Gear Patrol

In 1957 the Fender Stratocaster electric guitar was a spry three years young; that same year, Levi’s original 1873 patent for riveted denim work pants — the first jeans — was already an octogenarian. But that doesn’t mean those jeans didn’t love to rock ‘n’ roll. As part of a series paying tribute to America’s vintage Hot Rod culture, this spring Levi’s is rolling out one-off garments and items that would love to take your pink slip at the drag strip.

The time to stow your wool blazers is getting closer everyday — but that doesn’t mean a life of cutoffs awaits. The Arc’teryx Veilance Blazer LT ($500) is sleek and versatile piece of outerwear for Spring 2013 that wears like a fitted shirt, complete with articulated elbows and gusseted underarms, but is fully equipped to handle the rains to come. A rainproof stretch woven fabric that beads water away from the surface, taped seams and Schoeller reinforced laminated cuffs and hem round out this piece’s resume on the durability front, while internal wallet and passport pockets keep valuables safe and secure. If the chic vegas Pit Boss look of the burgundy version above isn’t your thing, the black and grey options should do the trick.

If it was good enough for downed British pilots during WWII, so the saying goes, it should be good enough for you. Though that adage is entirely fabricated, the Survivalon Contrast Jacket ($398) was indeed made to protect Limey pilots; it is also easily good enough for you.

Depending on your activities of preference, winter is either your joyous playground or whitewashed personal hell. No matter what, staying warm is critical. Down jackets have been a preferred winter option for many years, and for good reason — they’re super warm (when dry), wick moisture away from your body, are packable down to small sizes for travel and have yet to be matched by any synthetic fibers. Here are our five favorite goose-based options to beat the winter freeze.

The M-65 waterproof fishtail parka was first used by the U.S. Army in the Korean War as a lightweight shell to keep soldiers dry. The design allowed soldiers to wrap the back of the coat around their upper legs for ease of movement and more waterproof surface. Recently the “hope I’m cool enough to stay here” Ace Hotel teamed up with Alpha Industries — known for military-inspired casual wear — to revive the storied coat. Retaining the classic M-65 style while updating it with a washed nylon shell, stay-dry seams and modern lines means you can throw this on and hike through unknown forest and muddy embankments before strolling directly into the board room, unscathed. Don’t whine to us if the muddy boots give you away, though.

S.N.S. Herning has been in the fisherman sweater biz since 1930 — long before workwear and Deadliest Catch inspired a new era of blue-collar cool. Founder Søren Nielsen Skyt’s “bubble” knit construction provided extra warmth and durability for life on the sea, and the company still follows the same techniques today in their Herning, Denmark facility. End the cable-knit monopoly with this 74% ELS cotton, 24% Merino woolTrope sweater, and maybe you’ll start hooking mermaids instead of cold fish.

Former J. Crew creative director Todd Snyder has used his synonymous line to push into a luxurious realm few other American men’s fashion brands dare to enter. But it’s not simply about throwing a higher price tag on the clothes you already own. Case in point, the Todd Snyder Fox Fur Marschcoat ($1,350) is crafted from top-of-the-line materials like 100% Italian Wool and features a removable contrast 100% Japanese quilted nylon lining along with a genuine Finnish Silver-Fox Fur Lined Hood (and we’re not talking about good-looking retirees.) In short, it’s in a different Parka league compared to the three figure look-a-likes crowding the department store racks. If the blaze orange isn’t your color, there’s also an option with navy blue lining.

You should be able to go the winter without looking like a neon life raft or, heaven forbid, being the poor sucker who thought a men’s full-length down coat was a good look. Staying warm and fashionable oftentimes means going military (or military inspired); the Canada Goose Burnett down jacket ($649) achieves just the right…

Though Daniel Craig pulls off a solid fashionable Bond, let’s be honest: what we’re buying tickets to see is the grizzly aftermath (and pre-math, and during-math) of his nasty violent streak. He’s got to look like a killer while he does it, and the Levi’s Vintage Clothing Jacket that he sports in Skyfall does the…

Subterfuge is hard when you’re shivering. Combine that problem with Bond’s utter necessity for style and you get the Billy Reid Skyfall Peacoat ($695). The coat alone is noteworthy for its prominent appearance in the movie, but the fact that Daniel Craig loved wearing it so much on set that he bought a few, on…

A good cashmere sweater varies the price gamut. $80 at Uniqlo, $225 at J.Crew, $395 at Billy Reid, $500+ at Etro; but considering its recent vault into wardrobe stapledom, what’s a guy looking for quality without breaking the bank to do? Ever-innovative Everlane proffers a solution in their new cashmere sweaters — and just in…

Timing vest season is tricky — like End of Days math. While we’re no Harold Camping, we do know that the window for warmer chests with free and easy arms is quickly approaching. If you don’t have a down body koozie already, the Crescent Down Works Total 60/40 Italian Vest (~$343) is worth a gander….

Getting hit with road chum, dirt and rain is an inherent part of motorcycling. While you can’t always anticipate what’ll be thrown at you, you can at least combat it with carapaced clothing. Part of L.A. manufacturer Mister Freedom’s Speed Safe Clothing for Modern Riders, the Mister Freedom x Sugar Cane Mulholland Master ($900) motorcycle…

Fall officially starts in less than a week, and it’s time to get prepared. The L.L. Bean Ultralight 850 Down Jacket ($180+) is perfect outerwear for cooling days and frosty nights. The jacket’s 850-fill down is both warmer and lighter than the 650-fill down used in other jackets, and its DownTek treatment resists water in…

British clothing company Musto was born in the 1964 Olympics as a maker of performance sailing clothing. Since then, the company’s foray into the world of competitive and sport shooting has resulted in some beautiful attire that’s just at home in an urban environment as it is in the field, as exemplified in the simple…

Two prominent names in mens style come together to bring you a line of smart-looking waxed cotton bags and coats. Barbour, the British company that forged a tradition over almost 120 years, joins with Jack Spade, the Manhattan upstart 100 years junior. The younger clothier has been making inroads with the British Empire — a…

Swedish company Fjällräven interlaces the classic style of waxed cotton with the technical fibers of polyester in their jack-of-all-trades Reporter Lite Jacket ($260). The Reporter Lite’s G-1000 fabric can be waxed for excellent wind and water protection or washed away for breathability and comfort in fairer climes. In the case of full-on tropical weather, the…

Packing light in the colder months often comes down to a tradeoff of outerwear. Do you pack the bulky coat for warmth, the blazer for appearances, or in the worst case, both? Victorinox’s new Leiden Insulated Blazer takes the uncertainty out of the equation. It’s close enough to the cut of a standard blazer to…

Read Wall is a new made-in-America brand that brings a preppy edge to a field dominated by ubiquitous workwear. The entire line of polos, chinos, and shirts are worth a look, but the Wilson Wax Jacket stands out in particular as a versatile shell for variable weather. The 6.25oz wax cotton outerwear features an Oxford…

Nike likes its innovations. Case in point, the DWR Chambray Vapour Jacket (~$80). Performance-oriented runners with a penchant for a stylish fit in particular will want to pay attention. Originally designed as a lightweight, wind, and water-resistant outerwear, this contemporary incarnation bridges the gap between casual and sportswear, serving as either a swank, lightweight jacket,…

Few brands blend vintage fashion and historical significance the way Nigel Cabourn does. The eponymous English fashion house is well renowned for offering what can only be described as archival pieces or, in other words, garments with a history. The SS12 Aircraft Jacket Desert Wax Poplin Khaki ($710) is part of the Nigel Cabourn Authentic…

Made from well-weighted Cramerton cloth (fabric originally developed for the US Army), the Harrington Jacket from Ben Sherman makes for perfect Spring layering. Detailing like corduroy elbow patches and corozo nut buttons make sure you won’t just be another dapper dan in khaki. Limited to 400 pieces. ~$237 | bensherman.com

There’s nothing like using flesh and sinew to propel yourself in a forward motion to sights unseen and destinations unknown. Riding a bike is one of mankind’s oldest and most celebrated forms of transportation and some brands get it better than others. PEdALED is a Japanese company that definitely knows its customers. Their Terri Urban…

Auto racing apparel just doesn’t carry the same panache anymore. Case in point, NASCAR shirts. All you have to do to get the good stuff is time travel. The Lotus Originals Heritage Leather Jacket is so classic, it’s about all the fashion racing cred you’ll need. The jacket commemorates the 1948 founding of the Lotus…

There’s new jacket style trickling into the men’s fashion circuit that combines the traditional outdoor look of puffy down with the tailored cut of a blazer. For the most part, only high-end brands like Moncler have started to introduce the concept for astronomical price points. Italian brand Cantarelli definitely falls into the same category, but…

One of our favorite New York boutiques has teamed up with iconic coat maker Mackintosh to put a more modern spin on the classic weather stopper. Rest assured, the brand’s renowned rubberized cotton fabric and impenetrable seam-taping haven’t been touched, but the cut of Dowanhill has been slimmed down to achieve a more modern silhouette….

It’s quite satisfying when you find quality bike wear that not only offers up the right functionality, but also looks downright fashionable. We recently tested the Icebreaker Commute Jacket ($230) and fell in love with it — a trend these days with Icebreaker gear. The 84% Merino wool Ponte 355 fabric is both soft and…

Most major men’s brands offer some form of overcoat, but few can compete with the fine detailing found in Billy Reid’s Grey Tweed Sunday Coat ($895). Mixing southern gentility with Italian tailoring, the three-quarter length, English Donegal tweed coat features a wool Japanese blanketing body and pocketing lining, rich leather detailing under the collar and…

Combining duck down and the best of wool, Woolrich’s warmest jacket is your go-to for this winter’s coldest — whether you’re walking from Grand Central or the Great Allegheny. We’re digging the splash of color on the down-insulated collar. The Passage Jacket is available in 5 colorways, but our pick is heather gray (pictured). $189…

Quite possibly the most original Christmas gift idea this year, a sweater. Okay, then perhaps we can at least offer up a stylish and practical version with the Mountain Khakis Old Faithful Sweater ($120). Even if the weather outside is frightful, the heathered sweater-knit polyester sewn into a jacket-like garment and the soft brushed lining…