We'd be lying if we said we could keep all the different menswear labels specializing in "better" versions of foundational wardrobe items straight. While some have point of view that immediately comes across, there are plenty who simply make respectable—but not remarkable—basics. This one lands in the former camp, thankfully. That's probably because the man behind the line, Adam Lippes, is a celebrated women's designer, not just some dude whose highest aspiration is to make the "perfect T-shirt" (although he very much cares about that too). Lippes cut his teeth working alongside Ralph Lauren and Oscar de la Renta in the late '90s and has been running his own successful label for over a decade. Bottom line: He makes damn good pair of chinos—and that isn't the only trick up his sleeve, either.
If you work in an office and want smart staples that are free of logos, made in CEO-level fabrics (i.e. not synthetic), and yet don't cost more than a month's rent, you'll appreciate Lippes first foray into menswear, available exclusively through Matches Fashion and Lippes' own website as of this week. The merino wool sweaters are nice enough for any high-level meeting, the twill shorts are just the right length for your company retreat, and the chinos read like dress pants, instead of fraternity gear. For something a bit unexpected, there's even a made-in-Italy oxford shirt that's been subtly elongated to fit like a tunic. It's refined and editorial in a way that instantly sets Lippes' menswear apart from the more baseline basics brands on the market.
