Elevate your look for fall with chic must-haves from these four top Chicago men’s brands.
A look from ESQ’s fall 2022 collection
Dashing Chicago
Launched mid-pandemic by menswear retail veteran Sean Moran, Loop boutique Dashing Chicago is one of the top independently owned luxury men’s shoe retailers in Chicago. Dashing works with a select group of global heritage brands, including Saphir out of France and Bresciani of Italy. “Our brands are selected because they pride themselves on their heritage of craft smanship and attention to every detail,” Moran says. One thing that keeps Chicagoans coming back: Dashing is Illinois’ exclusive retailer for English brand Edward Green and Alden of Massachusetts. As fall takes hold, it’s wise to stock up on timeless pieces that will turn heads, and Dashing is the ideal spot to do just that. 320 S. Dearborn St.
ESQ
For the past decade, luxury apparel brand ESQ has been dressing Chicago’s A-list, including high-profile athletes and celebs like Chance the Rapper, in bespoke selects that exude class and elegant style. “Having tried dozens of tailors myself,” says founder Ge Wang, “I took it upon myself to create a better custom suit with fabrics sourced directly from top mills like Loro Piana, custom Italian canvassing, German-sourced thread and Japanese-sourced buttons.” ESQ’s current must-have? The brand’s proprietary bamboo shirt, a versatile piece that offers durability, moisture wicking and odor resistance—all without sacrificing style—and has become a serious bestseller for the Loop fashion destination. 180 N. LaSalle St.
Alden boots, exclusively sold in Illinois at Dashing Chicago
J. Panther Luggage Co.
Founded in 2010 by designer Johnny Diamandis, J.P.L.C. is built upon the London-area native’s passion for innovation and products that are built to be with the wearer for years. Aft er operating out of Brooklyn for nearly 10 years, the brand has now moved operations to the Windy City. One look at J. Panther’s lustworthy totes, cases and weekenders, and it’s clear that this is no fast-fashion brand. “Both as a designer and a consumer,” notes Diamandis, “I try not to focus on trends or fashion, but rather on high-quality, timeless classics designed responsibly.” Made with leather from Chicago’s renowned Horween Tannery (one of the oldest continuously running tanneries in the country), it’s clear that J.P.L.C.’s wares are timeless enough to transcend seasons.
Richard Dayhoff x Zeglio
Decorated Chicago designer Richard Dayhoff has done it all, from dressing Oprah to more recently creating a striking line of men’s premium performance underwear. Now, the Lakeview resident is expanding into suiting, collaborating with custom clothier Zeglio to create a line of stylish suits created from Scabal cloth, the finest luxury fabric collection in England. “For fall 2022, I really like their stretch corduroy for comfort and versatility,” Dayhoff says of Zeglio. “Particularly soft and sensuous, it naturally lends itself to relaxed elegance in subtle, nature-based colors such as olive green and dark berry.” Fusing the artistic essence of Dayhoff designs with Zeglio’s expert craft smanship, these timeless yet of-the-moment pieces are essential for a wardrobe revise.
Photography by: PHOTOS COURTESY OF BRAND;
