Wings + Horns 2-Button Blazer

If you follow me on Twitter or Tumblr, you already know that I’ve been on something of a blazer kick recently. And if not? Well, I’ve been on something of a blazer kick recently. And it’s still going.

This guy from Wings + Horns looks like a pretty fantastic option for spring/summer. Linen is one of the best fabrics you can rock when the mercury starts creeping into the upper register, and the minimal structure of the piece means less fabric, less bulk, and more breeze. For me, comfort is king in in the warmer months (I’m a miserable fuck when I’m overheated), so the components and construction here are absolutely crucial.

The styling is on point, too. I’m digging the welted, slanted chest pockets and the eight-button cuff. Neither are particularly functional, and both veer clear off the “classic” track, but in what’s shaping up to be the season of “All-Italian-Everything,” it’s a good way to set oneself off a little bit.

And yes: It’s pretty short. But I don’t advocate going anywhere near formal with this, so it’s not a problem in my book. Top it off with a darker khaki hue that’s as well suited to a rugged vibe as it is to a tailored one, and you’re good to go.

Available now at Need Supply for $390. Not cheap, but considering the type of piece and the maker, I was actually a little surprised the price tag didn’t come in even higher.

A steal? I’ll leave that to you. But if you want it, best move quick. These things never last long before folks scoop ‘em up for their own (possibly nefarious?) purposes.

—Jonathan

(Images courtesy of Need Supply)

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(capsule) NY: Billy Reid

Billy Reid’s “Moto Jacket.” Really more of a cropped leather pea coat, but awesome nonetheless…

While at (capsule) NY, I got a chance to stop by the Billy Reid booth for a bit and check out the SS 2011 preview.

To give a bit of background: Billy Reid’s aesthetic has a sort of Southern Gentile via downtown New York vibe to it. Certainly steeped in tradition, but with a modern and ever-so-slightly gritty feel. Not dirty, mind you. Just not overly prim and proper.

It’s actually the second time around for Billy Reid (the first iteration ran 1998-2002), but things are looking good for this run. Reid was named GQ’s menswear designer of the year for 2010, and the label is pretty well poised to go massive right now. Judging from the stuff I saw at (capsule) NY, the buzz is well-deserved.

I must admit that I was completely, embarrassingly sidetracked by one piece: the leather “Moto Jacket” (really a cropped pea coat but no worries). While I did eventually manage to break away from it and take a look around at the other stuff being shown, consider this the leather-jacket-obsessed take on Billy Reid SS 2011, rather than the full story.

Alright. Enough yammering:

The leather on this was genuinely incredible. Heavy and sturdy, but still remarkably supple. Buttery? I’m none too fond of that descriptor. But. Yeah, kinda…

From the back…

Dual zip & button closure, and a gray chambray lining…

Very cool interior labels…

Another look at the front with the collar up…

And down…

As I said, I did move on to a few other pieces eventually:

I have a real weakness for tweedy gray blazers…

Digging the neck and button detailing on this pullover…

A chambray workshirt with some intense chest pocket action happening…

And reinforced elbows…

A few more pieces from the line…

So yeah, it’s by no means whatsoever a full showing of Billy Reid’s SS 2011 line. Just one leather jacket that I got a wee bit obsessive over, and a few of the other things that caught my eye. The (highly) truncated version, if you will.

There were also a bunch of shoes and other sartorial goodies being shown. Take a look over at Alex Grant‘s post on the same subject for more.

—Jonathan

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Objects of Affection: Our Legacy Blazer in Plum

A nice new piece for your enjoyment: The Our Legacy Blazer in Plum.

Stockholm-based Our Legacy is a menswear company that focuses its efforts on creating long wearing pieces with a particular attention to fabric. This piece does a good job of representing their success in reaching this goal.

First and foremost, it’s a handsome blazer. Unlined and unstructured, it’s very well suited to casual wear, while the clean lines and shrunken proportions ensure you’ll still look sharp (if not black-tie-ready). It’s a two button style with narrow lapels (my favorite), and it’s got two reasonably sized patch pockets at the front and a single vent at the back.  Button-free cuffs set it off from the pack a bit.

The fabric itself is worth noting, too, as it’s a Japanese “eco-cotton” that is unique to each season to the point that the crops are noticeably different year to year. It’s naturally dyed to a deep, dark purple that Our Legacy quite reasonably calls “Plum.” The weave of the fabric is something I can’t quite pinpoint, but it’s got a great texture and dimension to it.  I’m pretty sure it’s the same technique used in the Our Legacy Blazer Knotted Cotton on the brand’s site, so maybe it’s just “knotted cotton.” The buttons are gin-u-ine Oak, which is another pretty cool way to set this piece apart from the average blazer. It’s all planned out in Sweden and put together in Portugal.

A few more looks:

Considering all the cool quirks, the bang-on fit, and the unique fabric, $335 is a pretty nice pricetag. Available at Blackbird.

—Jonathan

PS – It’s styled with this shirt and these pants, both from Our Legacy (and both on my wish list), as well.

(Images courtesy of Blackbird)

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