Four years ago, Indianapolis native Scott Schuman launched The Sartorialist, a wildly popular and trailblazing street style blog. Now Schuman, 41, shoots for GQ, Vogue Paris, and Style.com, searching the streets of New York (where he lives), Stockholm, Moscow, Paris, Sydney—and even Philadelphia—for fabulous compositions. So why hasn’t he shot in Chicago when it’s so close to his hometown? He’s tried. But Chicagoans value preserving their extremities with a bulky North Face. Why make it complicated when Gore-Tex exists? Schuman knows we can do better. A stylish winter outfit can involve lots of visually appealing layers and textures. Maybe an orange cashmere sweater under a purple nylon Windbreaker under a nubby Harris Tweed coat? “The weather is no excuse,” he says. Take some baby steps with this Sartorialist-worthy fall look—before North Face season starts.
Photograph: (Schuman) Weston Wells
DISCREET ACCESSORIES
“The glasses look cool, but not distracting. Not Sally Jessy Raphael.”
THIN AND FITTED LAYERS
“Men in Chicago buy things way too big. Knits are cut too long for most people. If you’re a smaller guy, go to the Brooks Brothers boys’ department and buy a large.”
VISIBLE LAYERS ADD DEPTH
“The shirt is neither too long nor too short. It barely goes below the belt, but you can see it at the wrist and waist.”
DON’T LISTEN TO WHAT YOUR MOM SAID
“I hate it when salespeople tell you to buy a coat a size larger so you can fit a sweater underneath. They think it sounds smart and they don’t want to lose the sale, but it’s the worst advice. He looks so great because the sleeve is very slim in the arms and fitted in the shoulders. The look is made by how short that jacket is in the waist. Any longer and he would just look like everybody else.”
COLORS IN HARMONY
“You’ve got the nut-colored leather, the gray knit sweater, the café scarf, and the plaid shirt. It’s visually interesting to see those variations.”
FIT, FIT, FIT
“Gap has great khakis. They are slim in the hips, and the backside isn’t too full. Choose the right size, or if the store makes them too big, go down from your regular size. Get things shortened or cut them for a raw edge. Make friends with the alterations man.”