BEST OF 2021

[WBaker]

I know we had one of these threads for 2019, but I think we skipped 2020. What were your favorite finds of the year/style realizations/items you've been content with for many years going strong in 2021.

I had a wild year so a lot of this clothing was given to me,ill try and give shout outs below.

@gdl203 and No Man Walks Alone gave me two amazing coats (among other generous gifts) that I wear all the time.

Minotaur invisible closure coat

The self-clinging fabric closure could have been gimmicky but it actually works perfectly. Holds similar to velcro but there's no rough side. Has a great unisex vibe and is about as simple as possible showing off the awesome drapey poly rayon that feels like an ultra-fine wool.

Doppiaa wool coat

Spoiler: Zoom

This is basically made from upholstery fabric, it's awesome and the giant leather buttons are fun. What else is there to say its a perfect green wool coat.

Geller AW18 Charlottensburg Bomber with back embroidery

Spoiler: Embroidery

This was given to me by Robert after the fire, along with a bunch of other much-needed basics. Love the really unique charcoal with brown tones and the gold thick embroidering. Gonna look dope in 10 years when it's beat to hell. I've slept in it twice already crashing at friend's places.

Geller Sample Sale

Spoiler: Moons

SS20 The Striped Three Pocket Jacket in Birch

I grabbed this from the bottom of a bin at the sample sale, I think it was $40. When it initially came out I didn't think much of it, but I wear it all the time now. Its ultra boxy and cozy and the pockets are great for stuffing. Perfect lazy Saturday jacket for home.

SS19 Kasai Jacket in Carmel Cafe.

The pockets on this thing are made of rip stop nylon and could hold a quart of milk each. The adjustable cuffs look dope.

SS20 The Textured Coat in Astral Aura

Another pull from the bottom of a bin, I think $50? What a score. Its naturally wrinkled in this awesome space purple cotton. The open-top giant patch pockets are so good. When you're running around the city not having to fiddle with pocket flaps and just dumping your change/earpods/credit card in the big open pocket is super convenient.

AW19 The Moonwalker Shirt in Black and Ivory

The moon stuff was obscenely expensive. I can see why. The print is of such a beautiful and high fidelity. The shirt fits perfectly. @kubrick555 and I were after the same shirt and luck had it the 46 was perfect for him and the 48 was perfect for me. While waiting on the stairs for the sale to open we had planned to have a pretend giant fight over the moon stuff.

AW19 The Moon Traveler Coat in Khaki Fuchsia

Such a cool color on this one. Again obscenely high retail and it makes sense. The print is just amazing, and the pattern matching they did throughout the coat is impressive. Its got a giant storm flap on the back and a neat grossgrain piping down the sides. Its fun having wild stuff to wear again.

SS20 Chelsea Boot in Olive

These are so comfy, and the olive color is perfect. I wear them all the time now.

AW19 Yuri Vest in Walnut

Another weird-cool piece. Reminds me of the good bad and ugly poncho for some reason. The subtle striping dye job is impressive and the back is quilted in the coolest way possible.Its super over the top, but the detailing is beautiful so its fun on special occasions.

The Geller sample sale this year got me really excited about clothes again. I finally had some fun weird stuff to wear and enough clothes I didn't feel like I was wearing one of the same 3 outfits every day. I've been to two previous Geller sample sales and I always seemed to panic and make bad choices. This time I knew the seasons that would be there, did a ton of planning and nabbed some stuff ill be wearing for years and years. I was a zen shopping machine. Also picked up some cool stuff for @melonadejello , @troika ,and @Timbaland.

Cloak Fall 2006 Grizzly Shearling in Natural with Cognac Trim

Spoiler: Deep Dive

For contentedness I cant leave out my Cloak shearling, this was the only thing my panicked brain thought to save in the fire. So it's very special to me now. I love this piece so much I've emailed with Alexandre about it on a few occasions. 17 of these shearlings were crafted by a midtown NYC leather specialist for Fall 2006. Details include leather lining in the pockets and under the collar. Besides the thread and eyelets the piece is entirely made from leather and shearling. The cognac leather is from Italy, and the shearling is from Spain. The jacket was inspired by 1930's grizzly motorcycle jackets; keeping true to this design the body is done in a pricey but equally warm double layer of outward facing shearling.

Jcrew Roll Necks and JMMs

Spoiler: JMMs

Two things I immediately wanted after the fire were new JMM shades and another Jcrew rollneck. @kjb sent me the roll neck and it looks good with most everything. The JMM Enzos were a splurge. Anthony at Anthony Aiden Optical in new york did a really subtle tint job on my Enzos with a light pink gradient that Transitions to a dark amethyst gradient in sunlight.

Also pictured Robert Geller AW15 James double breasted coat in khaki. This is one of the few things I rebought after the fire. I love the dramatic longggg double breasted cut. It's so toasty and the collar pops up perfectly. Winter coats I'm huge on slash pockets, you can't keep your hands toasty with flap pockets.

In terms of style realization having to hard reset my wardrobe did have its silver lining. I realized I'm not much for solid blacks anymore. Too much of my old wardrobe was black. Now my wardrobe is mostly earth tones, lots of charcoal/brown/taupe/ochre. It adds a softness to my outfits that suits my personality. The intense black military Cloak jackets of the old wardrobe created a visual contradiction with who I am. I'm also less interested in super tailored clothes, I like the softness added by dropped shoulders and relaxed cuts.

In closing, reflecting on the year, I'm very thankful for the many SF friends I have, they are some of my favorite people that I interact with on a regular basis and I wouldn't know them if it wasn't for coming here to brag about my dumb clothes a decade ago.

 

[FlyingMonkey]

@WBaker - your comeback is probably the best thing of 2021 in itself. I think you actually look better now than you did before, and it's partly the beard (which is awesome), but partly the coats and increased drape and flow. But whatever it is, it's good.

This year, I was trying to be more relaxed about clothes in general, wearing textures and colours that gave me pleasure. I didn't post many here because I'm not that into selfies (or having my picture taken in any way) TBH, but most of the time, I did try to make the effort to take pictures that actually showed what I was wearing! Here's four:

Spring:

Eidos suit / Avant Toi knit / SEH Kelly shirt / Emling boots

Early summer:

Kapital hat and kakashi, KRM scarf, Wallace & Barnes T, Warehouse jeans, Clarke's.

Late summer:

Rosen / Snowman x Peir Wu / Adidas

Autumn:

AMI / EG / Jamieson's / Post-Imperial / Clarke's

You know, I put this last fit together for a challenge, but it's actually the one I like best in terms of colour and feeling, and along with the first one, which is texturally my favourite, probably represents where I'm going at the moment. Oh, and I like my hair in that one too - which hardly ever happens. The boro / Kapital stuff, I'm wearing less and less frequently.

 

[Superb0bo]

Great thread! Unfortunately, I don't have much to contribute (besides the bump). Its been an intense year, I have worked a lot, and had my first child. I have not spent much time or money on clothes.

My top new purchases are two loose-fit black fast fashion hoodies (Arket & H&M. Arket is really nice these days to be fair). Generally, my style has turned more casual I think. Everything is pretty much the same as the last x number of years. Mostly black, long coats, bit workwear.

edit: I got a pair of MHL ink drill trousers that are great. Very loose in the top block, sort of cropped. Goes great with high top Trippen Eigers

And refill of Birkenstock Milanos, genius sandals.

Second edit: I bought a Norwegian Rain "warm rain" coat on sale. I have used it loads for biking to work, and its probably the perfect coat for Amsterdam. I don't know if I love it per se though, but its great all in all.

 

[WBaker]

This is great. I definitely don't want our year in review thread to be about who bought the most nice bullshit. From the outside this is one of those hobbies where people assume you buy the most expensive thing and then you win the hobby. I'd rather hear about things that still feel exciting years later or items that satiated some itch you've been trying to fill with purchases in years past.

 

[Clouseau]

Those fit the bill then, among the few I posted in 2021


only items I have for a certain time: JKeydge jacket (sadly another French brand recently gone), Gitman Vintage Chambray BD, Cone Mills LVC 551 zxx, Loake Royals.



UU beater suit from around two years ago.

 

[Tar Heel]

I find myself gravitating increasingly towards workwear and color, and I no longer wear black. One of my favorite finds in 2021 is this York yellow gilet from Lavenham, made in England. I wear it a lot, it’s really quite versatile. The Jamieson’s Fair Isle is another favorite, and I also purchased it this year.

 

[Tar Heel]

A favorite purchase that I wear more than I thought I would is the relaxed Hansen Garments jacket, trousers, and vest. I bought both all 3 items 2 years ago.

 

[Tar Heel]

Finally, this Indigofera Cripple Creek Copeland overshirt. I bought it from a Swedish shop online 3 years ago and in cool weather it’s probably the shirt I’ve worn more than any other. I love the color, the feel, and just everything about it!

 

[Tar Heel]

I will add one more. My first Iron Heart UHF that I purchased in 2020. It gets a ton of wear! I’m hooked on flannels of all kinds and I have a propensity for purples and blues. I favor slightly the western shirts

 

[jmiller123]

Great thread. This is the year I've tried really nailing down which direction I'd like to take my wardrobe which would be workwear / americana. Partly this is due to convenience. While I used to be drawn towards dressier clothes and brands, after awhile I found them to be too delicate and I wasn't enjoying the constant trips to the dry cleaners. I've always felt more comfortable in informal easy-wearing clothes so I decided to lean into that. Below are a few of the pieces I've really enjoyed this year.

Rocky Mountain Featherbed Christy Vest- Simply a great grab-and-go piece that received a lot more wear than I anticipated. I love the western flair and it's probably the piece I get the most compliments on.

Warehouse 800 Ecru- As a neutral color, these go with pretty much anything but I tend to wear them with darker colors for the contrast. Beautifully textured and a nice slim straight fit.

RM Williams Gardener- Super easy wearing, I've worn these the most of any shoe this year.

Real Mccoys M65- I bought a decent amount of military inspired pieces this year but this is my favorite. The fabric breaks in beautifully after a wash and it tends to go with anything I throw on.

LVC suede trucker- I've had suede jackets in the past but always found them to be a bit delicate. This isn't that. It is both heavy and quite thick. It has a beautiful brown color with hints of eggplant that shows through in direct sunlight.

RRL workshirt sweater- This gets a lot of wear as both a layering piece or a light jacket during mild weather. I love the color which is reminiscent of those old hunting jackets that Pendleton & Filson are known for.

 

[KamoteJoe]

@WBaker thank you for starting this, I want to +1 what everyone has said about your current chapter. You look incredibly happy and joyous in your pics and it's infectious. I'm even more thankful that the community backed and gave you a lending hand after the fire and hope joy continues to find you.

Had a bit of a transitional year in 2021, when gatherings and events begun happening again, clothing took a back-seat (for the better). I reflected alot on where my relationships stood and started working towards my own creations. I feel as though executing on my creative vision (as it relates to clothes) has given me a purpose.

Here are some of my favorite pickups that I really enjoyed wearing in 2021:

Kapital Drunk Stripe suit

This suit hits all the right notes for me. It's eclectic, but useful. It demands a certain wack-job (like myself) to wear this out in public but I've never felt more like myself wearing it. I don't forget to pack this suit when I go on trips to other cities for music festivals or gatherings among friends.


Craig Green FW16 Silk Jacket

It's one of the rare pieces in my wardrobe that have a delicate and luxurious hand. I enjoy the designs of Dries but I find that my hobbies (dancing, concerts + festivals, motorcycling) don't quite translate. This was a long-time Grail of mine when I sold my tapestry jackets. While I loved those pieces, they screamed from a mile away and I had enough of those to wear. I like that it's very understated and wearable across seasons.


Ffixxed Studios Corduroy Jacket + Evan Kinori FW16 Ikat Shirt

The EK shirt was a long-time Grail. I wasn't making the money when it dropped and I had been searching for it for a long time. Worn with it is a jacket I never knew I needed - a beautiful purple-grey corduroy jacket with massive chest and hip pockets. It's wearable with most of my pieces which is why I love it so much.


Come Tees rashguard

This year, I made a mental leap to only purchase clothes that I could wear for most days in LA. It was nice to start incorporating mesh and ribbed cotton tanks, crop-tops, and rash guards as base layers for slightly heavier stuff. They're also perfect for working out and going out dancing. I'm somehow making it work in LA and I'm proud that my wardrobe is getting to a place that reflects my locale.


Ideal 60s Fishing Jacket

@dieworkwear has the rare gift of making you want everything he writes about. This jacket works as a mid-layer and an outer-layer. It's South2West8 when Ametora was just beginning to spread.


Man-tle Soil Wax Jacket

Something a little more "mature" for me that pairs well with everything I own. I loved the vision and story of Man-tle and wanted to dip my toes in the designer as I searched for more muted jackets to balance my wilder stuff. Can't recommend them enough, it's the perfect throw on and do anything jacket.

Loewe Mermaid Pants

Closing it out with a very "me" pair of pants. The print screams delicate, but the cotton canvas + four-pocket pant construction makes it incredibly wearable for my daily pursuits. Not much else to add to that, I'm incredible happy to have scored this one.

Le Trappeur 1970s Tyrolean Shoes

You probably have seen these shoes in many of my 2021 pics, they are my favorite (re)-discovery and most worn item of the year. Back in my college years (2014), I ordered these vintage le trappeur "tyrolean" shoes off eBay because I could not afford Paraboots. These tank-like tyroleans came in with pretty thin laces. I wore them quite alot but they were quite loose due to the laces. I put them away at my parent's house and rediscovered them earlier this year, soon after I ordered and slotted in Paraboot Michael laces, they had fit perfectly. What's incredible is how I can't go off on a trip without packing them. They're indestructible with the highest levels of craftsmanship. Apparently, le trappeur was very active through the 1960s, known mostly for their ski boots and tyrolean shoes.

Vintage Le Trappeur Ad

Thanks for allowing me to ramble, wishing everyone here peace and happiness moving into the new year.

 

[asaa1000]

@WBaker thank you for starting this, I want to +1 what everyone has said about your current chapter. You look incredibly happy and joyous in your pics and it's infectious. I'm even more thankful that the community backed and gave you a lending hand after the fire and hope joy continues to find you.

Had a bit of a transitional year in 2021, when gatherings and events begun happening again, clothing took a back-seat (for the better). I reflected alot on where my relationships stood and started working towards my own creations. I feel as though executing on my creative vision (as it relates to clothes) has given me a purpose.

Here are some of my favorite pickups that I really enjoyed wearing in 2021:

Kapital Drunk Stripe suit

This suit hits all the right notes for me. It's eclectic, but useful. It demands a certain wack-job (like myself) to wear this out in public but I've never felt more like myself wearing it. I don't forget to pack this suit when I go on trips to other cities for music festivals or gatherings among friends.


Craig Green FW16 Silk Jacket

It's one of the rare pieces in my wardrobe that have a delicate and luxurious hand. I enjoy the designs of Dries but I find that my hobbies (dancing, concerts + festivals, motorcycling) don't quite translate. This was a long-time Grail of mine when I sold my tapestry jackets. While I loved those pieces, they screamed from a mile away and I had enough of those to wear. I like that it's very understated and wearable across seasons.


Ffixxed Studios Corduroy Jacket + Evan Kinori FW16 Ikat Shirt

The EK shirt was a long-time Grail. I wasn't making the money when it dropped and I had been searching for it for a long time. Worn with it is a jacket I never knew I needed - a beautiful purple-grey corduroy jacket with massive chest and hip pockets. It's wearable with most of my pieces which is why I love it so much.


Come Tees rashguard

This year, I made a mental leap to only purchase clothes that I could wear for most days in LA. It was nice to start incorporating mesh and ribbed cotton tanks, crop-tops, and rash guards as base layers for slightly heavier stuff. They're also perfect for working out and going out dancing. I'm somehow making it work in LA and I'm proud that my wardrobe is getting to a place that reflects my locale.


Ideal 60s Fishing Jacket

@dieworkwear has the rare gift of making you want everything he writes about. This jacket works as a mid-layer and an outer-layer. It's South2West8 when Ametora was just beginning to spread.


Man-tle Soil Wax Jacket

Something a little more "mature" for me that pairs well with everything I own. I loved the vision and story of Man-tle and wanted to dip my toes in the designer as I searched for more muted jackets to balance my wilder stuff. Can't recommend them enough, it's the perfect throw on and do anything jacket.

Loewe Mermaid Pants

Closing it out with a very "me" pair of pants. The print screams delicate, but the cotton canvas + four-pocket pant construction makes it incredibly wearable for my daily pursuits. Not much else to add to that, I'm incredible happy to have scored this one.

Le Trappeur 1970s Tyrolean Shoes

You probably have seen these shoes in many of my 2021 pics, they are my favorite (re)-discovery and most worn item of the year. Back in my college years (2014), I ordered these vintage le trappeur "tyrolean" shoes off eBay because I could not afford Paraboots. These tank-like tyroleans came in with pretty thin laces. I wore them quite alot but they were quite loose due to the laces. I put them away at my parent's house and rediscovered them earlier this year, soon after I ordered and slotted in Paraboot Michael laces, they had fit perfectly. What's incredible is how I can't go off on a trip without packing them. They're indestructible with the highest levels of craftsmanship. Apparently, le trappeur was very active through the 1960s, known mostly for their ski boots and tyrolean shoes.

Vintage Le Trappeur Ad

Thanks for allowing me to ramble, wishing everyone here peace and happiness moving into the new year.

Love the fishing jacket! Have been trying to track one down after DWWs article and have gone through a few (s2w8 tenkara, EG, etc) but the hunt continues!

 

[xeoniq]

I haven't really purchased much this year aside from a few vintage C.P. Company pieces. Managed to sell off almost everything heavy weight or insualted because I didn't feel it was worth hanging on to cool pieces like my Issey parachute bomber only to wear them a few times a year in winter. It's mostly all about layering light cotton and nylon for me.

My two outfits I was happiest with featured old frequently-worn pieces styled in what I feel are ideal combinations, for my preferences.


The coat and pants were made for me by my partner a couple years ago and refining the overall fit with accessories and the right footwear has been a fun challenge. I think I finally nailed it this past winter, adding a pair of Devoa gloves, bulkier Danner Combat 503s (the cargos did not seem to work well with my slimmer Danner Tachyons I usually wear) and a holster bag one of my best friends made for me years ago. I have focused a lot on my photography the last 20 months or so since the pandemic started and the green Bronica is my first medium format film camera and I've enjoyed learning on it.


The second outfit I was very happy with I wore in Sydney before borders were sealed off for most of the year. The coat is a Issey Miyake Windcoat, which was gifted to me a while ago by my partner and makes it special for me, with an Issey nylon vest, Prada Sport nylon pants and my Danner Tachyons. Everything is very breathable, which let me have a bit of fun layering in Sydney's mild autumn. The translucent green in the Windcoat still impresses me even after years of owning it and everything was so light weight, it really made for a nice travel outfit.

Nice thread, @WBaker it's fun to talk more at length about the clothes which inspire us. Hope everyone else has a great end of year holiday.

 

[ghdvfddzgzdzg]

Monitaly flannel jeans: bought right at the end of 2020 in the NMWA archive sale. these became a go-to; for whatever reason it was easy to accept the idea that whatever happens to them is fine. I want that to be the case for most of my stuff, but it doesn’t really play out like that.

For another year, I sort of lived in the Vetra chore coat I bought at the end of 2019.

shout out to three things I bought in the second half of this year: the red Document moleskin jacket and Portuguese Flannel black cord blazer (pictured above) that I have spent occasional whole weeks in. Also pictured there is a Kapital cotton waffle sweatshirt--I thought nothing of it until I tried it on, and then it was obvious that it fit right into my wardrobe.

JMM/Hopper Taos, fav sunglasses of the year. There's half a shot of the red Document piece too.

Fav shoes were just Doppiaa linen sneakers from NMWA. A canvas where every accident is happy.

And coat of the year is def this Monitaly one I bought in like 2017.

 

[cr2596]

This year has been a bit of a confirmation of what I like, how I want certain articles to fit, and how to approach purchases.

These PRL linen pants with double reverse pleats were a cheap eBay purchase that only required the waist brought in and a slight taper below the knee. They turned out beautifully, and they are easily my best fitting, most comfortable, and flattering pair of pants I own. They confirmed that I enjoy the aesthetic of reverse pleats and a high waist. Those elements just work with my body, and they will be a requirement of any non 5-pocket items, going forward. These were also my first, real full-cut trouser. The comfort and aesthetic have taken hold and will likely stick around.

This Lee denim jacket. I’ve been messing with different denim jacket dimensions for a couple of years, now. Raided my dad’s closet, rock one of his often. Bought a couple deals off eBay and Grailed. One of those I had shortened, which led me to this Lee piece. The length was shorter than I’d worn, and I thought it would land just so. I was correct, and it’ll be a piece I wear for a long time. It’s measurements will drive future purchases, as well. Lastly, the wash works with most of my clothing from flannel trousers to light and dark wash denim.

This SJC leather was the first “see, fall in love/must freaking have, rationalize, buy, it is as good as I hoped” clothing purchase of my life. I’ve searched for, waited, and found items before. I’ve never just stumbled across a piece and just plain fallen in love. Leather jackets haven’t really interested me before, much less a peaches n cream, two-toned number. Then, when the measurements were spot on and it actually worked out? Yeah, that was a fun experience and a nice notion to keep at the forefront of my brain, while shopping. I’ll recognize that feeling and thought process, again. I won’t hesitate.