What you didn’t know about the man behind the brand:

1. Klein acquired his love of sewing from his seamstress grandmother.

2. He attended the High School of Art and Design in New York City and later went on to graduate from the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in 1962.

3. He spent five years as an apprentice in a coat and suit house on Seventh Avenue before starting his own company with his childhood friend and financial backer, Barry Schwartz.

4. The first order for his outerwear line was obtained purely by accident when a coat buyer got off on the wrong floor of a hotel and stumbled upon Klein’s workroom. She ended up placing a $50,000 order, and the rest, as they say, is history.

5. TIME magazine named him one of the 25 most influential Americans in 1996.

Our Calvin Klein Boutiques open Thursday, March 7, at 11AM ET.

Winter brings gloomier weather, and as you look around, people tend to wear more somber colors like grey and black. This winter, don’t fall in to that habit. Instead, include a subtle yet eye-catching pattern to add some interest to your outfit.

As shown above, you can wear a solid-colored shirt and use a combination of classic fall patterns, like herringbone and plaid, which can be incorporated by use of outerwear accessories and, of course, sport coats. By adding small doses of these rich patterns, you’ll keep dismal weather from getting your style down. For more pattern (and layering) help, check out the step-by-step guide below.

Step 1. Start with a simple (and comfy) crewneck tee.
Step 2. Add a classic button-front (I recommend chambray).
Step 3. Throw on a soft v-neck sweater.
Step 4. Incorporate some texture. A herringbone sport coat will work wonders for this step.
Step 5. Look to patterned outerwear accessories. A plaid scarf in dark hues is the perfect neutral eye candy.

The season is here. Winter-coat season, that is. If you’re on the market for a new parka or wool coat, then you’re in luck. Our Grab Your Coat: The Massive Outerwear Sale has every style and color imaginable for the whole fam. So stock up, and read on for a few at-home care tips (so you don’t have to hunt for a new one every season).

At-Home Outerwear Care:
1. You can clean your down parka without deflating it. Just toss it in the washing machine on the cold cycle, then put it in the dryer with a few tennis balls. They’ll keep the feathers distributed evenly and make sure it regains its shape.
2. If your wool coat needs a full cleaning, the dry cleaner will have to take care of it. But for spot cleaning, use a damp cloth and mild soap to work out the stain. Also, invest in a lint roller to keep hair and lint at bay.
3. Use cedar hangers when hanging wool coats to keep moths away (without the smell of mothballs).
4. Keep coats in garment bags to prevent lint, hair, dust, and other particles from collecting on them. And stuff the sleeves with acid-free paper so they don’t crease up during the warmer months.

Our Grab Your Coat: The Massive Outerwear Sale Boutique opens Tuesday, December 11, at 11AM ET.

By Brianna Lapolla, Staff Writer

Not a Member and like The (Style) Guide? You’ll love Rue La La. Join now.

From leather to fur, vests have been running rampant on the sartorial radars of editors and bloggers for seasons now. Finally choosing to toss one over my coat might have been the best decision I’ve made as of late (no judgment).  Why didn’t I try this sooner?

For those who live in warm climates (I’m increasingly jealous of you), a vest layered over a medium-weight jacket is ideal for mild winters too.

Convinced yet? Here are a few things to think about (or not) when adding a vest to your winter outerwear repertoire.

• Mix textures: Layer a fur vest over your leather jacket, or a down vest over wool.
• Mix lengths: Try a knee-skimming wool coat under a waist-grazing vest. Or opt for a short jacket under a chic long vest.
• Mix and match: I’ve been keeping three vests and two jackets in rotation. Depending on the rest of that day’s outfit, I like to play with the possibilities. It’s half the fun.

 
And, one final tip for temps bordering on snowsuit-appropriate: adding a heavy knit scarf ups the warmth and style factor.