Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Trim And Quilted

If you've ever owned a traditional puffer/down vest you already know the pros and cons - the thing is insanely warm and functional, but it also makes you look about 20 pounds overweight.  It's a form vs. function argument at its very core.  Fortunately, there is a middle ground for someone trying to reconcile both of these attributes.  What normally seemed reserved for higher end European brands (i.e. Cucinelli) has slowly, but surely found its way to a cheaper demographic.  I'm talking, of course, about trimmed up quilted outerwear.  It keeps the insulation of your puffer intact, while streamlining things for an even greater versatility.  Instead of being limited as an outermost layer, outwear of this variety can easily work as an intermediate layer too - wear it under your jacket on a frigid day or utilize it as your outermost layer during the first signs of fall.  There are lots of styles to choose from depending on your aesthetic or wardrobe needs.  From tailored waistcoats to shirt jackets, there are a good amount of options floating around.  I personally like Barbour's options (keep in mind that they have been doing this kind of thing for a long time so they've pretty much perfected it at this point), but that's just me.  You shouldn't have too many issues spending under $100, but there are also middle of the range pieces for those of you with a tad more disposable income (see: Wings + Horns F/W 2010 I talked about the other day).  The idea of keeping your clothing trim isn't necessarily new for a lot of you, so consider this nothing more than a reminder that your quilted outerwear can be just like the rest of your wardrobe - streamlined, stylish and, most of all, functional.


-L.A.S

11 comments:

  1. Excellent choice if your shooting for that crispy UES Bernie Madoff pre-jail look. What Sartorially Inclined young man doesn't want to look like a 60 year old rich Jew who works in finance!

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  2. I'm not into this quilted stuff, but I fail to see how wearing it would remind anyone of Bernie Madoff. Here's a tip: wearing "old man" stuff (which this isn't) isn't going to make you look like an old man if you're not an old man.

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  3. Allen -

    http://bit.ly/aUfT2s

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  4. Where did you find that belstaff jacket; it doesn't look like it's in the 2010 collection?

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  5. Anon @1:10- http://tinyurl.com/2fz4aun

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  6. A well cut, well fitting puffy vest isn't going to make you look any fatter than you already are.

    The function of this type of garment comes primarily from the volume created by the filler, backed up by the outer and lining material. Also important is the strategy used to mitigate the cold spots created by the seams (which are a necessary 'evil' if you want to keep the filler in place

    I wouldn't expect to get any extra warmth out of insulation as thin as in these pieces, much less with the apparently un-lined examples. Then again, if you are worried about looking chubby, you probably are chubby (NTTAWWT), and thus don't need as much warmth out of your outerwear.

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  7. I dig the last one. The first couple are a little too "army surplus" for my taste.

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  8. @J.P.

    No kidding: http://www.rothco.com/general/index.cfm/fuseaction/itemdetail/item/296/subcat/27/prodid/92/

    $23 for a "streamlined" alternative to that down puffy jacket. Plus, it will work as an intermediate layer in a pinch.

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  9. Incred- You are really going to wear a jacket liner on its own?

    And you don't have to keep linking up www.dictionary.com when you post haha.

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  10. That shirt jacket is dope but I would need it in different color scheme cuz it's got a little to much southwest native going on. I do like the way it's styled though.

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  11. Of course not. What fool would walk around wearing a liner on its own?

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