THE DEFINITIVE SITE FOR MEN’S STYLE

Every Thursday going back many years, I look forward to the latest issue of THE JOURNAL from online retailer MR PORTER during breakfast with a cup of coffee. THE JOURNAL covers the world of men’s style exceptionally well but expands to encompass a vast array of topics and issues men deal with. In particular, there’s a new focus on men’s mental health with articles on work/life balance, how to lead a happier life, exploring friendship, etc. The writing, editorial content, photography, and video are all superb, thanks to Brand & Content Director Jeremy Langmead and his world-class team.

While other online retailers carry many of the same lines like Farfetch, Harrods, and Barneys (who sadly just filed for bankruptcy), what they lack are context and education through the lens of inspiration and aspiration. Kirby Allison of The Hanger Project did a nice comparison of four pairs of black oxfords that all look similar at first glance, but range from $400—$1,300 (and another with brogues from $500—$5,000). Once he takes you through the differences and details, you’ll never look at shoes the same again. That’s what MR PORTER does on a higher level; provide this added appreciation and understanding with impeccable taste, humor, entertainment, cinematic style, and eloquence.

MR PORTER | Interactive shopping seamlessly integrated

Design Aesthetics

As a site espousing good taste and style, design aesthetics are inherent in every aspect and detail. I have a background in graphic design and MR PORTER is consistently one of the best examples I’ve seen — from the clean black & white design complete with a grid system, minimalism, and typography that would make Josef Müller-Brockmann proud, it exemplifies my favorite design maxim “achieving the maximum impact with the minimum effort” — something which can take decades to master. They even went so far as to have a custom typeface created in “MR PORTER’s” own impeccable handwriting ( sorry, it’s licensed exclusively to MR PORTER ).

You can trust in their curated collection and that anything you buy on MR PORTER has been vetted by experts and is worth the investment. Menswear has been through a dizzying revolution the past years and even amidst trends like the rise of streetwear, oversized fits, “ugly sneakers” and flashy prints, you can take comfort in MR PORTER to guide you through it all in good taste.

Video Inspiration

Being content creators ourselves, my personal favorite is their video content. MR PORTER’s talented team of filmmakers like Jacopo Maria Cinti and Busgy Steel create beautiful, poetic, stylized pieces that look like they were shot by Bruno Aveillan himself. They are storytellers who take you into these worlds on a deeper, more immersive level. There have been so many standout pieces over the years, but here are a few of my all-time favorites:

Brunello Cucinelli (Meet the Makers)

In this brief piece, you see the passion of the man, the care that goes into the brand, the painstaking quality, his love for the arts, supporting an entire community of artisans, passing on the craft to the next generation and the overarching philosophy of which clothes are just a part.

Aurel Bacs (The Man Who Sold the World’s Most Expensive Watch)

I love Aurel’s passion and authenticity. Hearing him speak about his love of timepieces, the stories and attachment to certain acquisitions, saving for something truly special along with the satisfaction of finally earning and acquiring it — his enthusiasm is infectious!

Visvim (Behind the Brand)

It’s fascinating to learn what goes into creating these indigo hand-dyed masterpieces, the craft, the unique blend of inspiration in Hideo Nakamura’s background and the insane attention to detail — even going so far as to weave different slub widths to “sculpt” the natural wear in his jeans!

Inis Meáin (The World’s Most Remote Fashion Label)

I love artisans perfecting their craft, making use of this harsh environment off the coast of Ireland and the resources available to do their “one thing” and do it better than anyone. These people were born to create this knitwear to stand up to the elements. When you understand the craftsmanship on this level, you begin to become averse to anything less.

Beyond brands and profiles, THE JOURNAL offers all kinds of insightful, entertaining video content such as How-To videos (How To Pack, How To Look After Your Jeans, How To Clean Your White Sneakers, etc.), The Way I Dress series which featured various entrepreneurs, innovators, and trendsetters, and their popular 5 Ways To wear various wardrobe staples. Consequently, I found myself adding a valet stand, shoe trees in every pair, and storing my collection in garment bags on proper hangers. MR PORTER also serves as a Mecca for gadgets, travel & hotel recommendations, automotive, drinks, fitness, activities and pretty much everything guys are into.

Vast Selection

I love being exposed to new brands and that’s part of the beauty with their online model not being compromised by the physical limitations of stores with floor space. They currently carry over 600 different brands, introducing their clientele to these incredible new lines from around the globe. Two of my personal favorites I immediately connected with were Officine Generale (which occupies a significant portion of my closet) and Salle Privee. Quick aside: Officine General designer Pierre Maheo’s grandfather was a tailor and his father was an oysterman. His work is the perfect blend of sartorial and workman. MR PORTER even launched their own line MR P. awhile back based on customer feedback and data. They knew what their customers wanted and felt was missing. MR P. has been a huge success and even better isn’t reliant upon “seasons”; they can launch items and collections right when needed.

Style Is Forever

My personal leanings are less fashion-forward and more toward modern takes on timeless classics. Below is a board I put together for a pitch featuring style icons from up to 80 years ago who still look every bit as modern and cool today (head over to another one of our favorite sites The Impossible Cool to see extensive examples of this). Imagine what you’re wearing today still looking this on point 80 years into the future? There is a reason these “investment pieces” have stood the test of time and continue being reinvented by top designers.

My Biggest Takeaway

The best lesson from MR PORTER has been to invest in fewer, higher quality, pieces that you truly love vs. amassing a lot of options you’re not passionate about. While budget is certainly an issue for most people, when you average out the cost-per-wear over a lifetime, it becomes an easier decision (that and anything well made will likely only get better with time).

I happen to be jacket obsessed (Jeremy points out it’s the first thing people see when you enter the room and the last thing they see when you leave) and recently acquired a couple of grails. First is this Bottega Veneta, which harkens back to those great cropped suede jackets they used to wear in old westerns like Steve McQueen in Wanted Dead or Alive. When I asked my friend George Esquivel what luxury brands are worth the money, the first one he mentioned was Bottega Veneta — then he ran to the next room to grab their hand woven purse he bought his wife and went on to describe the beautiful atelier where they produce these marvels. The second is this Saint Laurent L01 in lamb from the Hedi Slimane era. The best part is each jacket was paid for by selling a couple of dozen pieces I liked but didn’t love, so it helped me refine, pare down and cover the cost.

Essential Guide

In the modern era of the web, we’re drowning in resources, information, and social media — to the point it can become overwhelming. I recall Peter Gabriel discussing this dilemma years ago with internet guru Bill Joy saying what we need isn’t necessarily more information, but trusted filters for that information. “The example is Cable TV when you’re staring at thousands of channels and tiring out your thumb muscle,” says Peter, “you know there’s good stuff in there that you would like, but you can’t find it easily.” MR PORTER has been that ideal filter for me when it comes to men’s style and lifestyle.

A heartfelt thanks to Jeremy and his team for all the years of being that trusted resource for myself and so many others around the world. Keep up the stellar work!

— Chris Cummings

BRANDS WE LOVE: MR PORTER