Man Friday
How to waterproof your look
The rosé on a mellow sun-tinged afternoon has been imbibed, the toes-in-front-of-pool Insta moments have all been duly uploaded and, as if any further reminder were needed, this week’s end of days-style weather and dire financial news are a potent wake-up call that the blissful days of summer are over.
It’s back-to-work time. And for those of us who arrived to offices across the country this week more rain-lashed than George Clooney in The
Perfect Storm, this time of year coincides with a wardrobe crisis.
Impeccable tailoring and a “back to school” vibe might pervade, but there’s no man as uncomfortable as the one in the midweight wool suit with beads of rain running off it, or the man in the rigid trench coat that’s quietly broiling in an unexpected burst of Indian summer heat. Happily, though, the autumn/winter 2015 menswear collections showcased how attire can be combined with performance elements without compromising on style. Yes, you can look finely turned out and still tackle inclement weather.
Your first stop should be Chiltern Street in west London, where a new menswear addition in the form of Club Monaco can kit you out.
The US brand has employed master Italian cashmere brand Loro Piana’s fabric for a new suit designed for life at a high octane pace.
The “Grant” comes in a patented “High Tenacity” fabric derived from wool that ensures it’s wrinkleresistant and crease-proof. It’s also pin-sharp and versatile. Smart outerwear this season also doesn’t have to mean the classic trench.
A host of designers, from Brioni to Dior Homme, proposed suiting worn with durable parkas and technical outerwear, all the easier for crumpling up into a bag whatever should the weather dictate.
This padded wool blazer from Ermenegildo Zegna will fit neatly over suits; ditto this waterproof Stutterheim piece.
And when it comes to accessories, the lighter and more breezily adaptable the better. Harry’s of London offers a shoe that combines a formal loafer with a lightweight rubber sole. Look for a bag that’s more in tune with a handsfree lifestyle: Coach’s rucksacks have been deliberately shrunk for a man who travels light, while Canadian brand Want Les Essentiels has foldable, malleable pieces such as a tote bag. Add a no-nonsense watch that is stripped of excessive frippery – instead of bells and whistles forecasting the surf in five time zones.
This Schofield timepiece is devoid of complication and made in titanium to take hard knocks. All of which means that you’ll feel suitably galvanised to make the return to work more bearable.