Nautica Fall 2016

Who says you cannot wear white after Labor Day, certainly, not Nautica. Well, if Nautica has its way a lot of stylish men will be donning white throughout the entire fall and winter 2016/2017 seasons.

For fall 2016 Nautica drew inspiration from that juxtaposition of city meeting the sea. The 2016 urban dweller can now look to Nautica for nautically inspired garments that reflect architectural inspirations, textures, and details. This newly juxtaposed cross-pollination of urban and aquatic life has produced a collection of very wearable, sophisticated garments that the Nautica man can wear at almost every jointure of his day as he traversing continents, culture, and lifestyles.

 For decades, Nautica has made a tradition out successfully translating nautical themes into contemporary menswear garments that would appeal to the male consumer who might not necessarily look to nautical or aquatic motifs as a point of reference for daily clothing options.  With its updated nautical message of “inspired by the sea, designed in the city,” Nautica is looking to re-imagine its signature nautical aesthetic for the modern male consumer who has a more utilitarian, versatile lifestyle.

That said, Steve McSween, Nautica’s vice president of global design menswear, has lived up to the challenge of re-invigorating Nautica’s design aesthetic, particularly for fall 2016. And McSween and the design team accomplished this new direction while staying true to the brand’s DNA.

Are the brand’s design silhouettes the same? Mostly, yes; however, the fall 2016 collection does includes some new additions including some fitted long coats, reflective parkas, and an array of multi-striped striped sweaters—a real departure from Nautica’s affection for solids.

Still, the overall look of Nautica is essentially the same. Nautical influences are still a primary influence in this outing. However, what is uniquely different about the brand this season is its projection toward the international urban traveler, which moves the brand’s appeal away from solely American sportswear. And the styling of the fall 2016 collection was absolutely superb.

As previously mentioned there is lots of white, or should I say sail cream, to go around—white pea coats, white admiral coats, white parkas, white bombers, and white slacks and sweaters. And Nautica’s predilection for white this season was punctured with chicness, sophistication, and a sense of modernity.

Standouts in the fall 2016 collection are the brand’s sail cream wool admiral coat with camel Mohair Merino horizon turtleneck with sail cream twill officer pant, jet navy wool technical parka with carbon fine Merino rib turtleneck and jet navy nylon Navtech jogger pant, kelp green slick nylon hazard jacket with sail cream slick stretch turtleneck and jet navy snappy nylon Navtech jogger pant, electric blue stealth reflective down parka with carbon soft reversed deck shirt and carbon nylon Navteck short, and sail crème windowpane bomber with jet navy stretch ponte jogger pant.

White after Labor Day, you betcha!!

—William S. Gooch