Vans Old Skool: The Ultimate Casual Shoe

Master The Style

Before we get started, a word of warning: techwear in any form is prohibitively expensive. Your typical ACRONYM hardshell (yes, the one from that photo) starts just north of four digits and only goes higher. Conventional wisdom says that in fashion, a buyer chooses two of the following: form, function, and value.

Considering techwear’s uncompromising embrace the first two, its hefty price tag should come as no surprise.

But, if you’re ready to take the plunge, here’s all you need to know to master the techwear style:

First, start with the jacket. All great techwear outfits are built on outerwear, full stop. As a general rule, the best tech jackets are waterproof, durable, and designed for movement, ideally wrapped in a neutral color. In general, err towards GORE-TEX fabrics and zippers in key areas.

Second, build functional layers. The best tech jacket is only as good as what’s underneath. Our recommendation: go for a slouchy extended tee under a warm mid-layer, ideally a goose down jacket or high-tech fleece. In the outdoors industry, this is referred to as the “base-mid-shell” system.

This three-layer design ensures rapid adaptability both inside and out.

Next, do the details. The difference between “technical athleisure” and true techwear rests in high-function features like hidden vents, specialized pockets, and taped seams. In many ways, these tech details differentiate techwear from scaled-down looks like athleisure or sportswear.

Just look at a pair of Guerilla Group pants vs. your athleisure cargoes from H&M: both are black, tapered, and heavy on pockets, but only one drips the sort of utility features (articulated joints, intersecting seams, water-repellant coating) that mark it “techwear.”

Finally, focus on footwear. Even with space-age layers and every detail in line, the wrong shoes can throw off your vibe entirely. As a general rule, choose sneakers either made of cutting-edge materials (Flyknit, Primeknit, neoprene, etc.) or have visible “tech” features that supplant their more humble construction (ex. a leather sneaker with a zipper entry).