I have a confession to make. I deliberately avoided London Fashion Week Mens this year. 2018 started off with time dedicated to friends and family and, in the spirit of a smoother start to the year, I chose to stay away from the sartorial scrum that occupied the first weekend of January. That isn’t to say that I wasn’t keeping a keen eye on the trends to emerge for Autumn/Winter of this year, though.
Browsing through Instagram Stories and Twitter, there was one trend that particularly resonated with me; the suit that isn’t a suit. Perhaps growing a little lazier as I edge towards thirty, I just don’t always have the time to collect (and iron) all of the components that make up a suited look every time I leave the house. Therefore, getting that consistency in the top and bottom half of an outfit is a bit more of a challenge; but one that I feel I have pulled off with this look.
January is most definitely coat territory, so I keep the look snug with this ASOS Checked Wool Mix Overcoat. It’s a great alternative to a blazer and, when that weather did come in, I was very thankful to be able to button up and deflect the rain. Underneath is this simple White Knit Jumper from Burton Menswear, and the coat was then matched with a separate pair of Checked Cropped Navy Trousers, also from ASOS. The turn-up on the ankles is a great way to add a touch of tailoring to the look and draw attention to these Navy Brogues that fit in well with the colour scheme.
Hats off to anyone else who is determined to go sockless in January; my ankles were, admittedly, a bit cold by the end of a very rainy day in the Capital. Speaking of hats, in a first for me, I also picked out a Tweed Flat Cap from Debenhams to complete the outfit and give a nod to the Peaky Blinders-styling that is also very much in the limelight at the moment. The same can’t be said for this Ted Baker Leather Document Bag though, which remains firmly in the twenty-first century. I love the treated leather, which goes well with any smart attire. Suits you, sir.
