I confess that I really love outerwear, particularly this time of year when I am thinking ahead to when chilly mornings are an unwelcome start to my day. I find having the right outerwear can help you get a good start, headed out to the cold car and on with your day. I think having lived and worked in Italy taught me early on the importance of outerwear as a statement piece when showing up to appointments and the importance that outerwear would create at a first stylish impression.
I hear from many of our stylists that their clients don’t wear outerwear due to the climate. Well, I beg to differ that with our lighter-weight options in tech and the range of wonderful styles from Shirt Jackets, Hybrid Blazers, and, of course, Vests, no client should be left out in the cold – so to speak. Even the warmest parts of the country have cold days, and at some point, we all reach for our layers – some lighter and some heavier, depending on your region. I also feel that a guy showing up not dressed correctly for the cold, even if he runs super-hot, gives the impression of laziness and not dressing correctly for the occasion. Consequently, you should talk him away from being without the correct layer and perhaps show him our windstopper option, which can take selected sportscoats and transform them into a stylish outerwear piece through our ingenious zip-out vest front. Layering is key to menswear styling and creating great looks for clients is at the core of what we love to do at J.Hilburn. Take time to discover our outerwear styles and offer them to our clients, who will learn to love them, wear them with style, and show up with a completed look. Here are some of my recommends for outerwear this season and why every client should have at least one in their closet to turn to on the chilly days.
The Field Jacket has a military background with ample pockets designed originally for carrying necessities on the battlefield. Today’s commute could be compared to a modern-day battlefield with pockets needed for tech, key fobs etc, that are part of the modern lifestyle and a modern man’s everyday carry. This utility makes the field jacket as relevant today as it ever was and an easy piece to layer over a sportscoat if needed. This season, we have added some refined Italian Reda wools into the fabric line-up, and I love the final look combining city and field style.
The Hybrid Blazer and Quilted Blazer are both stylish options to substitute a sportscoat, worn as a warm layer over knits or fall shirting. The length is excellent for getting in and out of cars, with comfort and style built in a way that a guy shouldn’t feel he is missing out on a sportscoat. The biggest luxury brands out there all offer a version of the hybrid blazer, and as a luxury menswear brand, offering a custom-made version for our clients is somethixng not to overlook.
Same with our vest offering, in either All Season or Quilted styles, consistently proven as a best seller for clients loving how stylish they are. Vests can be layered throughout the whole season in a “body-warmer” style, something that the equestrian crowd has relied on for years. A vest is a great transitional piece to wear over heavier knits and fall shirting, and in particular, in the warmer zones, guys love having the added body warmth, whilst leaving the arms free. I also love them layered under other pieces for another stylish way to add a layer on colder days. .
