The introduction of new menswear label Percival came a week or two ago, and the buzz has already started. Perhaps this comes from their pointy cheeked models, who look like the latest woodland stylings of an indie band. One of the trio is aptly named Oxford, or so says our source, Helen Lawrence, who spent the day with Percival's wax jackets and the 'distractingly hot' men.
The label comes from Chris Grove and Luke Stenzhorn, two twenty-somethings who have design and illustration backgrounds over fashion but a greedy, burning interest in craft. Their tastes and influence comes from Mad Men's look of the sharp 80s, and if you like this, perhaps investigate various brands they crave such as: Folk, Albam, Haritage Research, Margaret Howell, Band of Outsiders, and Opening Ceremony.
The collection comprises of sixteen pieces from an array of styles. The pair's accessible high-street fabrics has culminated in a tasty mix of Harris Tweed, beeswax cotton from Scotland, chunky lambs wool, heavyweight Melton from Yorkshire and fine Portuguese cotton melange, amongst wooly-sounding others.
Linings, my favourite secretive part of coats, are set to be subtly stylish polka dots, large plaid and pinstripes which should result in a large amount of rolling up sleeves and strutting from menfolk. As Luke says, the collection is "comfortable, casual, and boyish".
What I love about the pieces is the subtle style within them that doesn't shout like an East London purple check hoodie, but sits in the corner and becomes quite delicious when you're wearing it. They seem like good, accessible pieces, and if my man doesn't buy one of those gorgeous wax jackets, then I just might.
