catalogue crush: l.l.bean, benetton, esprit and the return of colourful prep

it wasn't too long ago, before we pinned outfits to a board, that we folded down the corners of catalogues of pages we liked

there were canvas bags. enormous sweaters. people who looked suspiciously happy to be standing beside a canoe. somewhere, a rugby shirt was making a very convincing argument

the 80s and 90s weren't one look. they were a wonderfully crowded wardrobe. and a few names still give us plenty to talk about: l.l.bean, united colors of benetton, club monaco and esprit

l.l.bean: practical enough to become personal

l.l.bean's appeal starts with useful things: leather-and-rubber hunting boots, sturdy canvas totes and clothes that make sense when the weather has other opinions

the bean boot began as a hunting shoe. the boat and tote began with the less glamorous business of carrying ice. neither needed a runway to make a point

over time, that practicality became part of a recognisable new england wardrobe: outdoorsy layers, reliable bags and a certain confidence that your shoes could survive a deluge; it was preppy sure, but it was also all very practical

that's the interesting bit. a useful object becomes a favourite, then a familiar silhouette, then something people want for reasons beyond its original job

a canvas tote can carry groceries and still have main-character energy

benetton: the sweater was not interested in blending in

united colors of benetton offered a different kind of confidence: colour

bright knitwear, contrasting layers and advertising associated with photographer oliviero toscani helped make the brand distinctive. those campaigns were often provocative and controversial, not simply cheerful pictures of wide range of ethnicities in bright knit jumpers

but the wardrobe lesson we keep coming back to is simpler: colour doesn't have to be a tiny accent you apologise for

a green sweater can be the outfit. so can a red one. put two strong colours together and suddenly getting dressed feels less like completing a form, and becomes interesting

the clothes didn't need to whisper 'good taste' or 'quiet luxury', although when I was a little kid, I recognized that it did often mean exactly that. sometimes they could just say 'quality product with some fun on the side'

esprit: getting dressed was allowed to be fun

esprit brought california ease into the conversation: relaxed shapes, graphic energy and a playful approach to everyday clothes

its story is connected to founders susie and doug tompkins (yes also the founders of The North Face! a true power couple in outdoor and streetwear fashion world), but the part that matters to this wardrobe conversation isn't a corporate timeline. it's the feeling

colour, pattern and room to move. clothes that looked like someone had enjoyed designing them. the fashion shoots featured regular teens and juniors, no makeup, no models, just groups of young people having like the BEST time. if you grew up in the 80s and 90s, you wanted to be a part of that group

one era, three different personalities

these brands weren't interchangeable. l.l.bean's outdoor practicality, benetton's colour-led knitwear and esprit's graphic casualwear came from different places

but together they offer a useful reminder: everyday clothes can be durable, expressive and a little eccentric. the wardrobe doesn't have to choose between having a function and having a personality

then there was club monaco: when grey became a personality

then there was club monaco. for plenty of canadian wardrobes, the crest sweatshirt belongs in the same memory drawer as folded catalogues and outfits you excitedly planned for the first day of school

a different kind of statement: less colour explosion, more clean shapes, neutral layers and a logo doing the introductions

the appeal was that casual could feel considered. a sweatshirt wasn’t necessarily what you wore after giving up on getting dressed. it could be the thing you built the outfit around

which gives our nostalgia wardrobe another useful ingredient: contrast. put something quiet beside something loud. a neutral layer with a colourful graphic. relaxed trousers with a bright knit

not everything needs to compete for attention. someone has to let the excellent jumper finish speaking

is preppy coming back?

our take: the interesting question isn't whether prep has returned. it's which bits we want to bring with us

rugby stripes. roomy knitwear. a good canvas bag. a collar appearing under something relaxed. outdoorsy layers worn somewhere other than an outdoor expedition

call it neo-prep if you like. we'd rather skip the entrance exam

borrow the shapes, not the social hierarchy. wear the neat shirt with the slightly scruffy trousers. put a bold graphic under the cardigan. let the colours disagree politely

there's no need to dress like you've inherited a rowing club. a comfortable sweater will do

how we'd wear the nostalgia now

start with one familiar shape: a roomy hoodie, a striped shirt or a relaxed pair of trousers

add a colour you actually love. not one you selected because someone called it an investment

keep something practical in the mix, whether that's a useful bag or a layer suited to the weather. then add the detail that makes the outfit yours

you don't need a complete period costume. you're going for a good outfit, not an audition for a catalogue reunion

the funk + fina connection

what we love about this history isn't the prestige. it's the permission

permission to use colour. to make everyday clothes memorable. to take the outdoors seriously without dressing as though fun has been discontinued

that's where funk + fina lives: vintage mountain spirit, playful graphics and outdoor apparel with a personality. because everyone deserves funky fashion

keep the useful bits. bring back the colour. leave the dress code at home

xx the funk + fina crew
made with love near whistler, bc 🏔️