When we first got our hands on Zachary Prell’s latest collection, we didn’t think too much of it. They looked like solid but fairly run-of-the-mill contemporary menswear staples: a henley, a button-up, a Harrington jacket. Then we picked them up and inspected things a little more closely.
“What is this sorcery?!” was our collective reaction.
Run of the mill, these most certainly were not. The materials were soft and forgiving, with pleasant textures, subtle patterns and weighty weaves that surpassed your average shirts and pants.
Their secret? They source their fabrics from mills in Italy and Peru, both polesitters in the world of high-end textiles, for starters. Their designers told us that one of the biggest things they look for is yarn count: “When fabrics have a fine enough yarn count, it makes it softer, it feels nicer.”
The piece that really caught our attention was the cotton/cashmere-blended Kimball Henley. Don’t think of it as a base layer, but rather a lightweight sweater moonlighting as a henley. Upon closer inspection, you’ll notice an intricate weave that lends a bit of character and color to it, letting you cut an understated figure from afar but a more intriguing one when someone sidles up next to you for closer inspection (and they will).
“That’s what we do here at Zachary Prell: we like to put a modernized twist on classic contemporary styles,” they say. This approach doesn’t only apply to their henley, but the vast majority of their collection. A few more pieces we dig below.
The Oak Jacket
One of the more versatile jackets we’ve seen, the Oak features a water-resistant nylon shell, a removable fleece lining and a zipper-hidden hood. And currently, you’ll get a free scarf with purchase. The folks at ZP tout it as “the ultimate city jacket.”
The Aster Pant
These pants are a unique blend of cotton and Tencel (a recycled fabric; yay conservation!), creating a very comfortable chino with a good amount of stretch and ability to move with you. Available in multiple colors.
The Raphael Shirt
A relaxed fit cotton pique shirt that makes for excellent upscale casualwear and looks just as good buttoned or unbuttoned with a tee underneath. Supremely soft and comfortable. Pretty much all of their button-ups have, as promised, understated and subtle, yet interesting patterns.
The Cadler Polo
Sure, we’re already midway through fall, but this is the perfect vacation polo. Super soft with a great melange pattern that will have you looking the right side of classy when you don’t want to wear your Hawaiian shirt to the beach.
Nota bene: If you buy through the links in this article, InsideHook may earn a small share of the profits.
All images courtesy of Zachery Prell.
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