More Great Winter Looks for Men – 2008 / 2009

A Few Different Styles to Wrap Yourself Up In This Season!

Nov 7, 2008

Businessmen, university, and college students are often trendsetters for the colder seasons of the year - unbeknownst to themselves!

Alternative looks and styles are the backbone of fashion – an industry and a lifestyle that thrives upon variation and innovation in order to survive. In the upcoming winter season, it is often those staples of fashion trendsetting – students and businessmen – that will carve some of the most common and refined looks.

"The Powerhouse"

A business look in the wintertime is all about finely crafted volume – in a sense it is particularly important to convey a sense of the substantial, to “cut a figure”. The business or corporate fashion story finds an essential catalyst in garment cut, trim, and classic detailing in order to provide the visual impact needed to look impressive and exude confidence.

An excellent framework to work with for a professional corporate look begins with a longer cut wool-cashmere topcoat – such as those manufactered by Brooks Brothers or Geoffrey Beene – preferably in either jet black or the more fashion-forward camel colour. There is a definite trend toward camel and other lighter colour topcoats amongst men who seek to escape the monochromatic colour palette that business attire usually offers them in the wintertime.

A topcoat will accommodate a suit jacket as well, should one need a coat to protect their suit during a foray out into anything from a blizzard to freezing rain. Wool is also extremely warm and provides good insulation against wind chill. Think of pairing a camel-coloured topcoat with chocolate brown, pinstriped or chalkstriped slacks or dress pants, and co-ordinate it up top with a sweater in a matching shade, ivory being a big contender for the colour of winter 2008 / 2009.

Another excellent idea is to invest in a cardigan or, better yet, a v-neck sweater in a shade of brown, or bark. This will allow you to wear a shirt and tie underneath your topcoat and it will look absolutely fabulous if sized and paired correctly. The v-neck sweater will also make your shirt-and-tie combination look polished even when the topcoat is removed at the office or the pub – and can be paired with denim for a more smart casual look appropriate for the season!

"The Letterman" (Or College Grad / Grad to Be!)

Undergraduates and graduate students are often extremely fashion conscious – to one extreme or the other. Whether one normally wears worn out shorts and flip-flops or a crisp collared shirt to the meal hall, college and university is a hotbed for up and coming fashion trends and often the first place to look for the realization of the bolder haute couture trends hitting shelves in retail stores both in urban and rural settings.

For college aged men who want to look great without coming off as stiff or too professional, the half-length peacoat is quickly rising to prominence as an absolute essential for any freshman worth his letter. Navy is definitely the recommended colour, and double-breasted peacoats are making a great return to popularity. A navy peacoat can be worn with khakis, dress pants, denim, and corduroys – making it a marvellously versatile jacket that is just as easy to dress up as it is to dress down.

The peacoat is typically a much more fitted garment – and will look very trim on most college aged men, a factor that will immediately set one apart from their peers who are more than likely less discerning regarding their wardrobe choices and image. Be sure to stock up on collared shirts and zip-up mock-necks, for these can be worn effortlessly with the peacoat.

The Letterman is a fashion story that is centrally concerned with versatility, a slim figure, and a smart casual attitude towards wardrobe choices that will lend itself well to the budget constraints of the average student. It is a hybrid of casual, carefree attitude blended with the centerpiece, a trim and well-appointed peacoat, that will add an edge of sophistication and definition to an otherwise unremarkable silhouette and image.