With Thanksgiving firmly in the rearview and a bevy of social commitments on the horizon, we decided to tailor this week’s selection of the best new menswear you can buy to include striking alternatives to standard holiday party fare. Sure, you can don an ugly sweater if you want to, but we find punchy knits from Barking Irons and Universal works much more appealing. You can even add a healthy dose of personality to monochrome tailoring, like Mr P.’s sharp new tuxedo line, with a bright printed scarf from Rumisu. Even the interiors of Richard James’s line of umbrellas underscores this point: just because the weather outside is dark and gloomy doesn’t mean your wardrobe has to be. All that and more, below.
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Sid Mashburn “Hey” Mid-Gauge Crewneck Sweater
Image Credit: Sid Mashburn Talk about a statement piece. There’s a playfulness to this sweater from Sid Mashburn that’s great for the guy who doesn’t take himself too seriously, even if the construction (it’s knit from a blend of super soft merino wool, cotton and a touch of nylon for durability) does.
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Hestra Primaloft Fleece-Lined Full-Grain Leather Gloves, $130
Image Credit: Mr Porter You shouldn’t have to forgo warmth for style or vice versa, so this set of gloves from Hestra is a fitting way to satisfy both goals. The fleece interior gives way to a snug ribbed cuff to ensure the heat is kept nicely where it needs to be: right at your fingertips.
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Todd Snyder x Clarks Originals Kaleidoscopic Red Wallabee Boot
Image Credit: Todd Snyder No one does a meaningful, interesting menswear collaboration quite like Todd Snyder. His latest partnership, with Clarks Originals, produced Italian-made takes on the Wallabee boot with uppers that feature a unique upholstery fabric. If anyone asks you why your shoes look like a vintage rug emporium, remind them that Clarks started as a rug manufacturer—and let the conversation flow from there.
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Mr P. Black Slim-Fit Shawl-Collar Faille-Trimmed Virgin Wool Tuxedo Jacket
Image Credit: Mr Porter With holiday parties right around the corner, Mr P.’s new formalwear line couldn’t have arrived at a better time. While there are a number of options to choose from, the one-button closure of its shawl-collar tuxedo jacket feels particularly elegant, and its fully canvassed construction means you’ll have it in your closet for a long time. It’ll keep you looking as sharp at the bar as it does on the dance floor—if that’s how your holiday parties go down.
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Rag & Bone Mid-Rise Stone-Washed Jeans
Image Credit: Bergdorf Goodman Finding a new pair of jeans that look genuinely well worn is a tough task, but this pair from Rag & Bone makes it look easy. The slim-straight legs are streamlined without being too skinny, and the wash makes them look like you’ve had them in your closet for years.
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Loewe Shearling Aviator Jacket
Image Credit: Mr Porter Based on original aviator jackets that included a throat closure for added warmth while flying in windy conditions, this jacket from Loewe gets a modern-day upgrade that includes premium shearling and leather. It’s exactly what you’d expect from a brand that’s known for its love of leather and its attention to detail—all of which creates a standout winter coat.
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Rumisu Giddy Goats Scarf
Image Credit: The Armoury The creation of two sisters from Istanbul, Rumisu has quickly established itself as a purveyor of singularly attractive silk scarves. This particular version has a subtle repeating goat motif. If you’re the kind of guy who likes a wearable conversation starter, this is it.
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Bleu de Chauffe Concorde Leather-Trimmed Regentex Ripstop Holdall
Image Credit: Mr Porter This bag from Blue de Chauffe sits somewhere in between a generous tote and a full-on duffle. It features more pockets than a pair of your dad’s cargo pants, and ultra-organized travelers will appreciate that they can remove the exterior pockets, changing the functionality of the bag as they need.
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Barking Irons Plymouth Shawl Collar Sweater
Image Credit: Nordstrom This shawl cardigan from New York City-based Barking Irons draws direct inspiration from a similar version that the one and only Bob Dylan once wore on the cover of his 1976 album, Desire. Made from 100 percent merino wool, it’s effortlessly cool—just like Dylan himself.
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Aimé Leon Dore x Woolrich Color-Block Cotton-Twill Down Jacket
Image Credit: Mr Porter Down jackets are such a utilitarian tool for handling winter that we often forget they can be fun—which is exactly what this collaboration between Woolrich and Aimé Leon Dore accomplishes. By adding a relatively simple flourish like this color block pattern, the two brands elevated a winter staple considerably, giving it a nice element of character in an otherwise dour season.
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Beams Plus 3B Corduroy Jacket
Image Credit: Nordstrom Corduroy is a surefire way to not only add sophisticated texture and warmth to any outfit. This jacket from Beams Plus looks great with denim, but you can also wear it as a full suit.
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Richard James Faze Umbrella
Image Credit: Richard James As soon as you open this umbrella and you’ll immediately notice the blue-green gradient on the interior. While it won’t keep you any drier, it will help brighten up even the gloomiest of days. That shade is supplemented by a one-piece maple shaft, so there’s no danger of it snapping in the wind..
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Walker Slater Herringbone Harris Tweed Watson Coat
Image Credit: Walker Slater Walker Slater’s two outerwear silhouettes draw inspiration from the adventures of beloved literary character Sherlock Holmes. The Watson cut is slightly shorter than its counterpart, the Sherlock, but doesn’t skimp on warmth or quality. The Harris Tweed use to make it has a blend of blue, tan and clay threads that make for a distinctive hue, while the raglan sleeves and adjustable fasteners allow for a comfortable fit.
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Sperry x Rowing Blazers Herringbone Wool Cloud CVO Deck Sneaker
Image Credit: Rowing Blazers As hardy as most sneakers are, sometimes they just need a little more to stand up to winter’s worst. The dense herringbone wool in this pair from Sperry and Rowing Blazers delivers warmth while adding a bit of refinement to a sporty shoe.
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Three Forty Five AM Ash Herringbone Slim Fit Pant
Image Credit: Three Forty Five AM A pair of wool trousers cut like your favorite five-pocket jeans seems like an out-of-the-box idea at first, but this slim-fit pant from Three Forty Five AM makes us wonder why we don’t see this idea executed more often. They’re warm, interesting—and great-looking to boot.
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Universal Works Check Wool Fleece Cardigan
Image Credit: Universal Works Perhaps one of the sturdiest cardigans we’ve seen this season, this layer from Universal Works is made from a hefty wool and fleece blend for excellent warmth. It’s finished off with a great buffalo plaid pattern that opts for shades of blue instead of the traditional red. The copious pockets give the whole piece an on-trend workwear vibe.
