Cashmere

One of our favorite menswear collections for fall is from preternaturally stylish Nautica founder David Chu's LINCS line, which he relaunched earlier this year as a full sportswear collection. The name is of course derived from golf, but Chu has expanded its horizons considerably this season. He aptly describes it as "a modern expression of style inspired by a life in and out of the country club - of travel, of sport, of classic chic." The theme of the fall collection is a modern take on the "gentleman explorer," characterized by classic rugged yet elegant styling in a color palette of loden, navy, and charcoal, with fabrics like waxed cotton, cashmere, wool and flannel.

"LINCS is grounded in authentic, classic style, but updated with details and textures men can relate to," Chu notes. "Many of our shirts for example have a contrast color / pattern detail that's subtle. You'll find a surprising detail or color at the cuff, on a collar, or the inside liner. Part of the LINCS concept is the fusion of sporty, easy authentic looks together with performance fabrics and the technical. In outerwear, you'll see a classic piece like a blazer, but designed with quilted nylon and stuffed with down for a look that's rugged and elegant." Also worth noting are the very reasonable price points. Outerwear is between $199 - $399, sweaters are about $119 - $129, shirts are $89 - $99, pants are $79 - $89, available at select Nordstrom, Dillard's and specialty stores.

Key looks include a military style parka in waxed cotton with a sheared rabbit collar (above), a blazer-style coat made of quilted waxed cloth, a loden cashmere cardigan with a leather buckle at the collar, a tan safari-style parka with a removable navy liner, and a quilted navy nylon rip-stop down-filled blazer with suede detailing under the collar. "When I named it LINCS, people automatically thought it was a golf line, but it's not," Chu notes. "LINCS is about sport, about design, and more importantly, this person's lifestyle and an extension of it, which includes easy pieces that can be tailored and elegant, but mixed in with more casual elements for a dressy, but sporty look."



Chu also has his eponymous David Chu Bespoke line, featured in The Classicist's "Best of Men's Style" roundup, a custom-clothing atelier located on the penthouse floor of his "Townhouse" HQ in New York that embodies the deisgner's "ultimate statement on style, sophistication, and the well-lived life," blending the best of Savile Row and Neapolitan tailoring. In addition to Bespoke, Chu is also working on a new project with famed golfer Jack Nicklaus to develop the Nicklaus brands worldwide under a unified creative direction and make it more of a lifestyle brand with a distinct point of view. More on that later.

We had a look at the upcoming holiday collection from White + Warren -- is it really that time already? No! But knowing what's coming tomorrow helps you shop today.

One thing you won't need to pick up yet but will want to keep your eyes out for: Gloves. There were gloves in soft, buttery leather in pastel colors as well as cashmere with ruffles -- very girlie indeed. We also loved the shamelessly frilly ruffle scarf, and the fingerless gloves in a wide array of colors.

The big winner for us was this dress, though (at right). Sequins and cashmere? Sign us up! There were also sequin and bead-embellished cardigans, and even some floral cashmere pieces. Check out the gallery to see our favorites, bookmark your faves for your holiday wish list, and watch whiteandwarren.com for these styles to appear in a couple of months!

For your reading and viewing pleasure we present the first in a series looking back at highlights from the first year of The Classicist, the weekly column devoted to timeless style, enduring elegance, and true, built-to-last luxury as opposed to mere extravagance. For our first installment we present the best of Men's Style, from Savile Row to Italy and New York and back again, with suits, jackets, cashmere, shoes, accessories and everything in between. These are not the sort of things that ever really go out of fashion, so if you haven't already added to your wardrobe with some of these staples it's not too late.



1. Anderson & Sheppard of Savile Row

Savile Row stalwart Anderson & Sheppard, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary, is steeped in tradition, to say the least. Yet while other old-fashioned bastions of upper-class masculine British taste have been sold off or hideously modernized, A&S has managed to adapt and survive. The firm not only outfitted the great Fred Astaire - perhaps the best dressed man the modern world has ever known - but also Rudolph Valentino, Charlie Chaplin, authors Evelyn Waugh and Somerset Maugham, Gary Cooper, Noel Coward, Sir Laurence Olivier, Douglas Fairbanks Sr. and Duke Ellington.



2. David Chu Bespoke

In New York City, David Chu, founder of the Nautica brand, operates an ultra-chic Bespoke shop at his gorgeous Townhouse in Gramercy Park. "The bespoke experience is about understated elegance," Chu told The Classicist. David Chu Bespoke "blends the best of Savile Row and Neapolitan tailoring, marrying craftsmanship with modernity." Garments are hand-cut and stitched by a master tailor based in Naples. A gentleman can order anything he requires to be custom made, from suits, overcoats, tuxedos, and sport jackets to trousers, shoes, scarves, and 12-fold ties.



3. Dunhill's Timeless Classics

In times of economic uncertainty luxury consumers looks to timeless classics they know will hold their value and last for years as opposed to flash-in-the-pan trends and glitzy impulse buys. We think that London-based men's clothier and luxury goods firm Dunhill, which dates back to the 1890s, is well situated to weather the storm in similar style thanks to their espousal of these same values. That's a very good thing as the company recently opened two new flagship stores, in New York City and London. The 7,000-sq.-ft. NYC store (above), on the corner of Madison and 55th, replaces the old shop at 711 Fifth Avenue.



4. Duncan Quinn - The Coolest

Quinn , who makes some of the world's coolest suits, isn't exactly a tailor, though "designer" doesn't really capture it either. So how would he put it? "I simply have a strong view and an aesthetic to go with that view," he told The Classicist, "which encompasses the cars, wine, sailboats, cocktails and croquet." Sounds good to us. The dashing London-born former lawyer makes Savile Row-style clothes "constructed to celebrate days of glory and nights of excess." He opened his first shop in New York in 2003, and along the way he's attracted quite a following of well-dressed fellows, "gentleman rogues" who ascribe to the Quinn aesthetic.



5. Loro Piana Luxe

Italian luxury label Loro Piana makes the most comfortable, classic, stylish and subtly luxurious clothes we've ever had the pleasure of putting on. World-famous for their cashmere, the 200-year-old company, which began as a textile merchant, has also branched out into other areas (including accessories and women's clothing) in more recent years with equal success. Loro Piana's motto has it that true luxury is "knowing, not showing," i.e. dressing for yourself, not to impress others. It's "an inner satisfaction that comes from an aesthetic, intellectual, tactile pleasure, stemming from tradition, research and genuine quality." What could be better than that?



Continued after the jump.

You've eaten in his restaurants and sat on his chairs, now you can drape yourself in Philippe Starck. The prolific French designer is working with cashmere brand Ballantyne to create a collection for men and woman. The new project and brand, Starck With Ballantyne will feature a combination of multi function garments, with new ergonomics and contemporary fittings. The modern take on cashmere will be done in 30 pieces for men and women in both cashmere and modern and technical fabrics. I haven''t been able to find any pictures but Glam describes a collection that includes fluorescent silk linings for lighter garments, hoods on knitwear and outerwear and teddy bear detachable waistcoats. The line will be on sale this fall in Ballantyne flagship stores and selected multi-brand stores. This isn't Starck's first foray into fashion, he has also created a line of bodywear (Starck Naked) with Puma.

Italian luxury clothing brand Isaia, makers of the $2,000 crocodile skin sneakers we wrote about last year, has launched an exclusive new limited edition collection with high-end men's boutique Jeffrey. Designed by fashion icon Jeffrey Kalinsky, the collection combines his contemporary flair with the hand-tailoring, workmanship and luxurious fabrics Isaia is famed for. Kalinsky's modern-fit "J-body" suiting design is available in Isaia's exclusive grey and navy Aquaspider water-and-wrinkle resistant wool, and a tan 90% cashmere, 10% wool glen plaid. The made-to-measure garments feature hand-sewn buttonholes, pockets, floating chest piece and linings. There are also solid blue and white Sea Island cotton shirts as well as silk ties in a custom width.

Riva Yachts, the iconic Italian motorboat maker that epitomizes Dolce Vita style, has just launched a chic new Home Couture Collection of furnishings and design accents for outfitting a luxury yacht or owner's villa. Pure and precious materials such as cashmere, silk, saddle leather, linen, silver and brass are the main elements of the luxe new line, available by special order only. The collection includes a pure cashmere blanket with stitching designed to look like the wake of a classic Riva motorboat; a leather beach bag with an inner lining in linen printed with archival Riva images from the golden era of the Italian Riviera, when Sophia Loren and Brigitte Bardot owned Rivas; and woven cashmere cushions with mother of pearl buttons and metal Riva logos (above).

[via JustLuxe]

Holland & Sherry, the world famous fabric weaver and cloth merchant founded in Scotland in 1836, is offering an extremely limited edition range of bespoke suits cut from the world's most luxurious and expensive cloth. The firm, which has premises on Savile Row, has woven the world's first 100 per cent worsted spun Vicuna fabric, the most expensive in the world at over $4,000 per yard. The material (above) comes from the wool of the elusive wild Vicuna, a relative of the llama that lives high in the Andes mountains of Peru and Bolivia.

The Vicuna can only be shorn every three years and yields an extremely small amount of fine wool. It took Holland & Sherry five years to gather enough of the exclusive yarn, and another year and a half to develop the unique cloth, which is much finer than cashmere. There is only enough of the precious fabric to make 18 suits, each of which will cost about $50,000. Customers will have only three colors to choose from – black, midnight and natural. The King of Morocco is among the first to place an order for one of the gorgeous garments.

Take cashmere and bamboo and you end up with camboo®, a new fabric from pur brands that is designed to be soft, durable and eco-friendly. The blend of cashmere and bamboo uses cashmere from the combed fleece of Mongolian goats and bamboo pulp. The camboo is grown, harvested, spun, knitted, and woven on the grasslands of Mongolia. The ruffled shawl shown here retails for $250.

No matter how hard to shop for, any valentine appreciates a heartfelt gesture -- from a savory meal to a classic sterling key ring with a set of keys to your place. Ideas in the gallery range from classic corkscrews from Hermes (perfect for a romantic, secluded picnic) to everyday luxuries that will keep you in mind and heart. And each choice should inspire you to do even more -- find the perfect wine to go along with the corkscrew, pack up that stylish weekender bag for a surprise getaway.

If you're looking for a soft and warm gift for a little one, visit Hummingbird Lane, makers of Cashmere Baby Blankets. These hand-loomed blankets are made from the highest quality 100% cashmere and are designed for newborns, toddlers and kids (though I could see Mom or Dad snuggling in one as well). The blankets are reversible, completely knit and finished with a special crocheted scallop trim. Hummingbird Lane uses imported, pure virgin cashmere, dyed using eco-friendly Swiss dyes.

Check out the gallery for some of the adorable patterns. If you're buying a gift and can't choose, you can let the new parents make a selection with a gift certificate.

Each blanket is 26" x 35" and costs $248, gift wrapping included, with free ground shipping. Wish I had known about these when my nephew was born!

It is cold here in the Midwest this week (-18º F last night, brrr!) so even though these cashmere scarves by Franco Ferrari are meant for men they're looking pretty darn inviting. Soft, cozy, and reversible, the scarves come in a few different designs that are all interesting and stylish but still versatile enough to justify the expense. The multi-colored stripes/polka dot design is my favorite because it's bright enough to add a punch of color to your winter style but the colors are toned down just enough. $245

Quirky French knitwear label Lucien Pellat-Finet has a luxurious option to show someone you care. You can by have a custom image of your choice woven in a cashmere or cotton blanket. Each blanket is unique and available in a range of colors. Prices start at £849.

[via Vogue UK]

October is breast cancer awareness month and White+ Warren has some pink cashmere pieces that are so cute you'd want to buy them even if they weren't benefiting Columbia Presbyterian's Women at Risk charity. And they aren't just doting the often obligatory 10 or 15%, White + Warren is donation 50% to women at risk. The little wristlet gloves in pink and black color combinations sell for $65. The cashmere slippers in a pouch are $145, the pink city scarf is $165 and the luxurious travel wrap is $275.

Fashion stylist Phillip Bloch is moving on from simply fixing people's clothes to designing them from the ground up. He's teaming up with the contemporary Emma & Posh to come up with an all-cashmere collection for this year's holiday season. And if you're excited about this first attempt you'll be happy to know that both sides say this is only the beginning of what looks to be a long-term partnership. Look for the Phillip Bloch for Emma & Posh collection in stores like Henri Bendel and Fred Segal with price points around $108-$188.

Luxury department store Henri Bendel has partnered with an art school to create a new offering for fall. Henri Bendel and the Savannah College of Art and Design's Working Class Studio have created a floral printed cashmere sweater for the Fall 2008 limited edition cashmere collection. The ¾ length scoop neck sweater gets its design from a painting of poppies by a SCAD artist and will available it two jewel tones--purple and pink.The "SCAD Working Class Studio for Henri Bendel" sweater will sell for $248 and be available in late August.