A Cardigan That’s the Cat’s Meow and More of This Week’s Best Menswear Releases

When it comes to rugged apparel, two names that top most lists are Roark and Wrangler. This week, the duo have joined forces, dropping a new collection, called “Out Of Range,” that combines Roark’s spirit of adventure and Wrangler’s western roots. This sentiment is most evident in the capsule’s sherpa-lined denim jacket, a style that’s as much sleek as it is, characteristically of both labels, rough and tough.   

2022 is the year of the Tiger—the water Tiger to be exact—in the Chinese zodiac. And to celebrate the start of the lunar calendar in the coolest way is Dior, partnering with Kenny Scharf on a capsule collection that’s truly the cat’s meow. The artist, a favorite of many luxury labels, has designed a playful, sinuous version of the striped feline and cast it on a selection of shirts, sneakers, hoodies, and a mohair cardigan that’s well worth the splurge.  

Carhartt made workwear cool, and it did so, in large part, with its WIP line. The offshoot takes the brand’s core tenant of durability and adds flourishes that fashion folk can’t get enough of. The spring 2022 collection, for example, takes work-inspired staples and treats them with pastel pigment dyes, giving classics like the Double Knee pant and Michigan coat a lighter look. 

Saks Fifth Avenue has amassed a stellar team for Super Bowl LVI. For the third time since 2019, the luxury retailer has dropped a collection, called Game Day Capsules, that enlists 28 labels—from major labels like Givenchy and Versace to cult favorites like Just Don and Purple Brand—on 275 exclusive pieces. All take motifs inspired by the sport, placing them on apparel and accessories that are ready for primetime viewing.  

For 40 years (!), Stone Island has been offering classic silhouettes made of the most innovative materials. Indeed, its mastery of textiles is a cut above the rest, and the brands spring 2022 collection doesn’t deviate from this credo. This overshirt with pronounced front pockets and velcro fasteners, for example, is made of brushed cotton canvas that’s garment dyed to perfection, imparting an old-world feeling with a modern bent. 

If serious shearling is what you’re after, it doesn’t get any better or any more luxurious than Fendi. And this jacket featuring an artful abstraction of the brand’s Fendi Earth pattern is proof. 

Alexander McQueen’s spring 2022 collection was all about blurring gender lines, showcasing suits and coats in pink, frilly shirts with exaggerated ruffles, and even a gown. The accessories matched this mindset, too. Case in point: The Curve, a new bag made of calf leather from the subversive British label with an elliptical silhouette that’s meant to hug the body like a harness. Yes, it looks like a purse, but if you’re ahead of the, well, curve, and want to buck tradition, this is the carryall for you. It won’t make you any less of a man. 

AG makes some of the sleekest, most comfortable jeans around. Lately, however, the Los Angeles-based label has been showing that it has mastered other materials, too. This week, AG launched Vegan Leather, a collection of black and beige pieces that look and feel just as good as thee real deal. What’s more, the capsule’s pieces feature comfort stretch and soft brushed interiors, making them pretty darn comfortable.  

Like Dior (see above), Ginori 1735 is also celebrating the year of the Tiger. The Italian label, famed for its porcelain, has released three pieces with a rendering of the jungle cat—a mug, round box, and a valet tray—as part of its celebrated Totem collection. 

Not ready to commit to a tattoo, even if its designed by one of the best of the biz? Well, Standard Issue has just the thing. The purveyor of some of the most comfortable tees around has partnered with B.J. Betts, founder of State Street Tattoo Gallery, on an assortment of french terry tops that feature embroideries of his signature custom lettering. It may not be ink, but this stuff will definitely last the long haul. 

According to a report by the New York Times, cigarettes are making a comeback. The vice isn’t for everyone, but what everyone can get behind are Golden Goose’s new Space-Star shoes, which come in a tobacco-colored suede with shearling lining. Indeed, these are what we call smokin’ kicks. 

APL is toasting to 2022, and it is doing so with a champagne-colored collection. The capsule includes variations of the brand’s TechLoom sneakers and an assortment of slides, with a fully-lined shearling option that very much reflects that kind of footwear we want in the new year.