Wardrobe Staples

Fred Perry Polo Shirt

Few brands have as much emotional resonance as Fred Perry. Popularised by skinheads, mods and football casuals, as well as musicians like Paul Weller, The Specials and Oasis, the brand’s tipped-collar polo is more than just a piece of clothing.

It’s hard to know exactly what has drawn so many (often disparate) types of people to the style over the years, but we’re certain the shirt’s unique fit has always played a part. Slim and flattering on a variety of body shapes, the Fred Perry polo is a more democratic alternative to the formal buttoned-up shirt.

As well as fit, the quality of the shirt’s cotton piqué fabric and its distinctive tipping has helped cement its place in the pantheon of menswear staples.

Dockers Alpha Khakis

Chinos are no longer naff trousers for 1950s-era dads, and we largely have Dockers to thank for that. The San Francisco firm is to rugged twill trousers what Levi’s is to denim.

The brand’s Alpha Khaki chinos are everything you’re looking for in a pair of casual trews. Made from hardy cotton twill and coming in a timeless slim tapered cut, this model can easily weather the effects of frequent wear.

Which is good, because they can be combined with nearly everything else in your wardrobe, from a Breton stripe top to deconstructed tailoring. The true hallmark of an essential.

John Smedley Merino Wool Jumper

There’s a reason John Smedley was awarded a Royal Warrant. The British label’s expertly crafted merino wool knitwear is pure minimalism. No bells, no whistles, just material that is of the highest quality, having been sourced ethically and fairly from a select number of wool growers in New Zealand.

Pulling on merino’s natural moisture-wicking and temperature regulating properties, this time-honoured classic is proof that natural materials can be practical, too.