Look, I am admitting it right here. The internet is forever. So I know I can never take this back. But I am not an unbiased journalist. Sure, I try to be objective in my reporting of brands and trends. But subjectively, I have favorites. Brands that speak to me. Brands that fit me well. The ones that define my lifestyle better than any others. Now that I have that off my chest, I can objectively say that there is no better brand for your casual wardrobe than Taylor Stitch. I have always loved them more than most, but this year, the Taylor Stitch F/W collection has me asking one very important question for all of you out there:
Why the Hell are you wearing anything other than Taylor Stitch this fall?
I know what you’re saying: you already have your favorite brand. No, you don’t, not if you haven’t tried Taylor Stitch yet. If you haven’t, then I am here to tell you that you just haven’t found your favorite brand yet. OK, I am being a little cheeky. And yes, subjectively speaking, they are the best casual wear brand on the market. Objectively speaking, no other brand has landed a fall lineup as they have, and you need to try it. But let me tell you why.
The comfort
Look, I am all for looking good. I always joke that I don’t have a lot of talent, so I need to capture people’s attention in other ways. That usually means dressing well and making a first impression. Of course, that doesn’t mean you can’t be comfortable. And while I know that Taylor Stitch does well with the functional apparel (check out their workwear contribution), I have also found myself wearing them around the house while I watch the NFL this season.
The Breakwater pant is comfortable enough to make it on a list of best loungewear pants, and elevated enough to wear down the street when I need to grab a slice at halftime. Tossing a Crawford Crew and A Jack button-up over it makes it the perfect look for morning coffee staring at a mountain or watching the traffic go by (I know, weird New York quirk of mine; I actually USE my balcony in the city).
The colors
One of the biggest misconceptions about the fall is that you have to get rid of the fun summer colors. Now, don’t get me wrong, I love me some moody fall colors like deep browns, burgandies, and greens and blues that look black until the light hits just right. But that doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye to the bright colors of the summer that keep you happy. As a matter of fact, I decided to prove it with a few pieces in the fall collection.
I started with The Division button-up. The brighter blue and red plaid looks like it would be just as in style in the springtime on the way to a baseball game as it does now. It is the same color scheme, just a thicker shirt to keep you warm. The Mariner Jean keeps the look light and even gives it a bit of a coastal look for all the guys who love that Northeastern feel. Finally, the Quincy is the perfect layering piece as I tossed it on over the top, and the white color brought a little levity to the seasonal affective disorder that comes from the fading summer.
The textures
Ok, this is the place that my love for Taylor Stitch continues to deepen. There is always depth with their looks. Most anything you pick up from them is versatile and can work together with other pieces in the collection. It is a brand that (intentionally or unintentionally) embraces the old idea we used to follow in the military of keeping it simple (KISS – Keep It Simple Stupid). Just throw on a top, a bottom, and a third piece. All of them with different textures that give the look a ton of depth, and make it look like you actually thought it through.
For me, I have deeply embraced the color green lately, and this season’s collection had a few pieces that worked together with multiple textures. My base piece is the Eastmore Sweater in Spruce Wool. This is a thick but soft wool that keeps you warm and feels good against your skin. Then I added my favorite piece of the collection, the Cutter Overshirt in Buzzard Check. It is thick, coarse, and screams fall in ways that turn heads. Finally, No fall outfit would be complete without a pair of corduroys, and the Carnegie Pant in Bourbon brought the brown out of the overshirt and added a third texture to the look, making the whole look a feast for the senses.
The layering
The trick to fall dressing is simple. Layers, layers, layers. I always tell guys, when you get dressed from September to November, throw on the outfit you want, then add a layer. Taylor Stitch is the best at overshirts, and that makes it easy to finish off a look with intentional style and dependable functionality and versatility. Workwear pants, a great sweater, and then an overshirt is about as basic fall fashion as it gets. While there are dozens of brands you can do this trick with, Taylor Stitch is the one that will do it year in and year out with timeless style and masculine effect.
So, I ask you again: Why the Hell are you wearing anything OTHER than Taylor Stitch this fall?
