below, presented as a series of easy-to-digest lessons in nailing autumnal style, so grab yourself a pumpkin spice latte and read on.
01.
Play with the classics
You can trust good old corduroy to make an appearance at this time of year, but don’t let its classic status fool you. This is a fabric that is just as at home in a contemporary fit. These pleated trousers from the textile titans at Loro Piana are cut from a wide-wale corduroy with a rich texture and velvety finish. We’ve kept things fresh by pairing them with suede sneakers from TOM FORD in a coordinating green-blue colourway. On top is Valstar’s woollen overcoat in a houndstooth check, a classic pattern that echoes the modern-meets-heritage feel of this outfit.
02.
Swap your coat for a cardigan
In most style scenarios, a cardigan is an intermediate layer, something to wear over your T-shirt and underneath your coat when the temperatures drop. But in the hands of Gabriela Hearst, it’s the centre of your outfit. Knitted from chunky cashmere yarn in a mélange of oranges, greens, pinks and browns, this lavish shawl-collar cardigan is substantial enough to act as a viable alternative to a coat until winter sets in, at which point it will become your go-to for lounging around at home.
03.
Go big on knitwear
After sweltering through summer, it’s with a palpable sense of relief that we reenter sweater season, not least because we now have an excuse to indulge in the kind of sumptuous cashmere seen here. The Elder Statesman has emerged as one of the great knitwear brands of the 21st century, not only because of the quality of its materials – which, you will be unsurprised to hear, is second to none – but because of what it does with them. This is not your grandad’s cashmere. With its psychedelic tie-dye, statement-making intarsia patterns and neon-bright colours, The Elder Statesman’s latest collection is a masterclass in making knitwear that’s luxurious and_ _fun.
04.
Wear all the colours
A long-standing favourite in the MR PORTER office, KAPITAL’s Kountry Remake diffusion line serves up vintage-inspired Americana with a distinctly Japanese flavour. This blue sweatshirt, emblazoned with the words “KOUNTRY LAUNDRY”, is a welcome splash of colour as we head into coat season. Adventurous dressers shouldn't feel the need to stop there. We’ve gone full technicolour with these flared cotton-terry sweatpants from Acne Studios, garment-dyed in a spectrum of colours, and a pair of mint-green sneakers.
05.
Old is gold
Some things never go out of style. For proof, look no further than Brunello Cucinelli’s magnificent rendition of that old military classic, the bomber jacket. In terms of design, it is clearly inspired by the Type A-2, the jacket issued to US fighter pilots in WWII, but in its execution it is pure Italian luxury. It is this old-world, European glamour that inspires the rest of the outfit – off-white pleated trousers from Neapolitan tailor Rubinacci and a cashmere rollneck sweater from New York-based (but Savile Row-inspired) The Row.