r. P by MR PORTER is their range of future classics that belong in every man’s wardrobe. Wei and I went to Santa Barbara on vacation and we brought along Mr. P. They gifted us these items in exchange for this style guide, so thank you to them for supporting independent artists. In this style guide, I’ll discuss what to wear on vacation and how to dress for the locale.
We were staying at the Kimpton Goodland in Goleta, just 10 minutes from downtown Santa Barbara, and the property itself screams mid-century vibes. From the original motel layout, to the classic cars, to the vinyl room, everywhere we looked it felt like we were in classic 1960s California.
We’ve been watching Mad Men again and have had 60s style well in our memory when I selected these outfits. Here’s how to style them.
Shop: Striped Camp Collar Shirt
Swap Jeans for Slacks
This is one of the simplest moves you can make. In the 1950s and 60s the only people wearing jeans were Slickers. Car guys who were always getting dirty. Most gentlemen wore slacks. This is a pair of tan slacks from a linen suit I bought from Indochino, and based on the great texture, they can be worn on their own and really add some great flair to the look.
Shop: Red Cotton Jacket, Striped Cotton Shirt
Keep the Color Scheme Simple
Simple color schemes were really big in the 1950s. This navy inspired sweater was yet another adaptation from WW2 that found its way into fashion. I paired it with a simple cotton jacket to give it an All-American look. The white pants, while they are jeans, are more casual than traditional blue jeans and give it a more elevated look that helps you pull it off and stay on style.
Shop: Striped Camp Collar Shirt
Stick to Natural Fabrics
In the 1960s things like nylon, polyester and goretex either didn’t exist or weren’t en-vogue, so when choosing what jackets to bring along with you, pack leather, cotton and any other natural fabric. Shearling was a big style staple as it was evolved from the WWII flight jackets into a fashion item and found its way on pieces like my bomber jacket.
