Today, Nordstrom is launching New Concepts, a tightly curated selection of the best of the best in menswear that will be updated seasonally. The first capsule, a Gore-Tex paradise named Concept 001: Out Cold, couldn’t be more Gear Patrol if it tried. The edit is dedicated to the highest performing functional garments for slopes, snow, sleet, rain and the just about any other form of weather you can encounter in the winter. Curated by Sam Lobban, Nordstrom’s VP of Men’s Fashion, the collection brings together 20 of the best city to mountain brands, all ideal for braving less than ideal weather.
“These are the clothing equivalents of Formula 1 Cars.”
Lobban’s picks of high fashion and high function range from puddle-ready shoes by Salomon and Blundstone to alpine favorites like Aztec Mountain and Aigle. “These are the clothing equivalents of Formula 1 cars,” Lobban said when asked what unified this seemingly disparate group of brands. “When we were putting together the concept, we had a clear purpose and idea of what it was going to be: the best top of the mountain products, showing them through a more urban-based guy.”
Out Cold brings those products to the guy who maybe doesn’t reach the summit or maybe only strolls in the park. And that’s part of the point, as men’s style continues to move outdoors (see: Gorpcore) function is becoming form itself.
“So much of what is fashionable right now is performance-based,” Lobbain said. “I think guys are always interested in product that functions really well.”
And the same can be said for the full collection of Out Cold, which includes pieces from Snow Peak, K-Way, Houdini Sportswear, Golden Bear and Macintosh. Lobban even raided his own closet for inspiration, which is partly why you’ll see pieces from Arc’Teryx in the mix. (“Name a weather situation, and I have a Veilance jacket that covers it,” he said.) Whether you get caught in a downtown downpour or a weekend hike, Out Cold will get you kitted out for January weather headed your way.
You can find Concept 001: Out Cold online through March and featured one of a kind installations in the New York Men’s Store and Seattle Flagship, but only till the end of the month. The only problem? If you wanna see this stuff in person, you’ll have to brave the cold first.
