Aleks Cvetkovic’s Style Guide: F*ck off I'm Comfy
Words from Aleks Cvetkovic
Images: Alex Natt
Aleks Cvetkovic gets cosy in some of our most relaxed winter warmers.
What a year, eh? If ever there was a Christmas that called for some hibernation, it’s this one. Though I hate to admit it, 2020 has even broken my will to get dressed – almost. Our new ‘work from home’ and ‘stay local’ reality has encouraged all of us to take our low-key, sofa-surfing wardrobes seriously for the first time, and over the past few months I’ve really enjoyed the process of investing in a few indulgent pieces to relax in while pottering around the neighbourhood. In that spirit of exploration, this latest edit features three looks that are very deliberately intended to be cosy.
If you’ve read the other stories in this series, you’ll know by now that I’m a huge Coherence fan. Their latest coat, the Mitsou is part of the new Sarrau collection, a workwear inspired Coherence sub-brand, so both its fabrication and construction are quite different. First up, it’s cut in raw selvedge yacht canvas and left unlined, for an un-fussy, rugged feel. Like all Coherence fabrics, the canvas is woven in Japan and exclusive to the brand; and quite apart from feeling quite light and airy, it’s also breathable and shower-proof. Based on an early 20th workshop coat worn by French-Polish artist, Balthus, it’s a refreshing piece from Coherence, and the price point for a Japanese-made coat in exclusive cloth is pretty good, too.
Beneath the Mitsou is Burgus Plus’s grey marl heavy ‘Covert’ tracksuit. It’s as comfy as it looks; the cotton jersey is thick and plush; woven on low-speed vintage knitted machines saved from scrap by the Japanese. I’ve owned cheap, depressingly thin sweats before. Trust me, this ain’t one of them. The cream cotton mockneck base-layer is my own – and a very handy base-layer at that, but Cutch’s Soundman waffle-knit rollnecks, inspired by military thermals, would do the same job.
Next up, a couple of real favourites. I love Heimat’s knitwear – once you can get your hands on it, you realise there’s nothing else quite like it. It’s knitted in Germany from crisp virgin wool yarn using a distinctive stitch structure. The result is a hearty rollneck that’s satisfyingly tactile and dense, with an unusually ‘dry’ hand feel. I also love the sweater’s double-length cuffs, old-school details that are designed to be folded back. These and the hem of each rollneck are attached by hand – painstaking stuff. Over the top, we threw on Warehouse & Co’s 2145 quilted Down Vest, which is another truly satisfying piece to wear. It feels robust, warm and impressively insulating. Just the top-layer for a quick dash to the shops and back. The slash pockets are handy if you forget some gloves, too.
The jeans are Full Count’s Dartford model, cut in their signature 0105 fit. They’ve taken a pounding, as you can see, perfect for those who like their jeans worn-in, without having to work on them for 20 years. As with all Full Count jeans, the denim is woven from Zimbabwean cotton in Japan weighing in at a respectable 13.75oz. Certainly, their weight combined with the roomy cut and heavy wash mean these are extremely comfortable to wear. On-feet, black Paraboot suede Avignon derbies complete the picture. Incidentally, I’m normally a brown shoe man, and black suede can look a little off, but these are great; the suede’s unusually fine and has taken the black dye beautifully.
Our last look has another couple of interesting pieces therein. The Jelado CPO shirt in ‘old red’ is what the menswear community would call ‘spicy’ (read: shit-hot). It’s cut in a hefty wool/nylon herringbone that’s impressively warm to wear, and based on an old shirt-jacket design for US Navy Chief Petty Officers, intended to keep them toasty while working on deck. Again, it’s the kind of low-effort, reassuringly stylish piece that you can simply throw-on as you head out the door. The same goes for Addict’s AD-WX-02 BMC Jacket, which is a faithful reproduction of a British 1950s motorcycle coat, cut in tactile ‘oil skin’ cotton canvas with a dry-waxed finish.
There’s no shortage of handy design features on this; from the corduroy-lined stand collar, to the plethora of pockets and the detachable grey wool melton lining (which weighs a ton – ideal for mid-winter) it’s another throw-on gem, this thing.
Last, but not least, the boots are fearless creations from US-based maker, White’s, somewhat ironically called ‘Semi-Dress boots’, though they’re far too rugged to wear in a formal context. But then that’s what’s so enjoyable about them; they’re completely unapologetic. Set on thick soles and lasted in Chromexcel leather, which is oiled during the tanning process for enhanced water-resistance, these will wear-in beautifully over time. It’s also worth pointing out that White’s also create their shoes with ‘arch ease’ technology; sculpted insoles that support your feet throughout the day
Sure, these looks aren’t complicated and nor are the pieces we’ve chosen to foreground here – but they are all tactile, low-key and extremely comfortable. At a moment in time when the most obvious pleasures to be found in clothing are being led by our collective will to go to ground, these pieces won’t disappoint.
