Raoul: December really is the best month for men’s style. Layers, textures, real fabrics. No shortcuts.
Derk: Yes, finally a season where clothing does what it’s meant to do. Mooncastle knits, for example; this is their moment. That brushed crewneck you wore last week? Looked like it was made for December.
Raoul: Mooncastle really nails that soft-but-structured thing. And SHATSU… well, SHATSU shirts are basically my December foundation. Button-down collar, perfect weight. Works for dinners, drinks, office, everything.
Derk: Same here. SHATSU is one of those pieces that makes you feel dressed without trying. I always throw one under a knit. Or under an Olow vest, actually. Those guys know how to make playful look grown-up.
Raoul: Oh, Olow is great this season. Perfect for family dinners where you want to look good but not ‘festive’ in the wrong way.
Derk: Speaking of grown-up: C.O.F. Studio denim is December essential gear. The cut, the fabric. So clean and unfussy. I’m wearing their M5 in Kuroki almost daily now. Works with everything from a chunky knit to a wool coat.
Raoul: Agreed. A good pair of jeans is the anchor of all these outfits. And for outerwear… I still say: December belongs to the waxed coat.
Derk: Yes, absolutely. A proper waxed coat over Mooncastle knitwear and C.O.F. denim… that’s basically peak Ballpark.
Raoul: And let’s be honest: half of December style is about where you’re going. Food matters. Atmosphere matters.
Derk: 100%. When I think December, I think of that slow-cooked lamb shoulder I always make. Rosemary, garlic, a bit of anchovy in the base… magical.
Raoul: And your risotto! People forget you’re secretly the risotto whisperer.
Derk: Don’t expose me. But seriously: December is a mood. Cooking, layering, candles, jazz. And somewhere in there, a pair of good socks and a Ballpark knit that makes you feel like you’ve got life under control.
Raoul: For me it’s simpler. My December rotation is:
– SHATSU white button-down
– Mooncastle crewneck
– C.O.F. Studio denim
– Waxed coat
– And maybe—maybe—a made-to-measure velvet blazer for the big nights.
Derk: That navy velvet one you're making right now is ridiculous. In the best way. As soon as you put it on, you start looking like someone who knows about Bordeaux.
Raoul: Even if you don’t. But hey, December is also about Weesp and Utrecht. Both cities look like Christmas villages this time of year.
Derk: In Weesp, you can’t beat a walk along the Vecht after dinner. And in Utrecht, the canals with the lights… that’s winter magic. Finish at Café Carel for a drink, and the outfit suddenly makes perfect sense.
Raoul: Right? And that’s why I love pieces like Mooncastle or SHATSU; they’re not just for the party. You wear them the next morning when you go get bread or coffee, and they still feel right.
Derk: That’s the Ballpark philosophy: real clothes for real days. Nothing costume-y. Just good fabric, good fit, and pieces you want to reach for again and again.
Raoul: Exactly. December is busy enough. Your wardrobe shouldn’t add chaos. It should make things easier: grab your favourite knit, your best denim, your coat, done.
Derk: And then focus on the important part: good food, good places, good company.
Raoul: Well said. And maybe a bowl of my famous lentil soup.
Derk: Legendary lentil soup. Let’s not downplay it.
Raoul: Fine, fair. But seriously, December style is simple: You mix them right, and you’re ready for anything December throws at you.
Derk: Dinners, drinks, walks, family chaos… all of it.
And you’ll look good doing it.