White for Winter? Let It Show
HOW TO DO IT BIG:
Wearing white after Labor Day is no longer taboo. Now it’s all the rage to wear white in the winter, whether you’re a woman or a man.
Austrian designer Helmut Lang created a menswear “winter white” fall collection inspired by the hip snowboarders on the slopes. His white matte nylon and poplin puffy jacket with zip front and hood has a quilted, detachable down lining. This jacket looks super for powder but also carves out a trendy new club look for men. The retail cost is $1,247.
When Lang showed this collection on the runway, he worked it white from head to toe. The white cotton shirt is $150. It’s tucked into white cotton moleskin pants with no pleats for $190. The white tie and belt were accessories for the runway only.
Selected pieces from the Helmut Lang collection for men is available at Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Barneys New York and Fred Segal-Melrose. Special orders are usually available.
Total: $1,587
HOW TO DO IT FOR LESS:
The stores are showing lots of quilted, puffy nylon jackets in their men’s outerwear departments, but the more fashionable, trendy winter white ones are hard to find. Maybe it’s safer to wear a bright color on the slopes. From the fall 1998 J. Crew catalog, you can order this style photographed in “stone” white. It’s a breathable nylon that’s water- and wind-resistant with a hidden storm flap. The price is affordable at $118.
To wear the white-on-white look, get a white cotton and polyester dress shirt from J.C. Penney for as low as $11.99. At Ross, white pants can still be found left over from the summer. These brushed denim ones are by Boss for $19.99.
For white pants all year round, shop at Life Uniform stores, where they have them in flat or pleated fronts in cotton and polyester (unhemmed) for $32. The white tie is vintage ‘70s from Aardvark’s in L.A. for $13.
Total: $162.98
