A Letter From Our Editorial and Creative Director: All Around the World

A container in many ways, airports put human habits — the good, the bad, and really bad — on full display. It’s an incredibly peculiar way to spend free time, and there’s always a sense of mystery in the air that prompts various questions. Where’s that person off to, why is that one lining up so early, what’s that horrible smell that just entered my vicinity, and so on. Airports also happen to be my ultimate favourite place to observe style.

While I’m old and discerning enough to have a more intuitive approach to dressing, I still have a folder full of style references — mostly of male actors I admire in transit. Whether it’s images of Robert Redford in Harris tweed or Omar Sharif in a leather blazer over a turtleneck, the common denominator among these men is a staple blazer that’s ideal for layering and made in a nice fabric that allows for tasteful wrinkles or none at all.

This past December, my pursuit of this dream travel blazer took a familial turn. My father, whose wardrobe I’ve coveted since I was a kid, was cleaning out his closet and making a pile of his old bespoke suits to pass down to my brother.

Suit after suit, all I could think of was how I wanted a little piece to call my own. I mustered up the courage to ask him if he’d think there was anything I’d like, and he brought out a cashmere wool blazer in the perfect shade of navy for me to try on. Unsurprisingly, my father knew exactly what would suit me.

Slightly reminiscent of the navy blazers Serge Gainsbourg would wear with blue jeans and white Repettos, my father would often wear this blazer during his travels, and it’s a piece I was familiar with from receiving him at the airport. Even though he’d had a full day of travel, it was important for him to dress sharp, something he’s always instilled in me.

Since acquiring this fashion heirloom, I’ve taken it with me on most of my travels this past year, and every time I wear it while travelling through various terminals, I feel it sets the right tone for each trip. Its fabrication provides me the comfort I need, while its flawless tailoring gives me the confidence I desire in an often-chaotic environment.

As we move into the fall/winter season, I hope our style pages inspire you to not only experiment with fashion in your day-to-day life, but also embrace the airport as an opportunity to express your personal style, and allow your curiosity to go beyond where you’re headed.

Feature photo by Ted Belton.

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