A menswear store under the influence

With the endless stream of collaborations going on in the shoe department, we went ahead and asked the nice people over at Raparo to do some exclusives for the shop. Raparo is another Italian brand we enjoy working with, since they also manufacture shoes the traditional way, using the best leathers the Tuscany region has to offer and taking advantage of the highly skilled local craftsmanship. The outcome are three seasonless models for AW11, which include a dashing wine color monk strap for that special night out, a rugged leather brown loafer to pair up with some jeans on a relaxed every day look, and a black seven eyelet cap toe oxford suitable for all occasions. All shoes boast top notch finishings, full leather lining and have sewn leather soles with hidden grooves.

Shop Raparo here.

Freshly arrived at the shop, the end result of the much awaited collaboration between Italy’s Boglioli and Japanese brand Kolor, featuring an outstanding limited two-piece capsule collection, aimed at raising funds for Save the Children Japan. Capturing the best of both worlds, these pieces combine Boglioli’s fine tailoring and high end fabrics with Kolor’s fashion forward vision. Each jacket undergoes an extensive production process with the core manufacturing taking place in Italy, up to the point when they travel to Japan to have the exquisite silk lining applied and then, finally back to Italy for the end detailing on the collar lining. The four button jackets come in luxurious brown super soft cashmere or navy high performance super soft washed cotton, both featuring an oversized black silk lining which comes through at the waistline, cuffs and lapel.

While the navy reminiscent peacoat has been a regular in recent AW collections, every now and then we’re faced with a version that brings back our idle love for the piece. That’s just the case with this take from Martin Margiela featuring contrasting beige corduroy detailing at the collar and cuffs, along with a tailored fit, four side pockets and hidden front button closure for a sleek look. The lapel can be buttoned up allowing the collar to pop revealing the beautiful corduroy. A revamped iconic model that will keep up for the years to come.

Carrying on our season roundups, this time around we get hands on with the ever essential knits. The go-to piece for layering purposes, its versatility makes it perfect all year long. Apart from a slimmer or looser fit, the main aspects to consider when choosing knits are the shape of the neck and the fabric itself. Neckwise, although the easy going crewneck and classier v-neck take the lead, pieces with shawl collars, funnel, roll or turtle necks spice things up a bit by adding an unexpected twist to the mix. Different fabrics reflect the knit’s weight and texture, from thin cotton versions to throw under a jacket up to heavy wool ones which can be sported by themselves. Here’s a carefully curated selection of some of our options.

Acne Cusco Sweater – coming in a bright neon red to lively up your black or navy outerwear

Acne Fool Roll Neck Knit – lightweight roll neck knit with an original double layer detailing on the front

Adam Kimmel Patch Crewneck Knit – super soft cashmere blend with elbow patch detailing for extra flare

Martin Margiela 14 Shawl Collar Knit – the outstanding detail on this collar will definitely make you stand out

Paul Smith Contrast Trim V-neck – available in three colorways this lightweight classic is perfect for layering

Paul Smith Panel Sleeve Knit – available in three colorways these knits have Paul Smith written all over

Dutch designers Bess Nielsen and Jan Machenhauer show us once again their passion for unique Indian neckwear. Taking on the deep rooted culture and traditional craftsmanship techniques, they evoke the Orient in each of their scarves made from the finest wool, silk and cashmere. Combining colorful seasonal shades with bold prints and patterns, these scarves will add the final touch to your attire whether you wear them for functionality or just aesthetics.

See more Épice scarves here.

Keeping up with the heavy knit craze, it’s time for Neil Barrett to show us his take on the subject. This snug fitting crewneck sweater is made from heavy knitted wool and features superb patterned detailing all over, adding a whole new level of texture and depth. The tight ribbed collar, cuffs and waistband stop the cold from getting in and make it perfect as an outer layering alternative. Paired with a tee or shirt, it’s bound to be in heavy rotation all season long.

There’s nothing worse than getting soaked while running for shelter in the pouring rain. There you are looking your best, and in a matter of seconds the whole swag goes out the door. To keep it from happening again, Hixsept drops this outstanding waxed cotton jacket garanteed to keep you dry. While the rich honey shade instantly grabs our attention, it’s the small details that really make it pop; contrasting navy corduroy collar and button tab, detachable hood with limited edition Liberty fabric inner lining and adjustable drawstring at the waist.
This eclectic mix makes it a perfect piece to wear and tear while the sun is away.

Our relationship with italian shoe brand Buttero has been strongly evolving, with the latest contribution to this being the video we did with them about the Buttero Family. To strengthen this alliance even more we focused on doing a collaboration shoe for AW11. Surely some of you would have liked us to go for the best selling hiking boots or even for some of the high in demand sneakers but, for this first team up, we decided on a strong silhouette derby style laced shoe.
Handcrafted in Italy from finely selected, vegetable tanned horse leathers, the shoes are available in three colorways; taupe, dark brown and black, with the last two featuring a striking greased finish on the suede uppers. Sewn leather outsoles with protective anti-slip rubber and leather insoles reading “Buttero for Por Vocação” complete this exclusive edition, born from the mutual love for high quality footwear. With a limited production, these shoes will only be available through our physical and online shop.

When it comes to dishing out outstanding colorful accessories, few others can compete with Sir Paul Smith. Time after time he manages to amaze us with his unique take on ordinary items. Carrying on the tradition, this season’s scarves come in a variety of trademark multicolored stripes and polka dots, available in simple and reversible versions for added versatility. Made from pure virgin wool and luxurious cashmere, these are the perfect complement for any look.

View more Paul Smith scarves here.

We’ve reached that time of the year when outerwear becomes a necessity. By now, our go-to cardigans and bombers just can’t seem to provide that much needed comfort and warmth; lightweight jackets give place to heavier versions and the desired length is increased in the face of harsh elements. Although there are several worthwhile alternatives on the shorter side, there’s an understated flair about long coats that earns them a place in every man’s wardrobe. Their sleek, timeless silhouette makes them perfect to top a tailored suit or slim fitting jeans, while making sure you don’t freeze outside. Here’s a closer look on some of our models for the current season.

Raf Simons Duffle Coat Camel – A hooded classic with large pockets and horn toggle closure

Tonello Peacoat Navy – A longer take on the timeless navy coat

ts(s) Knit Collar Chesterfield Coat – A menswear staple in washed italian tweed with knitted collar detailing

Adam Kimmel Wool Winter Trench – A mix between coat and trench in amazing spot wool fabric

Acne Winston Long Coat – A classic topcoat with detachable knit collar

Fair Isle is one of those iconic patterns that despite being around for ages, no one ever seems to get tired of. Much less when Raf Simons reinvents it in his own artistic way by incorporating several different patterned elements into one amazing piece of knitwear. An instant favourite the minute it arrived at the shop, this crewneck knit is made from soft heavy wool, features thick ribbed detailing at the neck, cuffs and waistband and just might probably be one of the most mind blowing pieces of the AW11 season.

More Raf Simons here

We went to the market this morning, to test the Property Of… Andy Tote’s ability to hold our daily groceries in place. Don’t let yourself be fooled though, this is certainly more than a shopping bag and we just wanted to illustrate one of its many different uses. Available in Brown or Olive, the bags feature a waxed cotton canvas with contrast bottom, strap stud closure for easy access and even throw in an adjustable shoulder strap. Lightweight and flexible, this is an easy option for that everyday no fuss bag, suitable to carry all your personals around.
As a plus, we are still offering a free tag engraving service with every Property Of… bag purchase.

More Property Of… bags here.

When it comes to defining wardrobe essentials, few other pieces are as worthy of the label as jeans. Withstanding the test of time, these cotton twill trousers have evolved and continuously adapted to meet fashion’s demands, making their way into all sorts of runways, high end or not. There are three main elements to bear in mind when choosing jeans: leg, waist and wash. The most crucial is definitely the type of leg, which expresses the overall fit and is usually defined by the cut: skinny, slim, regular, loose, etc. Another thing to consider is how they fit on the waist: regular, high or low are all available alternatives, and you should choose based on your preference. Finally we come down to the wash, which despite being mostly an aesthetical issue based on personal taste, also reflects the jeans’ degree of sophistication and formality: darker washes are dressier whereas lighter ones are more relaxed.

With all of the season’s offerings now at the shop we thought it would be useful to make a small roundup of the available models to help you decide which ones to get:

Maison Martin Margiela 5 Pocket – A low waisted model with a very narrow, tight leg.

Acne Jones – This is a high waisted model with tapered leg, sitting at the ankle.

Acne Max – One of Acne’s trademarks, this is a low waisted model with very narrow leg.

Acne Roc – A mix between the Max and Mic models, Roc is a normal waist jeans with straight leg and tight fit.

Our Legacy Regular Fit – A higher waisted model with slightly tapered leg: the loosest of the bunch.