Phillip Lim has been feeling for the great outdoors lately. Since buying a house on the North Fork of Long Island, New York, a little over a year ago, the designer has been bringing his country living ways to work. “It really started with these shoes,” said Lim, pointing down to his rubberized clogs, an unusual hybrid of Birkenstocks and Crocs he’s christened “The Ben” after his 1985 Mercedes station wagon. The designer is no stranger to the ugly shoe trend (he’s collaborated with Ugg in the past) and the sturdy soles made for a compelling new foundation to his latest 3.1 menswear collection. Other eye-catching standouts in Lim’s showroom included reversible puffer coats finished with crisp shirting material and a cozy fleece jacket collaged with harvest-inspired photo prints—think, still life images of leeks and cauliflowers—just the kind of outdoorsy pieces that style-conscious guys would want to rock in the city.
Hipster irony has become something of an obsession in fashion lately, with young designers riffing on the logo phenomenon and Instagram accounts dedicated to documenting fake goods. Lim had a fresher take on irreverent motifs, with several tees and turtlenecks that were covered with a quirky allover print of his receipts from the farmer’s market. He also gave the classic dad jean a nice makeover; his version is only slightly high-waisted and cut from raw indigo denim instead of faded blue. As always, the best looks in the lineup appeared as if they been swiped straight off the designer’s back, with shirts and pants expertly layered up in twos in a way that appeared effortless. Lim made his oversize stylings virtually foolproof this season, building special effects—double collars and waistbands—into many of the pieces. As the current trend for health goth gear begins to wane in the city, these clothes will offer a cozy and soulful antidote to athleisure.
