LAUNCHED IN 2010, THE SITCH ON FITCH BECAME THE INSPIRED, RESPECTED BRAND OF PASSION OVER THE ACHIEVEMENTS AND PRESTIGE OF ABERCROMBIE & FITCH CO. (ADMIRATION FOR ITS PAST GOING BACK TO 1892 AND FOR THE MODERN-TIME HEIGHTS OF THE MIKE JEFFRIES ERA); IT WAS OFFICIALLY, POSITIVELY RECOGNIZED BY A&F HOME OFFICE BY APRIL 2012, WITH A DIRECT EMAIL TO THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, DURING ITS GROWTH AS THE ONE-OF-A-KIND, MULTINATIONAL ONLINE PUBLICATION, WITH HIGH-GRADE PRESENTATION WHICH EVOLVED OVER ITS RUN, FOR RELEVANT, UNIQUE, IN-DEPTH BUSINESS, CULTURE, AND STYLE CONTENT FOR THE COMMUNITY OF CUSTOMERS AND ASSOCIATES WORLDWIDE (MONTHLY PAGEVIEWS SURPASSED 110K BY AUGUST 2012); AND IT WAS FOLDED BY SEPTEMBER 2015 AFTER THE DECEMBER 2014 RETIREMENT OF MIKE JEFFRIES AND THE EDITOR-IN-CHIEF'S DISTASTE WITH THE FURTHER DEGRADATION OF THE COMPANY BY ITS NEW MANAGEMENT. WITH CONTENT BY THE PERSPECTIVE OF DEVOTED CUSTOMERS AND ASSOCIATES FROM AMERICA, EUROPE AND FAR EAST ASIA, THE SITCH ON FITCH (2010-2015) REMAINS AS A HISTORICAL, ZEITGEIST ONLINE PUBLICATION OVER THE FINAL YEARS OF THE MIKE JEFFRIES ERA. THIS SITE WILL BE REVAMPED SOON TO OFFICIATE AN INTELLIGENT ARCHIVE FOR THE USE OF ALL PARTIES INTERESTED IN THE CONTENT PUBLISHED DURING THE PUBLICATION'S ORIGINAL RUN.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Aimee in America! | Trend-Spotting: Urbane Utilitarian...


Hey Fashionable Dudes&Bettys!

We're already in about the middle of Fall 2013 fashion week with just the end of Milan and Paris week left. Though I'm finding it almost impossible to imagine Fall so soon before Spring has even begun. Fortunately, some trends from the Spring shows have appeared again, both during this Fall fashion week's shows and in the street styles.

One trend that has gotten me thinking about track pants more often since this Spring than I ever have (I don't even wear them to the gym. haha) is Formal- or Urban- Utilitarian. The 'Formal Utilitarian' style is essentially the mix of formal and casual wear. Urban Gentleman wrote in his "Men's Spring Summer 2012 Trend Style Guide" that the trend was something he had seen on the streets in Italy and was beginning to grow popular on the runways and concrete runways (street style) everywhere.






I have seen it referenced interchangeably as both 'formal utilitarian' and 'urban utilitarian'. So I, of course, googled it. (dictionary definitions in photo above). Urban + Utilitarian = practical 'street' wear which is the more casual of utilitarian trend. It lends itself to track pants, military inspired pieces including a hot spring color - military olive green, cargos, and trainer or track jackets. Formal + Utilitarian = practicality with some rules of etiquette, bends the rules of formal dress. The formal side of the trend consists of the basic white tee, blazers, button downs, parkas (which could also be included in urban), chinos, and monochromatic navy, blue, or black looks. Urbane Utilitarian may actually be the best name for both names of the trend though; combining polish of formal wear with street style of major cities in clothes that are practical or utilitarian for a stylish metropolitan's lifestyle.






Abercrombie&Fitch has also gotten into the trend a bit - just not styled so in their look books. I've included a few of my finds, but you can find many of these in different colors and slightly different styles on their site or in-store as well.

Top row: A&F Lake Arnold Blazer (US$149.90), Skinny Chinos  in navy (US$54.60)
Second row:  Kilburn Mountain Tee in white (US$15), Cargo Pants in olive (US$78), Shaw Pond Shirt (US$68)
Third row: Palmer Brook Shirt in blue (US$68), HCo River Jetties Jacket in red and navy (US$59.50), A&F Vintage Track Pants in navy (US$68)
Fourth row: HCo Silver Strand Parka in navy (US$89.50)

Try a few looks out to find your balance of street and formal wear. Boat shoes, desert shoes, or sneakers are all hot with this trend. Remember casual, even with a more urban interpretation of the trend, still means "fresh, crisp, comfortable" not "poorly dressed, what you wear to the gym, or moth-ridden clothes" (James Gallichio).

Bettys can also wear this trend- which I'll write more about next week. Until then, let me know in the comments what you think of the Utilitarian trend? Do you prefer the more formal, urban, or my 'urbane' definition better?

Happy Weekend...
Stay Fabulous&FIERCE!
xoxo Aimee ♥
LABELS , , , , , , ,