Tag / men’s trousers

by Beau H.

Style Pick of the Week: Billy Reid Clarke Pants

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  — like the pants discussed below. For more Wish List items from Beau, head here, and to see other Style Picks, head here.

Luxurious pants from an esteemed retailer.

Luxurious pants from an esteemed retailer.

So recent Style Picks have really centered around … shirts. Lots and lots of shirts, from a great henley to a nice set of pocket T-shirts and even a soft-looking French terry stadium jacket. It was high time to change things up in that department, and a trip to the excellent West Village Billy Reid store secured this week’s Style Pick (fear not — these beautiful pants are available online, too). And before you ask — I was not able to buy them; this Style Pick belongs in the expensive splurges category above). But, like much of the famed American designer’s work (including the covetable Bond peacoat), these are truly outstanding.

A tailored but more traditional cut.

A tailored but more traditional cut.

Made of a ridiculously soft and luxurious-feeling 60% cotton, 40% silk (yes, silk), blend, these pants feature a single pleat (which has been building on the runways for a while now) and tab adjusters in lieu of a belt. The texture definitely feels similar to that of a knit tie, actually. Despite the pleats, these are the kind of pants that are trend-resistant, not fashion-forward — and for that eyepopping price tag ($395!), they better be. The cut is traditional but still looks tailored in an old-school sort of way. In the event that you’re able to buy these (maybe a nice tax refund came your way?), I could see them being worn with everything from an unconstructed blazer, dress shirt and striped tie to a high-low T-shirt & trousers combo. As a final note to tempt you, the brand is running a 20% Off deal for its SS15 collection through tomorrow night at midnight with the code: SS15. So, still pricey — but worth it?

Tell me: What’s on your Expensive Splurges list as of late? Would you ever consider buying these?

One last note: Before the weekend’s up, this site will transition to The Style Guide (if you haven’t gotten the previous memos!), covering the same great categories in men’s style and fashion.

Stay stylish,

-Beau

by Beau H.

Brand Profile: The Hill-Side

Brothers Sandy and Emil Corsillo, founders of The Hill-side, with menswear blogger and brand supporter James Wilson.

Brothers Sandy and Emil Corsillo, founders of The Hill-Side, with menswear blogger and brand supporter James Wilson. Image courtesy of GQ.

An increased focus in recent years on men’s style and fashion has had a lot of really positive benefits for those outside the industry, too — like the launch of GQ’s Best New Menswear Designers in America program. It’s an awesome way to check out what’s new and what’s next while finding out about great brands — like The Hill-Side (and on that note, the brand’s collaboration with GAP as part of the program should be drool-worthy). You might recognize the brand from its appearance on the head of a certain famous NBA player, too. The Brooklyn-based brand was launched in 2009 by denim-obsessed brothers Sandy & Emil Corsillo with business partner & friend Hisashi Oguchi. Obsessed with outstanding fabrics & Japanese workwear brands, the brand has found itself a nice niche — eclectic styles that manage to look of-the-moment at the same.

Some of the store's wares, including standout socks and great chinos, on display in Brooklyn.

Some of the store’s wares, including standout socks and great chinos, on display in Brooklyn.

I had the chance to stop into Hickoree’s, the brand’s physical outpost opened by the team in Brooklyn. And man, was I impressed with what I saw. In addition to stocking gear from The Hill-Side itself, the store also sells items you never knew you needed — like cool leather keyholders and Japanese pottery. The space is also, for one, exceptionally cool. There’s almost too much high-quality menswear to even begin to describe. The store stocks everything from indigo T-shirts and jeans from Blue Blue Japan to amazing chambray slip-ons and hemp denim sneakers (made in Japan for the brand).

Indigo wares on display from Blue Blue Japan, among others.

Indigo wares on display from Blue Blue Japan, among others.

Casual, washed shirts from The Hill-Side and the Gitman Brothers Vintage line are a highlight too, as are the unique trousers the store also stocks (like these sturdy jeans from Phivgel). The brand’s lightweight, infinitely wearable blazers are unlined and unconstruced, making them easy-wearing, and they have a tailored fit that’s not too restrictive. There’s also a standout selection of ties and pocket squares made from soft, textured fabrics — something that put the brand on the map in the first place. Pair that with a casual shirt and one of the many workwear-inspired jackets they also stock, and you’d have one standout outfit. Things can be topped off with a set of super comfortable and breathable socks  in a variety of colors (also the brand’s own). In fact, I picked up an olive Donegal tweed pocket square and some charcoal-tipped socks on this trip.

Beautiful ties in textured fabric from The Hill-side.

Beautiful ties in textured fabric from The Hill-Side.

Another personal highlight had to be the store’s stunning selection of sneakers — all from The Hill-Side itself. Whereas lots of brands are going for super clean, minimal shoes at the moment, there’s something to be said for sneakers that have unique texture and great construction (Donegal tweed sneakers or denim sneakers for the fall, anyone?). A set of herringbone twill sneakers in all-black were also quite well-made.

Just one pair of the awesome sneakers sold by The Hill-side.

Just one pair of the awesome sneakers sold by The Hill-Side.

Now, it’s absolutely worth noting that these pieces, from the blazers to the sneakers and even the socks aren’t cheap. They’ll set you back a pretty penny, to be sure. But the fabrics are beautiful on every piece, the quality and construction is top-notch and the styling potential for say, a chambray blazer or some clean white slip-ons, is huge. The great thing about the brand is that even though their line has expanded to more eclectic pieces (for example, small wooden display planes), they still have a grounded, defined sense of who they are — vintage, workwear-inspired and still very on-trend without trying too hard.

Soft-washed shirts from Gitman Brothers Vintage. Very well-made.

Soft-washed shirts from Gitman Brothers Vintage and The Hill-Side. Very well-made.

While not everyone will probably be able to get into the physical store soon, it’s for sure worth a trip if you ever find yourself in Brooklyn. And in the meantime, the brand’s excellent and quirky Web shop will have to suffice. Happy shopping!

What’s your favorite piece from The Hill-Side? Let me know!

by Beau H.

Brand Profile: Tom Cridland Trousers

Editor’s note: To read past brand profiles on the blog, click here.

A U.K.-based brand expanding into the U.S. via Kickstarter.

A U.K.-based brand expanding into the U.S. via Kickstarter.

The men’s pants market has received several shots in the arm across the past half-decade or so, notably from Bonobos and their tremendous Washed Chinos. Of course, Bonobos has since expanded into brick-and-mortar Guideshops across the country. Some brands are still doing it the “old-fashioned” way in this new age of technology, starting with an online presence and expanding from there. Tom Cridland is a curious case in this regard — they’ve got a solid brand base in the UK (and stock in certain physical retailers), along with a full e-commerce retail site, but they’ve recently taken to Kickstarter to finance a push into the States (check out the full Kickstarter campaign here).  Check out more coverage on their brand blog here, as well.

Tom Cridland's Classic Navy option.

Tom Cridland’s Classic Navy option.

They’re offering cotton trousers in a wide array of bright colors for now, similar to Bonobos, and they’re aiming to raise $20,000 by Feb. 15. That’s a pretty tight deadline, but the campaign to date has raised more than $11,000. The brand’s offerings range from a Classic Navy chino to louder colors, like a Chili Red pair of chinos (seen below) that wouldn’t look out of place with a pared-down set of white sneakers and a grey henley this summer.

A more vibrant Chili Red that could be dialed down with minimal accessories.

A more vibrant Chili Red that could be dialed down with minimal accessories.

The fit of these pants looks particularly promising for those who favor a slim cut — from the photos, these pants look like they should rival something like the Bonobos Slim Tailored option. However, they’re only offering a slim cut, for now — that leaves those with more leg muscle out in the cold. Sizes do run from 30R to 40L. And note that while Kickstarter can be tricky for certain men’s fashion campaigns, this has a solid base to build off and some good deals for those who contribute (a pledge of $98 gets you a pair of Tom Cridland trousers — normal retail $139). On top of that, for $176, you can knock $100 off the normal retail price for two pairs of trousers. A bonus: Worldwide shipping is included in the pledge.

At full retail, those prices are certainly a cut above what most of us would pay — that’s what makes this Kickstarter so advantageous. And if you’ve been looking to take the plunge on a more colorful pair of pants, these could be just the ticket — remember, just one pop of color at a time though!

Any plans to contribute to this Kickstarter campaign? Thoughts on Tom Cridland? Let me know below!