Review: Brixton – The Hayes & The Heist

Brixton
The Hayes & The Heist
brixton.com

I first encountered a Brixton product probably seven years ago at The Stockist (875 E. 900 S.), which is where I found each other one thereafter. The first was a scally cap, and I still have it. About five years ago, I got a Brixton button-up. I still have it. In the past year, I acquired one of Brixton’s Bowery flannels. I can see myself wearing it for as long as I fit in it.

My Bowery has treated me quite nicely on those cold days when bitter temps have pierced into our office space. When I’ve worn it during those times, my zip-up hoodie has remained hung on the back of my chair. Despite an underwhelming winter this season, I’d had a feeling that we had yet to experience Utah’s entire offering of the Greatest Snow on Earth before spring. I also sensed that if I had a rotation of flannels (in addition to the Analog and ourCaste ones I also got at The Stockist) for throughout the week, I’d have a starting lineup of layers to pair with band T-shirts or put over undershirts. I wouldn’t have to wash them incredibly often, which could serve as a capsule closet of shirts for the rest of warm-shirt season. Late February/March 2018’s flurries of blizzards have proven that this approach was wise, if I do say so myself. This is why I’m glad I picked up Brixton’s Hayes flannel—and Heist Beanie.

I find that I return to Brixton’s products based on both their quality and how sharp they are. There aren’t a ton of flannel shirts that can dress up or down, and there aren’t a lot of beanies whose stylish durability one can immediately observe by looking at the fabric. The Hayes and the Heist exhibit these qualities, respectively, and more.

The Hayes

The Hayes is a relaxed-fit flannel, and it fits me well. It doesn’t look or feel baggy as it sits on my shoulders with its looser cut—it’s perfect, actually. The colorway that came my way is a low-key, casual cream, brown, navy and red, which is tagged as brown/navy on their site. At first, the pattern seems unassuming, but upon closer inspection, the detail put into this shirt becomes more apparent. The steppes of vertical and horizontal stitching help the Hayes to transcend the sense of being just any other flannel shirt, and more detail pops out each time I take a closer look. The cream squares in the fabric’s pattern pronounce their weave proudly for an added dimension of texture. I’m not usually a brown-shirt kind of person, and the pattern and color combination quickly won me over.

I’ve received compliments for the Hayes during my short time owning it. Some flannels forsake simplicity in favor of more detail, but this one certainly balances the load in that regard. Double takes at this shirt likely come about because of the harmony of these design attributes. It’s easy to look good while sporting the relaxed look that the Hayes is built for. To class it up a little bit, nicer jeans help to accentuate The Hayes’ visually appealing aspects, and buttoning it all the way up with some jet-black pants warrants it as a piece out on the town. It’s other colorway—called concrete, which mixes grey and teal—is also a superb option for these ends.

I feel like I probably look relaxed (in the [hopefully] cool sort of way) when I wear it as well, likely because of how comfortable this shirt is. It’s 100-percent cotton and feels incredibly soft. It’s blanket-level soothing. And it’s warm—as windy days have followed the aforementioned storms, I’ve beat the chill factor with this on for high-level-cozy hangout time at The Rose Establishment, the office or at home. As Utah hints at warming up, it’s a nice layer for when nighttime cools us down. It also breathes, and unbuttoned over a T-shirt is appropriate until actual summer heat is upon us. And at that time of year, you’ll be the chic one around the campfire up in the mountains with The Hayes on.

The Heist (available at The Stockist)

Right off the bat, what stands out about the Heist is its knit. It’s tight enough for street-smart wear but doesn’t look tawdry or run of the mill in the slightest, exuding durability. I get my haircuts quite short, and per The Heist’s primary function, it keeps my ears and head warm. My head is small, though, and The Heist feels slightly tight around it sometimes. This is often a good thing, however, as it seems like it hugs my head tightly for added warmth.

The Heist is a standard-length beanie, and when I wear it covering the tops of my ears with a normatively sized fold, a little bit of the top pokes up above my scalp, just as it looks on the model on their website. For a more coffee-shop hipster look, I fold bottom to the inside, then double fold it back out for wear just above my ears. The other side of the Brixton tag shows another logo, their B inside a shield, which helps to underscore the beanie’s capacity for minimalist flair when worn with a double fold. But The Heist’s calling card is definitely its balance of warmth with its inherent, classic style, so go ahead and fold it back out like your dad does—your ears are cold, dude.

The Heist has been an effective go-to for Utah’s unpredictable storms while rushing out the door. To boot, The Hayes has also served as a solid capsule closet addition that has kept me looking good, on the run and with curated looks, and diversifies my shirt-color palette. I keep returning to Brixton for these exact reasons, and I don’t ever see this changing for me. See for yourself—they offer many options for affordable but long-lasting streetwear that will make you feel the same way.