Men's Winter [Fashion]

[Micah]

[quote name='Semper Catholic' timestamp='1290246026' post='2188196']
OP confirmed for Hipster.

Hoodie, jeans, gloves and a skullcap all you need to be a real man
[/quote]

lol, semper confirmed wrong.

Gloves?

[quote name='Maximilianus' timestamp='1290248913' post='2188197']
[url="http://www1.canadiana.org/hbc/_popups/na-1406-55_e.htm"]Here's[/url] another version of that look.
[/quote]

That looks a bit more familiar

[CatherineM]

I like to layer. Sweatshirt, hoodie, nordic balaclava, high tech liner gloves, Dakine mittens, and a Columbia silly rabbit hat.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

Since I am not a man, and only man in my life (my cat) never leaves the house, I know very little about men's winter clothes. So, this post talks about my (female) choices in winter clothes. However, in reading over my post, I realized that most of my conclusions apply equally to men and women (at least IMHO).

It's not fashionable or even hip, but for me, for winter gear nothing beats Lands' End. (LL Bean is more hip, in a Maine sort of way, but for winter gear LL Bean is more expensive, sometimes MUCH more expensive, than Lands' End.)

At Lands' End you can find winter gear that is very well made and will keep you warm at prices that are often half of what places like the North Face and REI charge. Maybe skiers need to look hip and trendy, but for day-to-day living in the snow belt, worrying about fashion is a waste of time and effort. You just want to be warm.

Kafka will be pleased to see that, although I am not a huge fan of Wisconsin as a state, I believe in giving credit where credit it is due--Lands' End is headquartered in Wisconsin. As I said, they know their stuff when it comes to making quality winter gear at reasonable prices.

I'm not as enthusiastic about Lands' End's other clothes, because as much as Lands' End continues to try to design more fashionable clothes, when it comes to anything other than winter outwerwear, Lands' End clothes still mostly make you look like you live in Wisconsin--not most people's fashion mecca. For other clothes, I tend to shop at LL Bean most often since their clothes have that cool "Maine" look. (I think I'd like living in Maine, if people there really dress like LL Bean.) LL Bean's winter clothing is very good quality--just as good as Land's End--but, for some reason, LL Bean often charges as much as twice as much as Land's end for a similar item of winter gear.

Off season note--One other area where Lands' End excels is women's bathing suits that are modest, but that are still attractive. It's not a place to find bathing suits of the level of modesty needed by orthodox Muslim or Jewish women, but for the ordinary woman who wants to be reasonably modest, but still attractive, it has an excellent selection. I've never even bothered to look at Lands' End's men's swimwear.

Stores and brands like North Face and REI seem to be for people who mostly wear winter gear on the ski slopes, and for some reason that makes no sense to me, feel a need to look "chic." That's not to say that they don't have very high quality clothes, and have specialized clothes such as expedition gear, but unless you catch a sale, you could easily spend twice as much as what you'd spend at Lands' End for everyday winter clothing.

Note: In case you worried about my choices of where to shop, when the occasion requires, I clean up very nicely and have a small closet with nothing but formal and semi-formal clothes. You would not be ashamed to be seen with me at a formal occasion. There is nothing less than feminine about the way I dress. But, when it's REALLY cold outside, I could care less how I look.

Edited November 20, 2010 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[Micah]

^
Sure Iggy, I bet you're super hip in reality. LL Bean is pretty cool in a collegiate sorta way. I haven't seen an outlet anywhere around here though, and I don't like buying anything to do with clothing online, so unfortunately I am LLbeanless.

Land's End has some sick (and by sick I mean awesome) coats, as well as some not so sick coats lol. I hear that winters in Wisconsin can get atrociously cold. Like long underwear cold. And I agree, when it gets cold (ie. Today) I could care less about how chic (or tough) I look. I was waiting outside the library today watching all the freshmen freezing in their hoodies and little black gloves. I guess they were being manly, but I'll take my fur-lined parka and leather boots over shivering like a leaf any day.

And just for the record, women can look very cute all cozied up for winter.

Edited November 20, 2010 by Micah

[kafka]

Iggy deserves the title Awesome.

[CatherineM]

I saw a woman in an Indian sari yesterday, and ballet slippers on without shoes. She looked frozen. It was -26 at the time, and quite windy.

[kafka]

she got lost in spacetime

[Micah]

That is ridiculous.

Back to dapper looking gear. I love flannel shirts. It's like they have this magical property that keeps you warm no matter what. I'm rockin my favourite flannel tonight. Cost me $60, that's like $200 American (jokes ) but it's so thick you can practically use it as an overcoat. So, gentlemen, what I'm saying is wear flannel. Even if you're not an okay lumberjack (edit: oh ya, ladies dig flannel too, so if you're a young Catholic dude.. just sayin)

[img]http://www.blackbirdballard.com/Images/Products/39904_1.jpg[/img]

Edited November 21, 2010 by Micah

[Maximilianus]

You could always make a capote from flannel.

Actually if you want to be taken seriously you must wear a gray sweater, black leather jacket and a stingy brimmed black fedora...oh and golves with the figers cut off, yeah that's it. Being a boxer and living in Philly is just a bonus.

Edited November 21, 2010 by Maximilianus

[kafka]

flannel is only cool if it is in fact true wool.

[MarcBarnes]

[quote name='notardillacid' timestamp='1290231474' post='2188169']
Like I said


Concurrence


[/quote]

I do believe we've a president dead over the lack of a coat. just sayin, it happens.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='Maximilianus' timestamp='1290331867' post='2188323']
You could always make a capote from flannel.

Actually if you want to be taken seriously you must wear a gray sweater, black leather jacket and a stingy brimmed black fedora...oh and golves with the figers cut off, yeah that's it. Being a boxer and living in Philly is just a bonus.
[/quote]

Okay. If you say so, I'll believe you. But, you sure hang out with a different crowd than I do.

[MarcBarnes]

Flannel, by all accounts, is the most manly material your body can be cloaked with, besides sackcloth.
proven by Issac Brock of Modest Mouse.

[IgnatiusofLoyola]

[quote name='kafka' timestamp='1290372809' post='2188405']
flannel is only cool if it is in fact true wool.
[/quote]

Kafka--You just flunked Fabric 101.

Maybe you might have a wool flannel coat (or flannel pantaloons or jackets). But, for coats and jackets, there are better MUCH fabrics than wool flannel. Cashmere or Camel's Hair are the best--very light and very warm. (And very expensive.) If you live in a cold place like Chicago, or that state north of Chicago, you can buy lined cashmere coats that will keep you as warm as you need in all but the very coldest weather. Ideally, if you are dressed up, you should wear a cashmere or Camel's Hair overcoat, with cashmere lined gloves. I can spot the real thing from a fake a mile away.

For everyday, wear a lined parka from Lands' End. They're on sale at 25% off until tomorrow. Avoid down coats, because, although down keeps you warm, it doesn't handle getting wet as well as some of the synthetics, which keep you equally warm.

Flannel shirts should always be cotton, preferably heavier weight, made in Portugal. (The Portugese make the best flannel.) Wool flannel shirts would be itchy. Wear a very soft, high quality cotton flannel shirt, and if you need extra warmth, layer it over something.

I guess you could find a wool flannel shirt made of such high quality wool that it wouldn't be itchy. But, why bother? Look in the Lands' End catalog. They don't even sell wool flannel shirts. There's a reason for that.

End of lesson. You are the reason that people from Wisconsin do not have a reputation for dressing well. But, we'll get you cleaned up.

Micah is from Canada, where they are born knowing how to dress for winter. Plus, he is naturally hip, so needs no advice from me. You I'm not so sure about. I mean, you voluntarily live in Wisconsin. What's up with that, when one of the most awesome cities in the U.S. is just a few hours south of you?

Edited November 22, 2010 by IgnatiusofLoyola

[kafka]

or one could buy high quality combed merino wool. Or wear an long-sleeved under armor shirt.

Or simply get tough. Cashmere is for women.

But I like the lined wool flannel idea. I like wool, darnit. I just like wool, I dont care about the quality.

Edited November 22, 2010 by kafka