Nautica Men’s Fall 2010 Collection

The 21^st floor of the Chelsea Arts Tower was the venue for Nautica’s 2010 Men’s Fall fashion presentation. An open bar and scenic deck though tempting were no match for the rustic America inspired collection. Our attention was instantly diverted to Nautica’s all American looks. Models from varying ethnicities and types adorned the far wall of the space, appearing relaxed and comfortable in their outfits. It was as if the pieces came from their very own closets. There were no skinny jeans, loud prints or over the top brights bow ties in sight.  Instead we were treated to easy, interchangeable, understandable pieces. Nautica’s creative director, Chris Cox, drew inspiration from classic American working apparel. Relaxed simple pieces made up this chic and very wearable collection. Dominated by layered textured fabrics and subtle hints of color the collection made no attempt to hide its “Nautical” theme.

Though far more restrained than the spring and resort collections the famous stamp is no less apparent. The trademark blue and touches of yellow were visible throughout. Having gone to several shows over the past few months we were surprised to find the models in comfortable loafers and work boots. According to Cox the models foot wear came from various sources, standard issue hand made work boots and vintage shoes to name a few. When asked about the overall inspiration Cox told JSD he was motivated by classic Americana, “From Portland to Portland, we went from sophisticated classic cuts to a more relaxed denim vibe. I wanted to create something that was instantly understandable and wearable.” Nautica’s fall 2010 collection reads like a wardrobe for every man’s Closet:

The Interview/Office Suit: Worn by model Oraine, this Camel Suede quilted jacket paired with white/blue button down, Charcoal wool vest and pant is a chic statement for the potential hire as well as the mogul on the go.

The Casual Friday/relaxed Office Ensemble: Chambray work shirt, bordereaux corduroy pant and tartan tie make for a more relaxed office look lose the tie and head to happy hour in grown up style.  Model Cartwright’s effortless messy-chic hairstyle kept this look casual and effortless.

The Wardrobe Maker: Din wore this beautifully tailored double breasted corduroy suit with grey wool turtleneck. At once stylish and comfortable these pieces together make for a dashing suit for any event and separately are ideal statement or layering pieces for any man’s wardrobe. The Jacket paired with jeans would make a great date look.

Complete with an assortment of twill and denim pants as well as several great sweaters Cox vision of the everyday man is classic but current. When asked about the color palette Cox remarks, “I kept it neutral and added color the way Men wear color”. It would seem a simple task but in the constantly evolving market of men’s fashion, color has been the source of many a debate. It was just a few short years ago that pink became an acceptable accent to any man’s wardrobe. With the competition hoping to bank on the new trends in color and fit, Cox keeps things wearable and classically chic. While others try to bail themselves out by hopping on the skinny colored denim bandwagon or this weeks next big thing,Cox keeps Nautica afloat with traditional pieces made to stand the test of time, or at least beyond next Tuesday.

Creative Director of Nautica, Chris Cox

Nautica Men’s Fall 2010 Fashion Presentation