5 men’s wardrobe essentials that you’ll wear this season and next

The transition from summer to autumn/winter can be brutal. One minute the sun is blazing til late, Soleros are hitting the sweet spot and your whole Instagram feed is a recreation of Santorini/Sicily/the south of France. The concept of a ‘jumper’ seems like a bizarre, abstract notion from a parallel universe. Then, almost overnight, it’s dark, it’s cold, it’s raining, and jumpers are suddenly a very real and necessary possession. So, what happened? Seasons, my friend, seasons.

But it’s not all doom and gloom, because one of the best things about reacquainting yourself with colder climes is the chance to get properly dressed again. Cue coats, trousers, socks, layers. Wonderful layers. And with autumn now very much ‘here’, these essential menswear picks will see you through the chilly season ahead in style.

‘Versatile’ is a word that gets bandied about a lot, but a great parka with a cosy filling lives up to the description. I’ve been seeing a lot of orange around lately, which can be perceived as a challenging colour, but in a dustier, more washed-out shade it’s an option that walks the line between adventurous and classic. One of my favourite ways to wear a parka is to buy it slightly oversized and pair it with a suit. Indeed, formal-meets-function works just as well with shirts, sweatshirts, knitwear and denim. This is a jacket designed for all conditions and occasions, whatever your personal palette preference. 

OK, it’s not exactly a new trend, but the crew-neck jumper in a natural fibre – think merino, cashmere or Shetland – is a truly perennial piece. Invest in a warm iteration in a muted shade (bottle green is a current personal favourite) to ensure it can slip under a blazer, slot neatly over a flannel shirt or styles equally well on its own. In short, consider this your go-to winter workhorse.

Part of a refracted take on ‘prep’ or ‘Ivy’, the rugby shirt might have suffered from certain negative connotations in the past, but worn in a vintage wash with an ecru collar, it’s a great option to have in your year-round wardrobe. Sitting somewhere between a polo shirt and a jumper, it can even stand in for a more formal shirt with textured tailoring, particularly when paired with an autumnal fabric like corduroy.

The Great Outdoors is the overarching trend in menswear right now (see parka, top), but you don’t have to go full Bear Grylls or invest in zip-off hiking trousers to partake. A heavy-soled, black leather boot with exposed eyelets is outdoor-leaning without screaming you’re off to tackle Snowdonia. Smarter than trainers, less formal than a derby and able to handle a puddle or two, this is win, win territory.

While jeans aren’t going anywhere, they have been out of the trend spotlight for a few years. However, that’s all set to change this autumn/winter, with the fit, cut and quality of your denim leading the charge for a jean-heavy aesthetic. A dark, solid shade of indigo is the winning wash du jour, while slim (not skinny) is the most covetable cut – think roomy, but not bootcut. Get the basics right and you’ll have yourself a reliable base to build pretty much any outfit on.