Shop Now: The Hill-Side’s GQ for GAP Collection Hits Stores

A shirt-and-pant offering from The Hill-Side's collaboration with GAP, finished off with one of the brand's signature hats.

A shirt-and-pant offering from The Hill-Side’s collaboration with GAP, finished off with one of the brand’s signature hats.

After months of waiting, a building buzz and several tantalizing first looks at the collection, it’s here: the official release date of the GQ for GAP Best New Menswear Designers in America collections. And there’s one brand in particular that’s continually caught my eye, and apparently delivered on a stellar capsule collection effort — The Hill-Side. If you peruse the pages of this blog with regularity, you’ll recall that the brand produces product that runs the gamut as far as menswear essentials go, including standout ties (as featured here), slim blazersgarment-dyed T-shirts and nice denim. And it’s all made with stellar fabrics and an eye for design (as featured here in this brand profile).

An unexpected approach to a fall jacket from the brand, complete with a nice crewneck.

This reversible quilted bomber is but one piece that the brand’s updated for the collaboration.

So the brand’s capsule collection with GAP certainly doesn’t disappoint. Note that some items from David Hart as part of his own GAP collection certainly look stunning, but collaboration pieces from NSF and Stampd, while innovative, fall a little bit outside what we (or rather, I) cover at the ole’ TSG headquarters. A little background if you’re not familiar with the #BNMDA program first, though — menswear stalwart GQ selects and then works with the top up-and-coming brands in the industry, partnering with them to provide mentorship, advice, exposure and a platform for their work, culminating in a capsule collection run in partnership with GAP. Past selections have included now-iconic American brands like Saturdays Surf NYC and Todd Snyder, so The Hill-Side’s selection can only (hopefully) be a sign of good things to come.

A blazer that builds off The Hill-Side's blend of workwear style and classic Americana.

A blazer that builds off The Hill-Side’s blend of workwear style and classic Americana.

And if the brand continues to take pages out of its current playbook, as it looks to have done for this collaboration, things can only build from here. The collaboration features some beautiful-looking pieces, including a patch-pocket herringbone blazer that plays off the brand’s typical fusion of workwear style and modern silhouettes (note the throat tab on the left lapel). At $150, it’s more affordable than a regular blazer from the brand, too. That jacket is complemented by a pair of gray/black herringbone trousers that would look great with a pair of brown wingtip boots (or even navy sneakers and a crewneck sweater) this fall. The offering also includes a nice cotton plaid shirt in a rich indigo color that features a mini-plaid pocket. It would definitely pair well with the blazer from that same collaboration, along with some dark denim.

The Hill-Side's full collection, along with some standout complementary pieces.

The Hill-Side’s full collection, along with some standout complementary pieces.

Lest anyone forget that the brand does more than just excellent blazers & trousers, they’ve also produced some great small goods, including a special run of their navy herringbone card case, along with a blanket stripe wallet. At about $45, each is certainly pricey but definitely brings an added cool factor to your card case situation. That same blanket stripe pattern finds its way onto a pair of wool slip-on sneakers that would actually pair seamlessly with the collection’s herringbone trousers for a unique high-low combo. And in keeping with its use of excellent fabrics, an olive green cotton tote and camo zip pouch both offer pretty unexpected colors on the accessories front — although both pieces are somewhat spendy as far as smaller items go. Both patterns play off the quilted bomber seen above — which is reversible and features both a deep olive color and an eyecatching camo pattern on the other side.

An olive cotton tote bag breathes some life into your everyday carry.

An olive cotton tote bag breathes some life into your everyday carry.

In keeping with updated takes on items that it’s already nailed to a ‘T’, The Hill-Side has also done up one of its classic wool fedoras for the capsule collection. The same goes for its ties, which have drawn the brand critical acclaim — a selvedge chambray number looks pretty promising for pairing with white Oxfords, while an inky blue floral print tie is a somewhat unexpected pattern from a brand that specializes in plaids, stripes and solids.

A snapshot of each designer involved in this year's GQ for GAP capsule collection effort. Left to right: Folks from The Hill-Side, David Hart, NSF and Stampd.

A snapshot of each designer involved in this year’s GQ for GAP capsule collection effort. Left to right: Folks from The Hill-Side, David Hart, NSF and Stampd.

The brand has clearly broadened its vision for what a mass-market collaboration can be, using some unexpected patterns and styles (like that reversible quilted bomber), while keeping with traditional Hill-Side staples. The terrific thing about the GQ for GAP collaboration is that shoppers can find something to fit every taste. Maybe David Hart’s retro tailoring is more your style (and those windowpane wool pants do look great). Or perhaps you find yourself drawn to vintage, lived-in pieces from NSF or affordable takes on streetwear and athleisure looks, like those from Stampd. At any rate (and especially if you’re a fan of modern updates to classic styles), the 2015 #BNMDA lineup has something for everybody — doubly so if you dig The Hill-Side.

What’s your take on this year’s capsule collections? What do you think of The Hill-Side’s offering in particular?

Ernest Alexander

Ben Sherman US

Style Pick of the Week: The Hill-Side Striped Tie

Ben Sherman US
Editor’s note: Expect these posts weekly detailing one standout item coveted by yours truly. Sometimes, these fit within budgetary restrictions and other times, they’re expensive splurges worth saving for. For more Wish List items from Beau, head here, and to see other Style Picks, head here.

Japanese navy fabric and white stripes make for one sharp tie.

Japanese navy fabric and white stripes make for one sharp tie.

Out of all the Style Picks featured on this site, from Oxford shirts to slim shorts and tailored trousers, not one tie has made this category yet. That changes this week, with a striped cotton-linen number from The Hill-Side. You might recognize the brand’s name from this very blog (or, more likely, from their recent arrival as one of GQ’s Best New Menswear Designers in America). In short, the brand stocks essentials that have a modern-yet-quirky tilt, and they do so using lots of beautiful fabrics and textures (they even have a fabric shop, and its physical retail space, Hickorees, stocks that as well). But onto the tie itself — as the weather gets warmer, attire from head-to-toe should lighten up and help you beat the heat, including your neckwear.

Collect them all: available in a very narrow square-ended version or two progressively wider pointed versions.

Collect them all: available in a very narrow square-ended version or two progressively wider pointed versions.

The cotton-linen blend, narrow width and diagonal stripes convey a preppy yet modern style — thanks to the Japanese fabric — that would be ideal for wearing to, say, a summer wedding, or to the office. It’s available in a narrow or slightly wider pointed version (either 2 5/8″ or 3 1/4″), along with a square-ended variation that the brand is perhaps most known for. With Father’s Day quickly approaching, don’t forget about this as a (very) last-minute splurge gift for Dad, either, because at $85, that’s exactly what this tie is. But given The Hill-Side’s knack for pumping out quality pieces in stellar fabrics, it’s a tie that should wear well through many seasons to come.

Do you own any product from The Hill-Side? What’s your take on this tie?

(Editor’s note: If you want to knock a discount off some similarly luxurious #menswear, check out  the below promo — running through July 31 — with Ernest Alexander!)

$10 Off a purchase of $100 or more; Free Shipping on orders over $200 at Ernest Alexander Enter promo code: STYLEGUIDE10 at checkout. Valid 06-12-2015 through 07-31-2015

Florsheim