hill-side fabrics | The Style Guide

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.

A style swerve from classic white low-tops, crafted from outstanding Japanese indigo cotton denim.

Welcome, gents (and ladies) to another Style Pick of the Week feature. The right footwear for the spring season has definitely been on my mind these past few weeks — it seems like my fall & winter boots have seen far too much use into April, what with some colder-than-normal temperatures. But we’ve got some longer and sunnier days on the docket, and that means we should all hop to finding the perfect pair of spring sneakers (more on that next week). As you anxiously await our next Online Shopping Picks feature, let’s get right to a tremendous pair of kicks for all of us to covet … right now. The Hill-Side continues to (in the opinion of this writer) hit things out of the park with seasonal releases that merge the heritage and modern — whether it’s a striped cotton-linen tie or any number of pieces from its GQ for Gap capsule collection. Its latest offering of spring sneakers is no exception. The pale indigo washed denim sneaker you see here is a stunner that’s pricier than what you might fork over for a standard low-top pair, but it’s all the more worth it.

Made in Japan at a factory that values ethical construction — that’s not something you’d get from other sneaker brands.

If there’s one thing The Hill-Side does as well as anybody in the business, it’s the brand’s use of extraordinary fabrics, from chambray pocket squares to indigo plaid shirts. So, taking 100 percent pale indigo cotton denim and warping it into a sneaker just …. works. Having checked out a pair of these myself, the vulcanized construction feels durable and sturdy, and the textured toe cap and toe guard reinforce that notion. Even the herringbone tread on the bottom is a slight deviation from standard sneaker treads, and it’s another welcome touch from a brand that exemplifies quality. The pale indigo color breaks away from a classic white sneaker, and while that’s still a solid choice, this pair would offer a great shot of color beneath a slim plaid shirt and classic khaki chinos. They’re ethically made in Japan at one of the world’s oldest sneaker factories, so that’s an added bonus that you don’t often find brands delivering. Even if you feel like your sneaker arsenal is all set for the time being, a pair like this might make you think twice but how to cover your feet this spring.

Are you all set with spring sneakers? Or would you pick up this pair?

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.

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

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Tag / hill-side fabrics

Style Pick of the Week: The Hill-Side Indigo Denim Sneaker

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