I, like many, have been doing a lot of reflecting but this doesn’t stop me from planning forward and looking forward to what’s to come in the new year. Amongst my plans, I want to ensure that my wardrobe is ready for the cold months ahead. Knowing what is needed to ward against freezing weather can be a bit of a guessing game, but here are some callouts I think should cover most cold-weather needs and carry you through to spring with style and comfort. We are really only just beginning the cold season, and by that, I don’t mean today’s cool breeze in the shade here in Dallas, but those windy, bone-chilling weeks that the majority of the country will feel through the next two months if not more.
I love flannel as a fabric, it’s felted compact feel is soft and designed to trap warmth inside whilst repelling the cold outside. We have two qualities of flannel that are truly exceptional, the first in tailoring from Vitale Barberis Canonico (VBC).
This fabric has a 10% cashmere blended with the extra-fine wool and a warm and soft hand touch that is perfect for the cold season. It tailors easily with a roundness and fullness giving a clean smart look that is enhanced by the extraordinarily complex coloration of micro-mixing multiple shades of the same tone to give a masterful mélange coloration that VBC is know for within the industry.
It is my first choice for a Windstopper option in our sportcoat, and works perfectly in weight and functionality for this hybrid piece between tailoring and outerwear, fast becoming a customer favorite and a J.Hilburn standout piece.
Our other flannel quality comes from Tollegno, an Italian Mill with a modern edge to their research. This quality they have developed with Lycra gives it a stretch for added comfort on top of the cozy characteristics of wool flannel.
In my opinion, this makes it ideal for a casual pant in 5-Pocket or Chino styling with all of our updated options. The solid colors are again mélange but added to the fabric choice are some wonderful patterns of subtle, tonal houndstooth and plaid, great for a guy looking for something unique. I think it’s important to be able to offer these custom-made pants at accessible price points that only the best Italian tailors and brands would ever dream of offering at totally unreachable prices.
Our Italian moleskin is another wonderful fabric we have introduced this year. Again, with the comfort of stretch and the added plush pile of the surface, this fabric is an ideal casual option, easy to dress up or down especially as a 5-pocket option.
As the outerwear season moves into full gear, I wanted to draw attention that in 2020, we widened our assortment with a revamped tailored outerwear program. Now with Peacoat, Top Coat and Car Coat styles easily added to a fit profile if you’ve already got a sportcoat profile. This program offers incredible J.Hilburn value in custom-made Italian Cashmere from Colombo, comparable to only much higher-end designer product prices.
On top of this program, our Quilted Blazer has been a real client favorite and a great piece to layer with our expanded assortment of vests, which every guy should have multiples of in my opinion. Vests have become the perfect layer for in and out of cars, working-from-home, and outdoor warmth for those on-the-go days when a guy may not need his overcoat.
Our Field jacket offers a sporty layer that is a truly iconic menswear piece.
Derived from a military-style, the multi-pocket style being relevant for today’s modern lifestyle and we offer this in wool and our poly-tech fabric covering different climate needs.
Lastly, we have added both the vest and the field jacket to our suede lineup giving the option to find another exclusive custom-made piece unlike any other. The new suede piece is one of the first things I’ve purchased in the New Year.
