Upscale Winter Essentials: Alpine Boots & Wool Topcoats

Sabir M. Peele in Ratta 1989 Plaid Topcoat

Founder & Creative Director of Men's Style Pro, Sabir has…

Winter Is For Real, But You Can Still Stunt

Equip Your Self In The Right Gear

Polar Vortex, Arctic snap or just fucking cold is what we should really call it. The frost(bite) is real and looking fresh out here on these frigid streets is quite difficult. While thermal underwear and puffer coats are a must, there are some menswear staples that can get you through these chilly times — while style looking fresh. We’ve turned to wool top coats, quality layering and hiker-style or Alpine boots to makes these treks a bit more stylish.

Photography by Saeed Ferguson

Italian-city Hiker

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Over the past three years, the refined hiker boot has crept into just about every footwear brands and for good reason. They’re practical, can make you look like a badass and with the right outfit — gives the illusion that you know something about winter style (in the right situation). If you’re looking to make the ultimate cold-weather flex, here’s a few ways to amp your look with a few Italian-inspired moves:

Wide Peak Lapel Double Breasted Patterned Topcoat + Hiker Boots in Rich Brown: Yes, we’re excited about this style move (can’t you tell?!)! The Italians know a thing or two about bold outerwear that’s primed for the elements and a double-breasted topcoat takes the cake. The pattern lines lines and shape of the coat are the perfect juxtaposition to the chunkier boot. It’s a true city take on this look.
Winter White Denim: there’s no better season to wear white than winter. Forget the fashion faux pas of white after Labor Day, white denim is crisp and it’s the perfect neutral items to build an outfit around
Navy Skully: here in Philly we call them a skully, but, you probably call it a beanie. No matter what you call it, a fitted, thin-wale cable knit is adds a bit of refinement to your look. And, of course it’ll keep your head warm

Brown & Blue In Town

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Brown outerwear is easily the most underrated. It’s rich, luxe and with the right material, it’s down right sexy. Because of the boiled nature of this jacket, pairing it with a flat material boot adds the right balance of smooth textured fabrics in your outfit. For a smart casual vibe, pair this style of topcoat and boots with jeans. It’s easy and just makes sense.

When pairing a double-breasted jacket with a suit or blazer, almost always opt for single-breasted jacket. Once again, it’s all about balance.

Pairing brown with brown: this look features a brown topcoat over a brown Donegal blazer. Why does it work? The rest of the outfit is grounded in white, brown and blue
Secret Weapon – Navy Knit Tie: a flat silk tie would completely get lost in the textures in this look. Adding a knit tie complements all the elements of both jackets

Why I Consign My Clothing

Black OUT

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Let’s be real, a pair of black hiking boots can be boring as hell. But, damn if J.Fitzpatrick didn’t create a pair of hikers with a silhouette worthy being paired with a suit or in this case a pair of distressed tailored jeans. When your footwear has all the personality to be your standout piece, let your outerwear say less.

Layering With Your Topcoat

The Denim Jacket Flex: perfect for those chilly days, especially when you want to wear a denim jacket as your blazer 2.0. Because a topcoat can be a bit formal, adding a denim jacket layer give the look some edge
Thick Gauge Cable Knit Sweater: in the first look of this feature, I’m wearing a fine-gauge turtleneck sweater (it was 45 degrees = summer in the winter), however; if you’re looking to really layer up, a thicker turtleneck sweater provides tons of warmth under a wool topcoat
Hoodie Vibes: It’s cold and a luxe hoodie always gets the job done. Just don’t throw on your ratty college hoodie that is just a relic of beer-bongs past