My Winter Staples
Ernest Sabine
Before starting his New York-based label Ernest Alexander, Ernest Sabine graduated with a degree in art history and spent some time in the watch department of one the most renowned auction houses in the world. To say he has an eye for the finer details would be an understatement. And when we visited him at his 28th street studio in Manhattan on behalf of Nixon, it was the attention to these details that immediately caught our eye. From the first bag he ever designed to his most recent Fall/Winter collection hanging throughout, Ernest's eye for the aesthetic is obvious.
Sitting down to chat—and indulging with a glass of good bourbon—Ernest walks us through some of his go-to winter staples. The all-black Alexander duffle is a timeless bag that functions across the entire spectrum, from the gym to business trips. Sticking with the black leather theme we venture over to a rack holding his favorite piece from the winter collection, a vintage-influenced bomber jacket. Supple Italian leather and a lamb shearling collar provide just the right amount of modern for his moto-inspired collection. As he puts on Nixon's Sentry chronograph for a test drive and walks us through the rest of his favorites, it seems Mr. Sabine may have found a new piece for his personal watch collection.
My Winter Staples
Grenson Brogue Boots
"Getting through these cold New York City winters requires protection, and boots are a great place to start when getting dressed. I like a clean pair of medium brown brogue boots—they're appropriate for city life, but easily translate wherever I travel."
Balfour Leather Jacket
"This jacket is my favorite piece we did for FW14. We took some inspiration from classic aviation outerwear of the 20s and 30s and elevated it a bit. I'm excited to have it as part of the collection and wear it, myself, for the remainder of the winter."
iPhone
"I'm constantly checking emails, social media and our website on my iPhone. And I spend much of my time out of the office so being able to communicate with my team while on-the-go is crucial."
Kings County Bourbon
"We like to keep a couple bottles of something in the office for guests, or to have after a long day or week. Kings County has an awesome facility in the Brooklyn Navy Yard and continues to produce a great quality product that feels unique and home-grown."
Alexander Duffel Bag
"We used this awesome leather from Italy to construct an all leather duffel that has great functionality but feels very elevated. The all black hardware gives it a masculine touch and makes it quite universal and classic."
White Oxford
"Intentionally engineered for both comfort and durability, this pinpoint button down oxford is our reinterpretation of an understated American classic and makes for a sturdy winter layering piece."
Watch Test Drive
Strapping on the Sentry Chrono, Earnest talked through the design like only an experienced watch collector could. Not a detail goes unnoticed, from the glossy brown gator strap to the design of the face. "The way the chronograph is centered in the middle away from the numbers is a much more modern take on a classic design." He parallels the timepiece's design with his own collections. "If you look at some of the pieces I've designed, a lot of what I do is taking older designs and adding my own details."
