This winter has been surprisingly warmer than expected — barring the blizzard in January and the few freezing days. Instead of bundling up with a new tech style parka, I invested in a double-breasted flannel chalk stripe suit from Oliver Wicks.
Going with a heavy weight fabric, but, adding the details that would seemingly make this suit and all-weather piece, I want to discuss with you why this was my go-to suit this winter.
Fully Suited
Custom Navy Double Breasted Chalk Stripe Suit – Oliver Wicks | Green & Blue Striped Wool Tie – Suitsupply | Blue & Brown Cotton Pocket Square – The Tie Bar | Guillaime II Brown Leather Boots – Cobbler Union | Denim Shirt – HM | Brown Leather Reversible Folio – hook+Albert
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Let’s talk fabric first. Flannel (besides tweed) is the king of cold weather fabrics. When temperature drop below 50º, flannel will keep you warm without causing you to overheat. Unlike tweed, flannel is flexible and not as rigid (perfect for all day wear).
Why Go Double Breasted
The extra fabric from the double-breasted jacket design does two things:
- Traps heat
- Gives shape to your torso
- Bonus: old school cool factor
The Two Things I Did To Make This Suit An “All Weather” Flannel
- The jacket is half-lined — which makes it more breathable and lighter. Meaning that it can be worn in early fall through early spring
- Opted for a three-piece. See next look below.
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Leather & Vested
Custom Flannel Chalk Stripe Waist Coat & Pants – Oliver Wicks | Dark Burgundy Leather Bike Jacket – Frank & Oak | Cutaway Collar White Shirt – Sproos | Oxblood Chelsea Boots – Paul Evans | Cable Knit Wool Oxblood Tie – The Tie Bar | Graffiti Cufflink – Rebel Nell
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Rocking a full suit is great, but, the convenience of putting a look with a waist coat & pants is sometimes the most appropriate. Even though there was snow on the ground when I was shooting, it was 55º and sunny. A full suit would have worked fine, but, a leather jacket is more bad-ass and it allows the waist coat and pants to stand alone when indoors. Think of this look as “the banker with some edge”.
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This series was shot by photographer Laura Venigalla during New York Fashion Week Men’s
Blazer NYC
Custom Double Breasted Flannel Chalk Stripe Jacket – Oliver Wicks | White Cord Jeans – Uniqlo | Spalding Cognac Blutcher Shoe – Gordon Rush | Blue Lens Silver Aviator Sunglasses – James Dean Eyewear
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This February during New York Fashion Week: Men’s, we were treated to some unseasonably warm weather — I’m talking mid-60’s. Without hesitation I packed my flannel db chalk suit jacket because I knew that I could pair it with white corduroy jeans and be warm enough to forego a jacket.
How To Trick Yourself Into Thinking It’s Spring
- Rich colors like this navy jacket
- Heavy weight fabrics in light colors (white corduroys)
- Warm cognac leather footwear
Hanging w/ Steven Onoja & Denny Balmaceda, respectively.
