Last week I introduced the new Fall Winter 2023 collection focusing on shirting, outerwear, and pant highlights. This week as a continuation, I am highlighting suiting and knits to complete the new lineup available now as our clients plan their seasonal wardrobes.
One of the many aspects of choosing a custom-made wardrobe is that you are choosing to be unique, not only in the personalization of the individual pieces or the personalized fit created by your personal stylist reflecting your preference but also in the possibility of creating individual looks and outfits that reflect your personality and your lifestyle. Whilst my own lifestyle certainly leans more casual with rarely needing a full suit, I love having a selection of good sportscoats that I can throw over a five-pocket and dress up the casual pieces in my wardrobe. This way of combining casual and tailoring is a way I have always loved to dress and used as a basis for menswear throughout my career. Added to this simple premise, I find adding layers and introducing casual knits and even tees to layer under a sportscoat can offer multiple ways to break up your wardrobe and have a whole universe of outfitting possibilities that combine suiting and casual pieces from either side of your wardrobe. This style, which we name “business casual,” reflects the dual nature of the pieces within the outfit.
For me, a statement sportscoat not only fits you like a glove but also has pattern and color created within the realm of sartorial perfection. From classic patterns updated with modern colors, unusual or bold patterns expressed with subtle colors, and so on, they all become a source of endless play for me when discovering new fabrics for each season. The new selection from Vitale Barberis Canonico certainly capture this within the new Revenge qualities but also in the 110’s suiting a sportscoats selected this season. The intricacy of an almost solid pattern makes for truly unique suiting, or a Birdseye flecked with a tinge of unexpected color can catch my own eager eye looking for something new yet understandable and, above all, wearable for our clients. Reda Group are masters at this with a unique modernity that sets them apart both in suiting and well-loved sportscoats from the 130’S “Milano” quality. Of course, Reda is also known for technology, and offering a knitted suit as an evolution from the sportscoat offered in past seasons is a natural progression I am excited to feature for our more ahead-of-the-curve clients. Some of the Trabaldo Togna suitings have a subtle coloring that picks up reflections of pale blue and lavender, reminiscent of some of the prairie flower colors that inspired me this season; these patterns work perfectly with shirting colors. Lastly, with the return of fall comes my love for some warmer tones, with rich chestnuts and saddle browns showing up in patterns and solid sportscoats from across our mill partners and price points.
Knit layering is a fall staple not only as a sweater replacement for cooler temps, but also as an under sportscoat alternative for modern styling with effortless comfort. Our new colors in Reda Wool add novelty to polos with button or zip styling or as cardigan-style zip thru’s for modern layering, which I have learned to love as a fall go-to, not only perfect for chilly airplane travel but also for the occasional freeze in the office. We have some new patterned knits that offer subtle menswear patterns as a great alternative to our usual solid wool and interlock cotton. These are the same knit qualities we offer in the hybrid blazer this season, giving clients another reason to find something new and exclusive from J.Hilburn. To finish our knit lineup, we have brought back our cotton houndstooth jacquard from last season in new colorways and the same super soft handfeel that clients loved last year. I think the same can be said of the Loro Piana cashmere blend knits that clients have been loving for the last two years from us, back again with some new colorways.
