We’re winding down 2020. Honestly, that’s fantastic news.
But it’s been a great year for clothes. We tried more new brands this year than any year in our history, so we wanted to wrap up some of the best new clothing pieces we’ve come across since January.
From pants and shirts, to jackets and shoes, these are our favorite pickups of 2020.
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Pants
I know some of you went without these for most of the year. That’s ok. We don’t have to tell anyone.
But if I’m allowed to make a prediction: 2021 will involve more pants-wearing. Call me an optimist.
As a fashion-writer, I can’t just stop wearing pants like you. Can you imagine the sacrifice? These are the stand-outs this year.
The Commuter Pants take chinos to a new level. We haven't found another pair of technical fabric chinos that does so well looking like standard cotton slacks but still retaining the extra comfort and mobility of other tech-forward pants.
Rhone's Commuter Jogger is a five pocket pant made with technical fabric and a tapered leg. It's a one-of-a-kind style that'll give you the stylish edge out on the street.
Crafted from 93% cotton and 7% elastane for added stretch an comfort and coming in a wide range of colors, this staple chino from Everlane's Uniform line offers solid bang for your buck.
The Public Rec Stadium Joggers are lighter and more breathable than the brand's All Day Every Day Jogger. This makes it a go-to in the warmer months and for any gym sessions you have planned.
Designer jeans made with the highest quality materials.
Mott & Bow are our go-to for slim fit jeans in the sub $150 category. The sturdy 13oz denim of the Oliver, paired with its slim profile, makes for a clean and comfortable design that feels like it should be much more expensive than it really is.
Shirts
Ok, so shirts were still a thing in 2020. Brands were forced to go one of two routes: more comfortable to support that WFH life, or more business-forward to try and hide the fact that customers weren’t wearing pants on their Zoom calls.
Made with substantial technical fabrics, these shirts are flattering to say the least. They'll accentuate your muscles so all that hard work you've been putting in at the gym shows clearly.
Thicker than a shirt, thinner than a jacket: the Chore Jacket has plenty of masculine structure and comes in an easy-to-match variety of colors.
With bulky arms and a slim fit torso, this henley is more stylized than most. It makes for an excellent layer for fall and winter.
This is easily the best dress shirt we've tried for travel. Mizzen+Main specializes in breathable, non-iron shirts. We actually crumbled this in a ball and stuffed it in a backpack for two days and it still didn't have wrinkles.
We tried fiddling with marketing language, but this is really the best way of saying it: this t-shirt makes your shoulders look buff.
Vuori's line of shirts come in a variety of fabrics, each with their own unique ability to boost your workout. The Tradewind Performance Tee is the most breathable, and the Strato Tech is up there with the softest t-shirts we've ever tried.
J.Crew has been serving up classics for years, and they're our go-to brand for the simple, timeless white dress shirt.
White dress shirts needs to be opaque. You don't want anything "sensitive" peeking through the chest of your shirt while you're making a deal. The Ludlow hits a perfect balance with fit, fabric thickness, and comfort.
Shoes
Just because I hardly wore shoes didn’t mean I stopped getting them. I have so many fresh pairs right now. I can’t wait for the new year. These are the shoes I’m most excited about right now.
The Ace Marks Troy Chelsea Boot is made with premium Italian calf-skin leather and a Blake stitched construction. It's lightweight, creamy-smooth, and has a stunning profile.
It's hard to categorize the Fuggire. It has a slimmed down service boot silhouette that's modern, refined, and sophisticated. And the suede M.Gemi uses is outstanding. With a rubber Blake-stitched sole, this boot is hard to beat.
Italian all the way through: the Tommasso from M.Gemi is made with all full-grain Italian leather and has the classic, low-profile Blake stitching that gives it an iconic European style.
Beckett Simonon's signature last has a sleek, modern profile, and the Argentinian full-grain leather feels like butter.
The Thursday Boots Captain is an excellent deal. The leather is similar to Horween's Chromexcel, so it has a subtle shine and plenty of rugged durability. When (if?) these ever wear out, I’ll be picking them up again.
The Clarks Desert Boot is over 70 years old. It wouldn't last that long if there wasn't something special about it.
Made with 93% recycled plastic and rubber and excellent quality leather from one of the worlds most sustainable tanneries in Vietnam, this sleek sneaker doesn't just look good. It is good.
The Low 1 is Oliver Cabell's most popular shoe. It boasts a classic low-profile silhouette, with color options that are expressive, but not overly trendy or unprofessional.
Oliver Cabell may be more well known for their minimalist sneakers, but that doesn't mean you should sleep on their other offerings. The SB 1 service boot offers rugged style with excellent value.
Jackets
Nothing gets me pumped up like putting on a nice jacket and hitting the streets. While I didn’t try too many new coats this year (they’re not as easy to buy as shirts or pants), these are some of my best pickups so far.
Asket is a Swedish minimalist brand with a focus on sustainability and quality. This jacket is simple, and the fit is fantastic. It's one of the most versatile pieces we've seen this year.
With its hollow-core, 4-way stretch insulation, this super versatile jacket from Western Rise has gotten plenty of mileage in William's closet.
My favorite raincoat. It’s fully waterproof and has a hoodie with a bill for added protection. It’s also lightweight and easy to roll up in a bag and take with me on the go.
Watches
This year, I learned what happens when you have a huge collection of watches during daylight savings. That was new.
Here are my favorite additions to the collection this year.
I was impressed already with UNDONE's homage to vintage Rolex designs, and the Basecamp Cali takes that same concept to the next level.
The Vincero Apex is a unique take on the racing watch genre. With solid water resistance, sapphire coated crystal, and a Seiko mecha-quartz movement, Vincero has stepped up their quality again.
While the Philosopher might look like any other minimalist watch at first glance, a closer glance reveals subtle design elements that lift this Nordgreen staple above and beyond the competition.
Featuring a Swiss Ronda movement, domed sapphire crystal, and coming with two straps, this military-inspired field watch by Vaer is easily one of our favorite affordable timepieces.
