Billy Reid Fall 2013: NYFW Review

Billy Reid's knack at delivering classic silhouettes with an infusion of Southern tradition was on full display again for Fall '13. Included were rugged leathers, layers in a range of browns and oranges, and more of the outerwear that Reid did so well in Fall '12.

A standout look for me was this gorgeous overcoat and the amazing red/rust colored pants. Must have those pants! The slim leg with a slightly larger ankle opening is perfect for the boots Reid puts out regularly... but the color has a subtle wear to it, toning it down but still catching your eye.

If you now me, you know I can't resist a shawl collar. So this was a no-brainer -- plus the toned pattern and sheen make this a perfect black tie jacket. Although even here, where it's paired more casually, it totally works for a less formal night out.

Another shawl collar -- this one all black, and styled with black pants (again with a slightly wider ankle opening) and a black knit. I appreciated the simplicity of these pieces all together, and how they conveyed such confidence... helped of course when worn by Clement Chabernaud.

I definitely steered more towards the tailored looks in Reid's collection -- but get over to GQ to see the full lineup and his breadth of Southern goodness.

Carven Spring 2013: Things I Love

Both here and on Twitter I've been extolling the virtues of Guillaume Henryand his work on the Carven menswear line. I really love the subtle French influence, the boxier cut on a lot of the pieces, the fun patterns + colors he's used. 


And I found it totally understandable that he was invited to be showcased at Pitti Uomo this year. 


For Spring '13 he continued the success with suit/shorts, great prints, and the same cropped/French influence he's used thus far. Here are a few of my favs...


Never one to shy from prints, i loved this shirt, jacket, short combo.

 

This peacoat in a light green has a nice length and the color works well for warmer weather.

I really enjoyed this contrasting shirt, paired with the light blue pants and red loafers -- perfect Spring look!

Always a fan of the crop, and I love the check on these pants. Also the jacket seems similar to the Carven one I bought this Spring, which means I'll love the fit.

You can find the rest of the (incredible) collection at Style.com.

A Peek At Capsule Show: My Three Favorite Pieces

Last night before they closed for the day, I tucked into Capsule Show, the fantastic trade show run by the folks at BPMW Agency. It's been growing each year, with more and more brands, and a bigger presence... and this week it's all about menswear!

There were a lot of great pieces from folks like Ovadia & Sons (fell in love with a yellow waffle knit sweater), Won Hundred (clean Scandinavian aesthetic), Vanishing Elephant, and Fahlgren (Brett Fahlgren's new neckwear line).

But oddly my top three favorites were all outerwear.

First was this amazing wool coat from NUMBER:Lab. Really enjoyed the deep color, the sophistication of the overall design, and the blending of a 'technical' touch with the clasps. The hood is tipped in leather, and there is great construction throughout. Couldn't stop looking at this coat!

My second favorite was from Mark McNairy New Amsterdam. I'm not alone in my reverence for what McNairy's been doing lately and there were some great pieces in his Fall collection.

But this jacket (in three colors) just stood out. First the boldness of the color really caught my eye. Then the fabric was incredible -- honestly felt like a softened Kevlar. Stiff yet pliable, with a little edge to it. Must get one of these jackets for Fall 2012.

The third was from a brand I was not familiar with... Loyal. They had a lot of wool coats, but of course the one in bright blue caught my eye. When I saw the anchors painted in white, I was sold (I'm nothing if not predictable). Great cropped pea coat but the color and nautical theme breaks it out of the pack.

Definitely a lot more to share on Capsule, so stay tuned...

Things I Want: Peacoat from Dries van Noten F/W 2010

I know I've been posting more about things I 'want' recently than things I 'have'. Well I'm on a bit of a spending freeze from the holidays... so right now it's more about lusting after items than actually acquiring them.

But don't worry, I'm heading to Asia in two weeks and will surely be doing some browsing.

As I've been running through the coverage from the recent men's shows in Milan + Paris there are some definite favorites. I already wrote about Balmain (want those pants!)... another designer I am all about for Fall is Dries van Noten.

I've long been a fan of Dries... and was excited to see that one of my favorite blogs (What I Saw Today) is too! Here is one of the sketches, which just happens to show the toggle coat my good friend John has already requested as an early birthday present.

Now for me, I'm all about this wool peacoat. The length is great, the color is perfect for Fall, and it looks like the usual meticulous Dries tailoring.

GQ is offering many more shots from the show, check them out here: http://www.gq.com/fashion-shows/brief/F2010MEN-DVNMEN