Winter is upon us, and the cold and snow it brings along will make it unpleasant, unless you’re dressed appropriately. And contrary to popular belief, you can still look good in winter gear! Before I get into the essentials list, let me start with a disclaimer (one that I opened with last time I talked about fashion):
I am, by no means, an expert; I do, however, read a lot about men’s fashion, and I have a great deal of interest in the subject. You can call this a compilation of fashion advice, or my personal interpretation of that (I prefer the latter). To write an all-season list of essentials would be a tall order—too tall for this blog. So what I am going to do instead is make the list season-specific (I won't talk about basics; or maybe I will, but in another entry). Please note that I tend to go with classics rather than the latest trends. This way I can be sure that what I buy this year will still be in style for years to come; plus I'm not too crazy about super-contemporary fads and designers (I’m old-fashioned that way). Let's cover this from head to toe:
- A great deal of your body heat is lost through the head, so keeping your dome warm is very important in cold weather. My favourite winter headwear is the aviator hat, also known as the trapper cap. This style of hat comes in all kinds of materials and colours. Some are fur lined, some wool. Some have a leather shell, some nylon. Some are plain, and some patterned. With winter gear, since I’m likely to wear it everyday, I prefer to keep things simple. I found a few that I thought you might like too. Le31 makes a nice all-rabbit fur one that is soft, warm, and affordable. New Era makes an all-black wool and faux fur one that does the job with style. And finally, Peter Grimm has a great (and cheap!) version of this classic style with nice Buffalo plaid patterned shell.
- It can be challenging to find a down jacket that doesn’t make a guy look like the Michelin Man. Challenging but not impossible. And I should add at this point, that this is one thing that you shouldn’t get skimpy with. The investment in a good quality down jacket will pay off in the long run. Again, since you’re likely to wear this on a daily basis through the winter months, get something toned down and versatile; black or grey is best. The most important thing is the material; real down beats synthetic, and the higher percentage of that the better. The second most important thing is the fit. It should be comfortable but fitted. My picks are Uniqlo’s three-quarter length (which boasts some dressy details like the buttons and the belt), Moncler’s all-grey fitted warmer, and Canada Goose’s Chateau Parka (which is pricy but well worth it).
- Flannel shirts are a winter classic. They’re soft and warm, and if paired with a down coat, they’ll likely be all you need to wear around your torso. I’m a plain guy, so naturally, I prefer solid coloured shirts or ones with fine or toned down patterns. I found a few that I thought were great: Vans’ solid charcoal, Uniqlo’s grey Buffalo plaid, and Banana Republic’s classic red checkers.
- Another winter fashion staple for me is the corduroy pants. Like jeans, the cut you buy should be one that compliments your body type; I like a fitted straight leg, or a not-so-skinny skinny cut. I also prefer either dark ones or really light ones, not so much the medium tones. And with corduroys, the size of the wales is a matter of personal opinion, though the narrower they are, the more versatile the pants become. And the wider they are, the more risk you run of looking like a 1970s sofa. Check out Le31 straight fitted, J Crew’s Vintage Slims, and Ralph Lauren’s Slim Fits.
- Finally, something for your feet. Winter shoes need to have two things: good traction and warmth. More extreme climates may call for heavier duty shoes, but where I am, I just need a pair of the following: Vans’ OTW Alomars, Converse All Star Woolriches, or the Adidas and Burton Collaboration Chukkas. Don’t forget to buy a can of stain and water-repellent solution to spray your shoes with; this will make your shoes last for years!
That’s all I have for you, for now. I’ll be back soon with more. If you like the items I’ve picked, here is the where you get them:
1A: Le31 Rabbit Fur Trapper Hat ($49); www.simons.com 1B: New Era EK Trapper ($56); www.neweracap.com 1C: Peter Grimm Plaid Aviation Hat ($24); www.petergrimm.com 2A: Uniqlo SPED Down Coat ($190); www.uniqlo.com 2B: Moncler Down Jacket ($239); www.moncler800.com 2C: Canada Goose Chateau Parka ($525); www.sportinglife.ca 3A: Uniqlo Cotton Flannel Shirt ($29); www.uniqlo.com 3B: Banana Republic Plaid Shirt ($59); www.bananarepublic.com 3C: Vans OTW Heavy Flannel ($100); www.vans.com 4A: J. Crew Slim Vintage ($59); www.jcrew.com 4B: Le31 Straight Fitted Corduroy ($39); www.simons.com 4C: Ralph Lauren Slim Fit Corduroy ($69); www.ralphlauren.com 5A: Vans OTW Alomars ($75); www.vans.com 5B: Converse All Star Woolrich ($90); www.converse.com 5C: AdidasXBurton Chukka ($149); www.adidas.com
