Kitzbühel, Austria: From the sound of things back in the UK, there is a great deal of snow on the ground this week. A certain Creative Director was lucky enough to sneak away for a week of boarding in the Austrian Alps prior to our Autumn/Winter 2010 presentation next week at Pitti Uomo in Florence, so I feel the need to pass on a few timely observations on accessorizing in the snow. As I too hail from a Very Northern Climate (New England…not Manchester…) I take this kind of weather with a grain of salt and love nothing more than digging out my winter duds and boarding clothes I bought a few years ago in Milan. Like most men, I am obsessed with outerwear and especially technical ski clothing: My BURTON boarding jacket is one of the most amazing pieces of engineering I have ever experienced and does everything except prevent bruised ribs.
Apres Ski is another story. How do you look stylish in the posh alpine cafés on non-ski days and while lounging about the hotel with all the trendy Russians while still maintaining an air of practicality?
Some things I have learned from observing the natives:
1. It’s all about the lug sole.
Now I have always been a big fan of a rugged lug sole and deftly inserted a few into our current Harrys Autumn/Winter 2009/2010 collection much to the shock and horror of Jason our Retail Manager. Surely we would never require such wintery footwear in W1?
Naturally, we use the most traditional version from VIBRAM, who have been producing rubber soles for hiking and skiing on the Italian/Swiss border for over 70 years. If you wonder how this applies to trekking to Credit Suisse in Canary Wharf, see below:
The SIMON cap-toe lace-up with VIBRAM lug, £385
This is what I call practical, functional, classy and versatile. Great with a suit or knee socks and lederhosen!
Back to the Austrians…
There is a traditional style of dressing in these parts of Europe that has always fascinated me. The head-to-toe buck deerskin trousers and suits, the wool felt jackets with Nehru collars and the smart hats and embroidered belts. I know this would look ridiculous in Mayfair, but I have been having a Sound Of Music moment all week.
Julie Andrews styled by the girls from HEART.
Respect to the couple that own this shop in Kitzbühel. This is Alpine fetish couture taken to another level. Leopard fur corset anyone?
On a more sober note, but no less amazing was a traditional menswear store in the center of town where you can purchase a shearling riding boot (with welted lug), suede sport coat and fur lined overcoat all at the ready. Christopher Plummer, eat your heart out; The-Hills-Are-Alive-With-The-Sound-Of-Elegance.
In Kitz, it's Prada and PRADER!
HARRYS OF LONDON PROUDLY SUPPORTS
