Newspaper boy
Old habits die hard, even those as simple as picking up your newspaper.
Outfit pictured above: RELAXED WOOL OVERCOAT by TOAST, HEAVY TERRY HOODIE by CDLP, ULTRAMARINE POPLIN SHORTS (similar) by TEKLA X STÜSSY and MEDICINE POUCH by KINGSLEY WALTERS STUDIO
Life is generally made up of routines and patterns. For some that might be a run first thing, a coffee before being in a position to communicate to others, or something as simple as writing a to-do list in the morning to set you up for work. On a weekend we probably go off-piste, but I’m sure there are those of you that have patterns to your day on your time off. And for those who enjoy gearing down, it may include picking up the weekend paper from the corner shop. This outfit was thought up with the exact scenario in mind. It’s probably just gone 8.30am - definitely 9.30am for me, I have no dependents to be waking up for on a weekend - and you grab your nearest hoodie, bottoms and big coat before walking out the door.
You would be right in thinking coats and shorts don’t usually belong in the same lane, but if we’re playing out my above scenario, then you’re probably not thinking everything through when you wake. While in your low energy haze, your brain can probably only cope with the key aim of making sure you leave the house with clothes and dignity intact. For me, coat and shorts together has always been a bit of a weird energy. Walking behind anyone that does this you always feel they are flashing those passing in the opposite direction (is it just me who thinks this?), yet this time, this time it works. Maybe it’s because I can see both when I look down and know there’s nothing weird going on here. The boiled wool overcoat is by TOAST and one I’ve admired numerous times; akin to passing a crush in the hallway with few near interactions. Generous pockets (I can confirm, it fits one weekend sized newspaper), generous length and what I’d consider a TOAST trademark with its fleck, it is without doubt, fantastic. Three seasons into their menswear revival and it’s certainly picking up pace.
While these shorts from Tekla x Stüssy are predominantly pyjamas, they are perfectly acceptable for an activity such as this. In fact, I’ve taken them completely out of the sleepwear category and see them as a great short for summer as they are made from a super breezy poplin cotton, oeko-tek certified.
Tying together what may come across as a bit of a mismatch of styles, is this medicine pouch from London based maker Kingsley Walters. I’ve admired his totes and leather goods for some time and we were able to hangout not too long ago. I feel it brings everything together well and I think the gathering of the leather makes what could be a quite simple pouch, all the more fetching.
So, while walking around Soho the outfit got a fair number of eyes and I’m not sure if that’s because of a) the colour of the shorts b) the shorts and coat combination or c) they too were impressed by the newspaper sized pockets. Either way, the newspaper was secured and I now find myself contemplating whether it’s a pairing that needs to be revisited.jbicon
Could 2023 be the ultimate year of sustainability for fashion? Probably not, but there are some positive things happening if you look for them.