Stellar Equipment redefines the mid-layer for the ski season

Wear this for the perfect mid-layer or on its own

By Mark McKee Published November 19, 2024

Stellar Equipment hooded jacket — Stellar Equipment

Some people think that when the seasons change and the days get shorter, that adventure will need to wait until the spring. Then others don’t allow the change of the weather, the falling of the snow, or the shorter hours to stop them from adventure. Still, there are some who thrive in the latter environment — at home in the cold and dark winters on the mountain. Whichever camp you fall into, there is a need for you to grab the best possible gear for the moment. That is where the Stellar Equipment Free Padded Concept capsule collection comes into play. While they are no secret to preparing you for the mountain excursion, they may have just revolutionized the industry and changed the mid-layer forever.

Good for a mid-layer or a standalone

Stellar Equipment Padded detail — Stellar Equipment

The Swedish brand Stellar Equipment is one of the top places to go when it comes to wanting to get into the woods or on the mountain. Whether you are free riding or ski-touring through uncharted paths of snow, you will need to protect yourself, and they are a top-of-the-line technical layering system that does the job. You may be familiar with their alpine best-seller, the Steller Shell System. But this new concept takes Japanese craftsmanship and weaves an insulation layer into its stitching, making this the perfect layering option to keep you on the trail. The best part about it isn’t that it is good for the new mid-layer but also perfect for your Apres Ski celebrations or your run into town for coffee.

Stellar Equipment Free Padded Concept

Topics

Contributor

Mark is a full-time freelance writer and men's coach. He spent time as a style consultant and bespoke suit salesman before…

Fashion & Style

Inside Bugatchi’s FW25 collection: Where elegance meets introspection

Anthony Keegan tells us where the FW25 collection came from

BUGATCHI showroom

When perusing the brands and the shows of New York Fashion Week, I got the distinct pleasure of stepping into Bugatchi's showroom on 57th Street to get a look at their new collection. And while the Bugatchi Fall and Winter 25 was a thing to behold, with stellar blazers, beautiful outerwear, and, of course, the best shirts on the market. However, there is more to a collection than just the aesthetic beauty. Lucky for me, I was able to get some understanding of the deeper meanings driving FW25 by sitting down with Creative Director Anthony Keegan.
The complexities of the modern man

Being a man is simplistic on the surface. There is a stoic straightforwardness presented to the world with a deep and profound identity underneath, meant to drive us. While much of the outside world wants us to keep that buried, Bugatchi's new collection urges us to release it from its inner depths with style.

Fashion & Style

A gentleman’s guide to the morning suit: The must-know details

Too dressy? Or the next step in vintage wear?

what is a morning suit timothy everest in

If you have ever watched James Bond, The Crown, or Downton Abbey, you will likely have seen the characters wearing some version of an elevated dress code known as morning dress or a morning suit. What this entails is a version of what we call black tie. While Black tie is the second highest dress code level we engage with, it is not usually worn in the day. Morning dress is worn by men at weddings, memorial services, and daytime events in the presence of The King. Perhaps the most famous time it is worn is in the Royal Enclosure at Ascot. But even if you're not a part of the royal family and getting into the Royal Enclosure isn't likely in your future, you can still wear this whenever you want to elevate your style a little higher in any situation.

There are some rules and regulations surrounding a morning suit, but the most obvious one is that it contrasts with evening dress. Where the black tie dress code and the white tie dress code are very conservative and straightforward, the morning dress should be brighter, colorful, and playful. Here is what to keep in mind with each piece.
The hat

Fashion & Style

Wicked Director Jon Chu wears custom made from exclusive members only brand

The most exclusive luxury menswear makes an appearance at the Oscars

Jon Chu in custom

The 97th Academy Awards was a show stopped by Adrian Brody's acceptance speech that beat the record for the longest ever, and Kieran Culkin reminding his wife that she agreed to have four children with him if he ever won an Oscar. While Brody beat out the likes of Timothee Chalamet, Sebastian Stan, Ralph Fiennes, and Coleman Domingo and Culkin beat out Edward Norton, Guy Pierce, and Jeremy Strong, we had our eyes keenly planted on Wicked Director Jon Chu and his custom dinner jacket made by one of the most exclusive luxury menswear brands in all of Hollywood: NB44.
Only 44 lucky members as of now

Wicked is one of the year's biggest phenomenons. After years on the stage, the Wizard of Oz prequel finally made it to the big screen and landed ten nominations, including Best Actress (Cynthia Erivo), Best Supporting Actress (Ariana Grande), Editing, and Best Picture. The winning nomination paid tribute to the best costuming of the year, and Chu led the charge with one of the best looks on the red carpet. Of course, he wore green, which paid homage to his Best Actress nomination, but that isn't the only thing that made this dinner jacket stand out. It is a custom piece from NB44, one of the most exclusive LA brands. Launched by Nicolas Bijan, only members get access to his exclusive three or four collections a year. While you can apply to be an addition to the small 44-member brand, it costs a cool twelve grand just for access. No matter the cost, Jon Chu's was the best red carpet costume, making the twelve grand almost worth it.
NB44