The Best Clothing, Shoes and Accessories Released in May 2021

Well, we’ve worked our way through another month. In it, we found dozens of new releases across our three pillar categories, clothing, accessories and shoes. There are nearly equal parts each and, as such, something for everyone. Check out the most noteworthy May drops.

Taylor Stitch Washed Denim Ojai Jacket

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Taylor Stitch’s popular Ojai Jacket arrives in a new tone. It’s cut from 100 percent organic cotton selvage denim, stonewashed for a broken-in look and feel and finished with pockets galore. There is one on the chest (with a built-in pen slot) and two — with top and side entry points — closer to the hip. It’s a workwear release with a slimmer, more modern profile.

Price: $188

Alife x Timberland Three-Eye Classic Handsewn Shoes

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The sole (pun intended) review on shoes implies that they shouldn’t have been given the “platform effect.” But, sorry Chris M., that’s exactly why these work. New York-based label Alife — who closed their Rivington store this week — breathes new life into Timberland’s lesser-known silhouette, rendering it interesting again. The brand’s eco-conscious Better Leather is dyed a reddish hue designed to contrast the orange EVA midsole. Each pair is painstakingly sewn by hand and arrives with rugged tread we can all agree upon.

Price: $170

Lee x Aries 191-J Rust Jacket

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London-born label Aries applies a floral pattern to US-based denim brand Lee’s iconic 191-J Jacket. While it’s traditionally a workwear piece, the jacquard patterning spruces it up a bit. However, a few functional features remain. Three pockets populate the front and brass buttons add an industrial touch; a patch adorned with logos from both parties pays homage to past styles, too.

Price: $249

Dr. Martens x Bodega 1461 Toe Cap Leather Oxfords

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This iteration of Doc Martens’ 1461 shoe is their second collaboration with Bodega. Made from four different materials — pebble lamper, milled nubuck, suede and TecTuff — the all-weather Oxford arrives as a celebration of the silhouette’s 60th anniversary. All of the subtle tweaks made this version an upgrade on the standard release, which, as evident by its enduring design, remains a popular style.

Price: $160

Hermanos Koumori Sala de Espera Green Hat

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CDMX-based running-inspired menswear brand Hermanos Koumori makes an array of staples in simple colorways. One such example is their new six-panel Sala de Espera hat constructed from washed cotton (cap itself) and suede (brim and adjustable strap). It affords a lower profile like a “dad” hat but without being kitsch or overtly branded. (In fact, there isn’t a logo in sight.)

Price: $38

Satisfy Running 3″ Trail Shorts in Leopard

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Ultra-short shorts are in. We’re talking 4″ inseam and shorter. Satisfy Running’s new Trail Shorts clock in at 3″, but they feature a stretchy inner liner that extends beyond the leopard print top layer. Sweat-proof pockets for cash, cards and keys prevent unwanted clinking when walking or running, a pair of “nutrition pockets” leave room for snacks and a carabiner clip for your valuables is hidden in the waistband. On the exterior, there’s a detachable label detailing the shorts construction and reflective patches that improve visibility.

Price: $224

Jam Rocks of California T-Shirt

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Graphic designer Sam Jayne’s emerging label Jam originated as compact collections of clever shirts and hats. Now, he’s expanded the launches to include several hats, long sleeve t-shirts, sweatshirts, oxfords, incense, mugs, tote bags and coin purses. Our favorite, though, from this new drop is the Rocks of California shirt. That same text is positioned where a chest pocket would be, and the back is covered in a silkscreen graphic that details rocks one could find in the state of California: Jasper, Magnetite, Psilomelane, Lepidolite and Molybdenite.

Price: $40

Dries Van Noten Mr. Porter Exclusive Polo Shirt

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Exclusive to Mr. Porter, this cotton-terry polo by Dries Van Noten is soft to the touch yet ultra-loud. Blazing suns of varying sizes are dotted across the shirt, which fits a bit boxier than traditional polos. The collar is open and relaxed and arrives without buttons. (Buy the full set — a bucket hat and shorts in the same pattern — and make a serious statement.)

Price: $785

Sperry x Rowing Blazers Authentic Original 3-Eye Boat Shoe

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Debuted as part of Rowing Blazer’s SS21 collection, these lug sole, tricolored 3-Eye Boat Shoes are an upgrade on the flat-bottomed boat shoes Sperry typically makes. Yes, there’s plenty more support courtesy of the Vibram rubber, but the addition is also quite the statement: The crisp white contrasts the onslaught of colorful nylon, which is all hand-sewn together around a leather footbed.

Price: $160

Drake’s Japanese Selvedge Corduroy ‘Haberdasher Horticultural’ Chore Jacket

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“Garden jackets are in right now,” GP Style Editor John Zientek messaged me the other morning. He’s right, and Drake’s new “Haberdasher Horticultural” is no damn exception. Made in Portugal from 100 percent Japanese selvedge corduroy, it arrives embroidered with the logo of Drake’s imaginary gardening club — a beet and daffodils cross like swords on a family crest, while blue text arches above and below them.

Price: £595

Converse Summer Daze Jack Purcell

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Converse’s Jack Purcell sneaker is a variation on the low-top All Star that originally debuted in 1935 for badminton players. Nowadays no one is working out in these, but they’re definitely still worn — especially so now that they’re out in a few summer-ready colors. Dubbed Summer Daze, this washed tie dye iteration features accents of cork and bright yellow and what the designers there dub the “smile” — a pop of color on the toe cap.

Price: $65

Wax London Didcot Short-Sleeve Sage Poppy Shirt

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Wax London’s Didcot shirt uses low impact dyes to replicate the look of a watercolor painting. Seen here in sage, it’s a summer style worth wearing on all occasions. The 100 percent viscose construction promises breathability, and corozo nut buttons let you open up to the breeze.

Price: $120

Guess USA x Alchemist Floral Jacket

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Guess USA and Miami retailer Alchemist’s collab jacket looks like something custom you ordered off Ebay or Etsy — in a good way. It’s constructed from heavy, natural-colored canvas and tie dye paisley flowers, a printed corduroy collar, fireman’s clasps and a bright red paisley inside offer contrast. A must cop!

Price: $640

CDLP Swim Shorts

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CDLP’s swim shorts — seen here in rust — are made from 100 percent Econyl, a regenerated nylon made from plastics recovered from landfills and ocean waters. A back zip pocket offers space for cards, the inseam is shorter than most, a mesh lining increases comfort and the Econyl construction promises quick drying — the ideal recipe for a good pair of trunks.

Price: $159

Bather Green Bandana Shorts

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Bather’s Green Bandana shorts are cut from a polyester made from 100 percent post-consumer PET — i.e. bottles. Although these aren’t quite true to the famous bandana patterning we’re prone to seeing, the brand has done a great job of adding their own genuine twist: a variety of paisley patterns and a slew of smiley faces of varying sizes.

Price: $95

Ahlem Grenelle Round-Frame Acetate Sunglasses

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Made in France from Mazzucchelli’s camel-toned acetate, Ahlem’s sunglasses offer flair without an unflattering fit. Some sunglasses prove too big, others too small, but these are perfectly somewhere in the middle. Plus, the green lenses are a great look.

Price: $480

JW Anderson Men’s Sneaker

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JW Anderson’s debut sneaker strikes “a balance between the hand of the maker and the technology at the same time, so it’s not over-prescribed,” he tells Highsnobiety. Yes, these are designer sneakers, but they’re chunky without being clunky and good-looking without being gaudy.

Price: $395

Reception Checkerboard Half-Button Shirt

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Reception’s 100-percent cotton checkerboard shirt only buttons halfway, rendering it some sort of polo-shirt-pullover hybrid. The spread collar exudes summer energy while the straight hem and relaxed-fit read more “year round.”

Price: $244

Todd Snyder x Jack Purcell Egret Sneaker

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American designer Todd Snyder overhauls the Jack Purcell court shoe, a nod to a Canadian badminton player of the same name. In a corresponding campaign, several celebs and athletes tell audience members “You don’t know Jack.” It’s a clever take on crumbling gender norms, but, by the looks of this iteration, we’re not convinced we know the shoe anymore either! There’s an all-new upper made from organic cotton, a sole shaped from recycled rubber, cork insoles, a suede tongue and pops of pink throughout.

Price: $100

Bristol Studio Triple Hem Shorts

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The hem has been a hot topic recently. Some are convinced that the shorter the better, while our collective adoration for nostalgic outfits — looking at you, vintage NBA uniforms — has drawn some closer to capri-like shorts than ever. However, Bristol Studio does something we haven’t seen yet: three hems on one pair of shorts! Each layer is a different color but all come with a woven logo tag. If nothing else, the triple hem affords texture to an otherwise plain pair of mesh bottoms.

Price: $118

Outerknown Second Spin Tee

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Sure, soft T-shirts cut from virgin materials may be nice, but ones spun from post-consumer fabrics like recycled cotton can be, too. Outerknown’s Second Spin series transforms textile waste into jersey knit tees in five colors — Scout is what you see here.

Price: $48

Hermanos Koumori El Turista Shorts

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Athletics-inspired yet fit for serving as the bottom half of a suit (as seen in the brand’s new campaign), Hermanos Koumori’s El Turista shorts feature a phone pocket, an adjustable belted waist and imported buttons from Japan. They’re cut from Italian polyester Majotech fabric and assembled by fair-wage workers in Mexico.

Price: $155

Norse Projects x Geoff McFetridge Anton Oxford

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Why settle for the same old Oxford? Norse Projects’ pretty new pink one comes adorned with motifs by LA-based artist Geoff McFetridge. It’s the quality you expect from the Copenhagen clothing company with a subtle twist.

Price: $248

Noah x Wesselmann Lips Tee

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’60s-era American artist Tom Wesselmann’s paintings favored realism — often lips, limbs, and, well, other body parts — over the abstract efforts of his counterparts. And now, some 60 years later, a new collection by clothing brand Noah — whose founder just joined J. Crew — features over a dozen items adorned with Wesselmann’s works.

Price: $48

Kith x Vans Vault 10th Anniversary Capsule

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A collection of, yes, you guessed it, 10 Vans sneakers form Kith’s collaborative 1oth anniversary collection. Patterns from past Kith collections adorn each iteration, as well cover the outside of each box. Our pick is the all-over, sort of crazy, geometric paisley print, but you can’t go wrong with one of the other nine.

Price: $90

Yuketen Semi Handsewn Maine Guide DB – FO Quatro

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Yuketen’s Maine Guide DB is the fully-loaded option, if you don’t mind the car reference. I mean, just look at ’em. Italian leather comprises the midsole, rubber reinforces it and Vibram’s new made-in-US 2021 sole tops it off. On top, it’s silky, full-grain, flesh-out leather all over in four different hues, hence the Quatro in its name.

Price: $590

Imogene + Willie “Support Live Music” Tee

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Nashville-based brand Imogene and Willie makes their own collection of graphic t-shirts. Some are Americana-referencing while others nod to fictional storefronts. This one, however, raises funds for MusiCares, an organization assisting out-of-work musicians. The message is simple: Support live music. Hire live musicians.

Price: $68 (100% goes to MusiCares)

Brain Dead Tani Post Primitive Eye Protection

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Brain Dead‘s stylish orange and silver sunglasses are shaped from eco-friendly, sustainably sourced, bio-degradable cotton and wood. (There’s a stainless steel interior, too, for durability.) They come in a branded box with a Brain Dead logo-adorned carrying case. Big flex!

Price: $175

Blackstock & Weber The Mason Horse Bit Loafer in Emerald Croc

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We’ve been preaching about the practicality of loafers. And not the run-of-the-mill leather or suede ones, either. We’re talking statement styles. Blackstock & Weber’s new Emerald Croc horse bit loafers — see our guide to learn what that means — certainly make one.

Price: $325 (Available at Kith Soho on May 28th)

Todd Snyder Vertical Stripe Full Placket Sweater Polo

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This sweater-turned-trip-attire by Todd Snyder is cut from 55 percent silk and 45 percent cotton. There’s texture added by reverse jersey stitch stripes and a tighter fit gives off a tailored appearance.

Price: $248

Kapital Leopard Print Wide-Leg Shorts

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The relaxed-fit trend comes for shorts! Don’t fret, though, these aren’t long enough to be considered chacos or capris, and there’s a belted waistband for hiking them back up.

Price: $305

Bloomfield Works Selector Tee

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Concept brand Bloomfield Works’ newest drop pays homage to Jamaican sound system culture — and, more specifically, Half Way Tree Road in Kingston, Jamaica. On the back, Bloomfield Works becomes B.W. Sound System. The front features “Selector” in collegiate script. Plus, part of the net proceeds will go to St. Ann’s Primary School in St. Ann, Jamaica.

Price: $52 (Out May 28th at 3PM)

Rhythm Vintage Terry Long Sleeve Polo

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This is a simple staple worth wearing everywhere — and you can! It has a spread collar, soft-to-the-touch feel and a linen-cotton construction that makes it right for warmer weather.

Price: $50

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