Paul Stuart Holiday – Goodies Galore
I wrote a few weeks ago about the fantastic Ben Silver catalogs. I’ll admit that I also get giddy waiting for the new Paul Stuart catalogs to drop. This year’s Holiday catalog leans towards the fanciful, but it’s still full of those eminently-wearable superlatives we all expect.
First, let’s talk color. If you’re a navy, grey, and black guy, don’t bother reading the rest of this article. You’re not going to find much to look at that doesn’t make your eyes hurt. But for those of us who like some saturation this catalog’s a winner. Not only are the colors bold, but there are just a ton of them. Electric purple, periwinkle, saffron, sage, lilac, honeysuckle, and peach. They’re all here.
Most importantly though, they’re elegantly combined. Most of the time. The above combination of blues and purples is a little louder than I might take it, but they’ve got the right idea. The scarves below are probably the best example of color-combining in the whole book. The cashmere sides contrast perfectly with the patterned silks. Usually with something like this the woolen is functional and the silk decorative, but not here. Golden hues play brilliantly with slate-tinted blues and a green-grounded paisley is set off against a purple fit for Hadrian.
Ok, I’ll indulge on one more dandified look. While the green smoking jacket, with it’s frogs and quilting, is perfect for a night at home, I think you’d get more snickers than compliments at the family Christmas party. I do however have a bottle-green velvet sport coat for such occasions, and grey flannels make a perfect foil.
Beyond the rainbow though are some Paul Stuart style staples. Great knits and jackets that you can’t imagine doing without are the order of the day. Particularly, the cognac cable-knit cashmere mock neck and the quilted suede blouson fall into that category of things prone to making me utter “Need, not want.” Click for bigger images, I promise you’ll regret it if you don’t. I haven’t seen either in person yet, but can bet I’ll be shuffling up to Oak Street before week’s end to have a look.
Then there’s the usual mix of other goodies. Spread-collar plaid shirts, jewel-toned jackets, side-buckle-laden flannel trousers, and a fistful of elegant accessories. If you’re in New York or Chicago and Paul Stuart isn’t a regular stop for you, you’re seriously missing out. It’s the holidays, go ahead and treat yourself. Even if it’s just to a look.
Click for the rest of the Paul Stuart Holiday Catalog.
