Ask the Experts – Winter Coats

You know we love a good collaboration at Clothes-Make-the-Man, but this time it’s an internal one we have Six of the Best X Ask the Experts to come together to create the Mutha of all Goddamn Posts.

If the good folks over at the Met Office are to be believed, plus the fact that ole Mentalist himself Keith Barry are predicting the coldest Winter on record, we better wrap up and what better way then getting Six of the Best Brains in the history of Menswear Buying to predict their best Winter coats of the season. I think you’ll be rather surprised by the outcome and choices, but some clear and defiant examples are given which I hope, help you dear reader. We set them the question of, If you were to buy ONE coat this season, what would it be ?” And the answers were as follows??????

AW14OURL068003800-BLACK“The Parka was one of the shapes of the season and this waxed version from Our Legacy also has pop-out bomber jacket so you are getting g 2 trends for the price of one – as well as very warm winter coat.”

Screen Shot 2014-11-10 at 17.42.06Ben Andrew – Menswear Buyer, Liberty

 

Screen Shot 2014-11-10 at 17.10.59“My favourite coat for this winter is our single breasted Corsivo Corsini overcoat with faux fur collar. This coat is a real investment piece; the luxurious wool and cashmere fabric and the detachable collar means you can wear it with a formal suit or with more relaxed daywear.”

Screen Shot 2014-11-10 at 17.17.30Ross Wilson – Head of Buying, House of Fraser

 

Screen Shot 2014-11-10 at 17.02.19“This jacket from Canada Goose is a firm favourite in the Mr Porter office. Goose down filled and crafted from a durable, water-resistant shell with ribbed-knit trims to keep out the cold, it’s the perfect marriage of function and laidback luxury. A big win for Winter ’15.” 

Sam Kershaw - HeadshotSam Kershaw – Senior Buyer, MRPORTER.com

 

Screen Shot 2014-11-10 at 16.51.06‘A longer-length coat should be at the top of every man’s list this season – and Haider Ackermann’s slim-shouldered, embroidered style one of the best. Wear it unbuttoned, and offset the richness of the fabric with relaxed layers – it would look incredible over sweatpants and a cashmere roll-neck.’

imageStacey Smith – Menswear Buyer, MATCHESFASHION.COM

Screen Shot 2014-11-10 at 16.23.37“It’s is the Odel jacket from Calvin Klein in a technical nylon twill. I really like the clean lines styling but it is still really practical with 4 front pockets and a great hood to keep out winter chills. And it is Exclusively available at HN”.

Adrian Gibson, Buyer – Men’s Casual & Formal Collections, Harvey Nichols

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“ I’ve been obsessed with Arctic Parkas ever since Liam Gallagher donned one for the entire 1996 Brit Awards leading to his infamous acceptance speech having beaten Blur to “Best British Band”. They don’t come around very often and you have to have a certain degree of confidence to wear with conviction. Our Legacy to me is one of the best brands in the world and their take is as good as its going to get. Resin coated cotton, quilted lining and storm flap with full zip through. It’s a contemporary take on a military classic.

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Thom Scherdel – Buyer, The Idle Man

 

24 carot – Platinum by Calvin Klein

Screen Shot 2014-10-13 at 17.37.30Calvin Klein is a brand known for many things and other designer fashion houses would literally kill for an ounce of what they have, one could say if they could bottle it, but they already have several times over. Whether it be denim, underwear, fragrances etc Calvin Klein is legendary and shows no sign of slowing down or lessening its popularity.

For Winter this year they have teamed up with the retailer of ultimate luxury and bastion of everything aspirational, Harvey Nichols to stock this exclusive collection. It offers a new take on the classic and formal inspired by the pursuit of perfection. Simplicity and precision.

Platinum prides itself on natural luxury embodied in clean shapes with updated proportions, designed in rich fibers and yarns. Heroic and confident with architectural and studiously crafted looks. Hidden interior details offer a sense of concealed sophistication.


Screen Shot 2014-10-13 at 17.37.01The collection offers a look that is elevated and tailored. Three and two-button jackets with soft constructions are paired with boat neck sweaters and tapered ankle cropped pants. For outerwear, a covetable camel wool/cashmere slim top coat, or a roomy, fleck-speckled pressed tweed balmacaan. A dark damson wool jacket over a black turtleneck sweater and black pants; or a Bordeaux iridescent weave nylon parka with neoprene trimmed hood, worn with a boat neck merino sweater and cropped black pants — both add graphic color to the season’s muted palette. Head-to-toe black styling, as in a quilted leather bomber jacket, turtleneck and flannel pant, presents a modern, city aesthetic. Alternatively, a pared down pale grey wool cashmere shaker sweater and flannel cropped pants introduces an element of ease.

Screen Shot 2014-10-13 at 17.35.49

Flower Power – The men’s Floral trend

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There is a misconception that Flowers are just for the fairer sex, in that, us men should shy away from anything of a floral print nature. Oh contraire by dear masculine friends, as for Summer of this year, all things flowery are everywhere. Our dear clothing retailers from high end designer to high Street wonders are embracing their inner flower power and in all honesty it must be shifting as retailers can’t get the floral trend pieces on the shelves quick enough for us. So as alway we do the hard work so you don’t have to so here are some of the hottest items from this Summer’s brightest trend.

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Long sleeved shirt by Banana Republic

imageMen’s jogging bottoms by Franklin & Marshall

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Floral swim shorts by Polo Ralph Lauren by Harvey Nichols

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Liberty print floral baseball cap by New Era at Selfridges

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Floral tie by Liberty

 

imageFloral patterned socks by Paul Smith at Harrods.com

 

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Floral patterned sweatshirt by Acne

 

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Floral plimsoles by YMC at Steranko.co.uk

 

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Floral print blazer by Gucci by MrPorter.com

imageFloral Rucksack by Bershka

 

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Ditsy floral pattern polo shirt by Native Youth at House of Fraser

 

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Fancy going matchy matchy this Summer then check out this lil floral combo by Farah

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The Buyer’s Guide to Spring 2014 – Adrian Gibson – Harvey Nichols

imageOK, OK I know it feels like Spring might be a bit premature but I promise, if we really think positive thoughts, I’m sure it’ll come. Anyway, the subject of today’s Buyer’s Guide has over 20 years’ experience buying for luxury Department Stores, having worked at both Selfridges and Harrods. During his eight years at the ‘Town House Boutique’, Harvey Nichols, he has bought a repertoire of Menswear for the retailer. Harvey Nichols as a retailer, currently has stores in London, Leeds, Birmingham, Edinburgh, Manchester and Bristol in the UK and internationally Dublin, Riyadh, Hong Kong, Dubai, Turkey and Kuwait. The London flagship store is located in the heart of Knightsbridge, London’s most fashionable and exclusive shopping district. But, more importantly back to the  person in question, Mr Adrian Gibson, today he specialises in the Casual and Diffusion Collections, while continuing to introduce new and innovate brands into the Denim Gallery. So what is his top buys for Spring 14 ?

imageThere have been a lot of Animal themed prints in the last fewseason but I think this one is cleverly executed and is a great accessible price point by A Question Of

imageThis beautiful laser cut trench is from New brand to HN for SS14 Herno who produce understated but technically brilliant outerwear from Italy

imageHN (Harvey Nichols) welcomes back Versus Versace for SS14 starting with singer MIA’s collaboration which is printastic with the main collection arriving shortly.

imageThe move on from the Tiger this season at Kenzo is the Waveas shown on this knit … although we still have plenty of Tigers in new colour ways if you haven’t got one yet

imageThis Canada Goose jacket is in collaboration MulitmediaArtist Eepmon who designed the elaborate lining to this jacket.  Only 150 of the jackets made worldwide and the jacket is Exclusive to HN in the UK

imageI am a total sneaker collector and these McQueen Skull & Lace plimsolls are definitely on my list for Summer  ‘14

imageThe homage to super brand Givenchy continues … Love this update of the Star print with Summer Rose print

imageWe adore the quality and perfection of the Psycho Bunny Polo and this time finished off in attention grabbing Large Gold Bunny … Exclusive to HN in the UK is going to get you noticed

imageSweatshirts are my garment of choice at the moment and I think Neil Barrett’s are one of the most desirable … Colour blocked and sporty

imageBrand new in to HN but also Bang on trend … Amazing design and practical efficiency by Kris Van Assche

Every little thing they do is magic – POLICE Celebrate their 30th Anniversary

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The celebratory Special Edition POLICE sunglasses

 

2013 marks the anniversary of a number of brands within the world of style and fashion, the first being POLICE Sunglasses, the Italian eyewear brand celebrate their 30th anniversary. To mark the occasion POLICE are launching an exclusive special edition set of sunglasses and commemorative book, called Look Beyond, which features a collection of artistic photographs that looks back over the past 30 years of the brand.

Over the years POLICE have seen such iconic figures as Bruce Willis, Antonio Banderas, David Beckham, George Clooney and currently Welsh Actor Luke Evans all act as the face of the sunglasses range and as part of the celebrations, the brand will launch a Special Edition sunglasses using a signature Police Aviator style model with unique details. The classic pilot shape is given an exclusive edge with a special gold plated frame, leather detailing and the iconic winged Police logo. A classic and timeless frame the sunglasses will available in both silver and gold at Harvey Nichols in the UK & Ireland from April 2013.

Additionally, a book, Look Beyond, is based on the work of noted Italian photography, Giovanni Gastel. Through a collection of portraits of personalities from the world of film, music, sports and art. The photographer depicts what it means to look beyond, to overcome those boundaries that often prevent us from truly understanding our surroundings.

As well as celebrating 30 years of producing great sunglasses, the project has also been created to support the charity Doctors Without Boarders and the wonderful world they do across some of the most dangerous and stricken parts of the world. A proportion of the proceeds from the sale of the book and sunglasses will be donated to the charity to provide a complete cycle of treatment for malnourished children.

IMAGES FROM LOOK BEYOND

 

Model Alek Wek

Model Alek Wek

Actor - Luke Evans

Actor – Luke Evans

Footballer Clarence Seedorf

Footballer Clarence Seedorf