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The Classicist: The Best of Men's Style

Filed under: Apparel, Shoes, Men's Style, The Classicist

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.

Gallery: Best of the Best: Men's Style 2009

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.

Gallery: Anderson & Sheppard: Savile Row Style

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.

Gallery: David Chu Bespoke

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.

Gallery: Dunhill Store & More

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.

Gallery: Duncan Quinn Designs

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?

Gallery: Loro Piana Luxe

Maine cashmere cardigan and Baby Cashmere turtleneck.

Double face baby cashmere Vassar cape from Women's Fall/Winter '08.

Continued after the jump.

Tags: Anderson Sheppard, AndersonSheppard, bespoke, cashmere, Churchs, David Chu, DavidChu, Duncan Quinn, DuncanQuinn, Dunhill, Gary Cooper, GaryCooper, Haspel, Italy, London, Loro Piana, LoroPiana, New York, NewYork, Savile Row, SavileRow, suits, The Classicist, TheClassicist

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Cashmere Slippers by Loro Piana for the Holidays

by Tracy Chait (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style

Today in Vivre Notes, founder Eva Jeanbart-Lorenzotti recommends a few products for the gents, including these quilted cashmere slippers by the famed Italian design group Loro Piana.

The pair at right was featured on Jeanbart-Lorenzotti's list of gift suggestions for the holidays, though they might be equally soothing to wear during a little weekend staycation right about now.

They retail for $475.

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Tags: cashmere slippers, CashmereSlippers, holidays, loro piana, LoroPiana, vivre

The Classicist: The Private Luxury of Loro Piana

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Men's Style, The Classicist

If I had the means I could easily wear nothing but Loro Piana for the rest of my life. They make the most comfortable, classic, stylish and subtly luxurious clothes I've ever had the pleasure of putting on. World-famous for their cashmere, the 200-year-old Italian 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?

Their latest innovation is called Baby Cashmere®. To make this fabric the company first had to spend several years convincing Mongolian and Chinese breeders to comb the fine underfleece of the Hyrcus goat kid when it is 3-12 months old. Each combing yields no more than 30 grams of the rare, precious and incredibly soft fibre. Baby Cashmere crops up in Loro Piana's luxe Fall/Winter 2008 collection, which is about to hit stores; as usual we want it all.

We love the knitted stretch cashmere Davenport jacket pictured here, which like a lot of their designs calls to mind a cross between Cary Grant and Steve McQueen. And also like many of their best designs it captures that ineffable quality of effortless elegance the Italians call sprezzatura. This is the kind of thing you wear for a drive to your villa on Lake Como in your Maserati Gran Turismo. Even better, merely putting on this jacket for a trip to the liquor store can make you feel like you're driving to your villa in a Maserati, which is the real test of its worth (The jacket retails for $3,995).

Gallery: Loro Piana Luxe

Tags: Cary Grant, CaryGrant, Cashmere, Italy, Lake Como, LakeComo, Loro Piana, LoroPiana, Maserati, Mens clothing, MensClothing, Steve McQueen, SteveMcqueen

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Loro Piana Multi-Grain Leather Satchel, Handbag of the Day

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

The clean lines and elegant look of this very class bag from Loro Piana are almost surprising at first glance, since most bags this season see to have some form of embellishment in the form of studs, embroidery, ruching or bows. The Multi-Grain Leather Satchel gets it uniqueness from its material and high-quality craftsmanship. It is made from chocolate-brown multi-grain leather, which gives the bag a natural, but subtle, texture. The color is enhanced by the contrasting, light tan topstitching and accented with gold lock and logo charms. The two front pockets have flap closures, with extended tabs for a more secure close, while the main compartment has a zip top. Price: $2,095.

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Tags: bag, handbag, handbag of the day, loro piana, LoroPiana

Loro Piana Summer 2006

by Matthew Collins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel

As we enter the full swing of summer, it comes time to make sure that wardrobes are up to date with the latest summer fashions and are looking good. If you find that some of your things aren't in the best of shape or look like something from the past century, may I suggest a trip to Loro Piana. This venerated fashion house is probably best known for their indestructible and luxurious outerwear, but they also have ready to wear collections that are simply lovely. The women's summer 2006 collection is filled with classic lines and luxury details. The men's collection is masculine and comfortable with a country club air. The details each piece are nice, but the basics of each are fantastic. Loro Piana is a pioneer in the use of the world's best fabrics, with rare Vicuna and Baby Cashmere used in a variety of pieces. A limited number of stores are available in North America.

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Tags: loro piana, LoroPiana, luxury cashmere, LuxuryCashmere

Loro Piana Twill Messenger Bag

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

In college, I couldn't get enough of messenger style bags. You could pack it with all your belongings, throw it across your chest and go about your day. It was always secure because you had the flap and most likely a magnetic closure so it was unlikely that someone could take anything out of your bag. Now, I rarely wear messenger bags because they are just too casual for me. But, for a more updated, slight mature and stylish alternative try Loro Piana's Twill Messenger Bag. Made of cotton/linen cavalry twill with a dark chocolate leather trim, it has a top zipper closure and two front pockets for easy use. Bag dimensions: 15" x 15". Price: $1250.

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Tags: Loro Piana, Loro Piana Handbags, Loro Piana Twill Messenger Bag, LoroPiana, LoroPianaHandbags, LoroPianaTwillMessengerBag