Team NET-A-PORTER Share Their Ultimate MR PORTER Must-Haves
From cozy oversized sweaters to a maxi-length winter coat, there are certain items these four fashion editors would rather borrow – or buy – from the boys
How often have you stolen a boyfriend’s sweater or tried on your husband’s watch? Perhaps you’ve even nabbed a great pair of tartan pajamas from your brother? Thanks to the frills and spills of womenswear, girls do tend to have more fun with fashion than the boys, but if your wardrobe is less ‘showy’ and more in line with the aesthetic of, say, Toteme and The Row, then there are certain categories where savvy dressers know it can be better to check out the menswear section. Read on for four items that PORTER editors love to shop for at MR PORTER…
The men’s knit
“My daily uniform, for weekend and work, is typically a cashmere knit paired with jeans or tailoring. After years of borrowing my husband’s sweaters, and us fighting over navy, gray and black knits each morning, I’ve recently started investing in my own. I love the versatility and effortless elegance of an oversized sweater paired with wide-leg pants or elevated denim. My brands of choice are Paul Smith, Loro Piana and Brunello Cucinelli, and I also have my eye on some more colorful pieces from Zegna x The Elder Statesman for winter. My husband and I have the same size feet, too, so sometimes we share shoes. I’m often perusing MR PORTER for Adidas Originals ‘Gazelles’ or Bode patchwork jackets for him/me.” Alice Casely-Hayford, content director
PRADA EYEWEAROval-frame acetate sunglasses
THE ROWBaer wool straight-leg pants€642.00View Product DetailsSelect a Size0 - out of stock2 - out of stock4 - out of stock6 - out of stock8 - out of stock10 - out of stock12 - out of stock14 - out of stock
SAINT LAURENTLe 5 à 7 Supple small leather shoulder bag
LUCY DELIUSGold Dust 14-karat gold hoop earrings
The men’s watch
“I like to play with proportions. I like big shoulders on blazers worn with mini skirts, and very high-waisted, wide-legged pants worn with short, fitted tops – which is probably why I have always preferred to wear a man’s watch, rather than a daintier women’s timepiece. I like the weight and dominance of it, especially when wearing it with a pared-back outfit of just jeans and a fitted knit. For me, though, it isn’t about the watches with bells and whistles. Instead, I like the elegant simplicity of a leather-strapped Jaeger-LeCoultre, or a Cartier ‘Tank’, which mirrors the women’s style, just magnified – or, of course, any dial by Hermès Timepieces. When it comes to watches, for me, size really does matter.” Kay Barron, fashion director
SUZANNE KALAN18-karat white gold diamond hoop earrings
The men’s shirt
“My love for borrowing from the boys first started at university, when I would regularly borrow from the first man I ever loved – my dad. I was one of the lucky few able to still live at home and quickly realized the untapped sartorial wealth in my parents’ closets. It started with an oversized denim shirt – perfect for pulling off a Canadian tuxedo – and quickly escalated to a Paul Smith shirt – worn loosely and belted at the waist, cuffs rolled back with my favorite denim mini and long skinny scarf (forgive me, it was the 2000s). Nowadays, I shop in the men’s section almost as much as I do the women’s, often encouraging my boyfriend to invest in another Oxford shirt in the perfect shade of banker’s blue. I love the versatility of throwing one on over a tank top at the weekend, as a linen cover-up on vacation, or in my daily uniform of a striped shirt and wide-leg jeans for the office. Sometimes, menswear just fits better than womenswear – and if you have a partner you can ‘share’ with, it’s actually a much more sustainable way of shopping, too.” Hannah Cole, shopping editor
THE ROWFreya leather belt€402.00View Product DetailsSelect a SizeP/S - out of stockS - out of stockM - out of stockL - out of stock
THE ROWDevon leather tote
TOTEMEArmy leather biker jacket€752.00View Product DetailsSelect a Size32 - out of stock34 - out of stock36 - out of stock38 - out of stock40 - out of stock42 - out of stock
MANOLO BLAHNIKVeralli bow-detailed leather ballet flats€695.00View Product DetailsSelect a Size35 - out of stock35.5 - out of stock36 - low stock36.5 - out of stock37 - out of stock37.5 - out of stock38 - low stock38.5 - out of stock39 - out of stock39.5 - out of stock40 - out of stock40.5 - low stock41 - out of stock41.5 - out of stock4242.5 - low stock43 - out of stock
The men’s overcoat
“My style is generally androgynous, with oversized shirts, baggy jeans and boyish knits a mainstay of my wardrobe. Now that the weather has finally cooled, a maxi-length coat has shot to the top of my wish list. While there are plenty of great options at NET-A-PORTER, I’ve realized that the most effective way to achieve the power-shouldered, so-oversized-as-to-be-almost-swamped effect that I love is with an oversized overcoat from MR PORTER. I’m currently deliberating between a sharp-shouldered beige herringbone number from Ami Paris, a double-breasted charcoal formal coat from Tom Ford, and a drop-shouldered navy overcoat from Nili Lotan that’s ultra-versatile in its simplicity. They all go with everything, but I particularly love wearing a floor-sweeping men’s coat undone over a micro-mini, black tights and heeled boots – playing with proportions keeps things interesting.” Chloe Street, acting head of fashion content
SPINELLI KILCOLLINFauna set of three 18-karat yellow, blackened gold and sterling silver rings
JIMMY CHOOKarter 85 leather knee boots€518.00View Product DetailsSelect a Size36 - out of stock36.5 - out of stock37 - out of stock37.5 - out of stock38 - out of stock38.5 - out of stock39 - out of stock39.5 - out of stock40 - out of stock40.5 - out of stock41 - out of stock41.5 - out of stock42 - out of stock
