Men's Second Style

So what if, as the song says, the weather outside is frightful?  I’m such a whore for sweaters and coats as it is, I barely need winter as an excuse.  This month you get to benefit from my hedonistic accumulation of cold-weather wardrobe items, as I’m sharing some of my favorites, both old and new.

First up, an old favorite of mine.  These Pea Coats by Donmai Frederick, released last winter, have classic lines and a beautiful wool fabric texture.  The set includes coats in six colors:  Beige, Black, Blue (as shown here), Brown, Gray and Green.  A simple undershirt also adds shape and bulk to the coat, so you look like you’re layering properly for the cold weather, just like your mother told you.  As if that weren’t enough, you also get four flexi scarves, plain and striped, in short and longer lengths.  Undershirt and scarves are tintable, so you can customize to your heart’s content.  Also available in a set styled for women.  Pick these up for L$300 for the set at Back and Forth (Metabirds 192, 71, 25).

The new mETRO outfit by Pompo Bombacci is fine as-is for casual or office wear, or layer with a nice tweed jacket for something a bit dressier.  The ensemble (L$495) comes in six different colors:  Ash, Burgundy, Dusk (below left), Musk, Rust (at right) and Terra.

The vest-style sweater has a subtle vertical striping to the weave and is layered over a long-sleeved powder-blue shirt, a nice change for me from the traditional white.  I love little details like the shading under the shirt collar that slightly overlaps the V-neck of the sweater, and the way the sweater wrinkles up a little bit more at the waist when it’s worn tucked in.  The shirt/sweater combo can be worn tucked or untucked, and the set includes coordinating belted pants.  The texturing on the pants is just as nicely done, with natural-looking wrinkles and drape and somehow an almost luxurious feel to the fabric.  The pants are No Modify (I myself prefer moddable pants, so I can adjust), but five different fits are included.  Available at SLAB (Pahringull 122, 190, 23).

Now back to outdoor wear with the Woolen Coat by Mathfew Alonzo.  This is a classic thigh-length coat in heavy wool, great for taking on Old Man Winter in stride and in style.  The front placket is wide to accommodate a double row of large buttons, so it’s sure to prevent the unwanted cold from breezing in.

Sculpted-prim attachments for the cuffs and shoulders make for a unique silhouette with clean, contemporary lines, flexi coat tails move with the proper weight, and a flexi scarf provides a nice accent.  Cream-colored knit gloves are also included, for those especially cold days.  The scarf is also light in color “out of the box” as shown here, but it’s moddable so you can tint, if desired.  The scarf can also be resized, but it fit me well with only minor adjustments to position.  Available for L$500 in Black, Brown and Navy (as shown here) at Savvy Avvy (Hake 66, 90, 21).

And now another coat, because I couldn’t decide between the two, and you shouldn’t have to either.  The Tweed Coat by Jacqueline Boehm is perfect for strolling Dickensian streets at Christmas in warmth, comfort and joy.  You’ll find it available in four rich colors:  Black, Deep Red, Dark Brown (as shown here), and the lighter Heathered Brown.

Both ankle-length and knee-length flexi coat bottoms are included, so you’re prepared for even the harshest winter weather.  Leather belt and cuffs with brass buckle detailing stand out against the tweed wool cloth.  A flexi plaid wool scarf adds some dash while keeping you warm.  All prim attachments are moddable, so you can resize them as needed to fit your avatar.  L$375 at 1-800-BETTIE’S (Roosa 236, 24, 27).

But perhaps you’re looking for something a bit more unusual.  The Panthere Noire ensemble by June Dion will wrap you in mystery as you stroll the wintry streets of fin de siècle Paris, or as you wait—oh so patiently—for the arrival of your escort at the Opera Populaire.

The set (L$140) includes an elaborately embroidered loose shirt, coordinating pants, sculpted-prim top hat, and high-collared flexi fur cloak, all in deep shades of grey (the jacket-layer shirt is also provided in dark brown).  This outfit is perfect for the rakish gentleman-about-town who has a reputation to uphold…or exceed.  The heavy fur cloak is a particularly striking piece, and sure to catch a few eyes.  June has thoughtfully put out a demo of the cloak at her shop, so you can try it on prior to purchase.  Panthere Noire also comes in a set styled for the ladies, as shown here on Posy.  Both are available at BareRose Tokyo (Bare Rose 159, 100, 30).

For the purely fantastic holiday party, consider the Lord Lace Ice dress suit (L$400) by swaffette Firefly.  This special edition of the Lord Lace suit was originally re-colored in icy bluish-white tones to match a wedding dress, but it’s just right for winter holiday festivities.

In addition to shirt, jacket and pants, in the set you’ll find flexi jacket tails in two sizes (shown at left), a skirt-layer jacket extension (shown at right), prim collar, flexi lace jabot and cuffs, and prim shoes.  This design is also available for women as Lady Lace Ice.  Start your holiday shopping early at SF Design (Innisfree 134, 48, 537).

As you can see, a there’s a wide variety of winter wear available for the stylish SL man, from traditional to contemporary to vintage/period/fantasy.  In this brief column, I can barely begin to scratch the surface of what SL designers have to offer.  It’s up to you to see what other great winter designs you can find and take home!

This is an expanded version of the Men’s Corner column originally published in Second Style Magazine (Issue #14).