Chances are, if you’re close to someone who works in banking or finance, you’ve heard of the Instagram account Midtown Uniform. In its feed are memes of men walking in wolf packs wearing the exact same bland gray or navy fleece vest. Some belong to the cult of J.P. Morgan and others to money megachurches like Merrill Lynch or BlackRock. While some of their vests actually sport their company’s logo, many are of the lacrosse bro–favorite Patagonia brand. The guys in them are the Rajneeshees of Wall Street.
Midtown Uniform is followed by 77,000 people, most of whom are presumably the “Chads,” a common nickname for the vest clones, who started this trend in the first place. They’ve definitely changed the game as far as work-appropriate fleece gear goes, but, really, who wants to look exactly the same as everyone else in the office or on the street? What happened to variety?
Today, one popular and viral-in-its-own-way activewear company is providing the antidote to the ubiquitous midtown uniform, one that won’t make you look like a carbon copy of your peers. Outdoor Voices has announced the upcoming launch of its own line of stylish fleeces for men and women that come in a range of the label’s signature bold colors, like lavender, red, and green.
In addition to the fleeces (which won't be available on the site until October 30th), the company now widely known for its comfortable, cool, and highly Instagrammable pastel workout gear is launching new tech-knit fabrics for pullovers, leggings, and long-sleeved tops all under a debut category called OV Outdoors, all of which is for sale online starting today. “We were inspired by sunsets and wanted to make merino in bright, happy, and warm colors as it usually comes in darker neutrals,” says Outdoor Voices founder Tyler Haney. “Whether you’re in the office, at the Dia:Beacon, or walking to pilates, these are your go-to easy layers for when it’s cold.”
Layering translates to styling, and these pieces provide both professionals and athletes the ability to mix and match them with different items already in their wardrobes. Haney really had practicality in mind when designing the new fleeces, and while she aimed for her customers to wear them day-to-day, she also wanted to inspire them to get outside every once in a while. “Ninety percent of Americans spend their lives indoors,” she says. “We want to inspire people to get outdoors and into nature.” As far as the urban jungle goes, it sounds like we may be seeing a new kind of anti–midtown uniform out in the wild this season.
