You’ve tearfully packed away the swim shorts, sun loungers and suitcases, and your calendar’s suddenly looking bereft of BBQ commitments.

Summer may be over for another year, but there’s no time for back to school blues. Why? Because you’ve got an autumn wardrobe to sort out.

Here, we’ve done the hard work for you, separating the seasonal wheat from the chaff to harvest a selection of versatile, trend-proof pieces that every man should have in his cold-weather arsenal.

Rain Jacket

‘Drowned rat’ is a look even David Gandy would be hard pushed to pull off. And while an umbrella is absolutely worth adding to your accessories collection, a wearable waterproof layer has the added benefit of being much less likely to go walkabout.

The best rain jackets smartly blend function with fine design, so you can stay dry without looking like an awkward tourist. Top of the shopping list should be styles that are 100 percent waterproof (not water-resistant or showerproof), come equipped with ample pockets, taped seams, and are also easy on the eye – you needn’t worry about anything techier unless you’re planning a mountain trek.

Italian outerwear expert Stone Island offers superb weather-proof outerwear, while Scandi specialists Rains and Stutterheim both produce simple, wearable designs in several vibrant colors and lengths.

Key Pieces

Smart Boots

Looking good underfoot isn’t much of an issue when the sun’s shining, but you’ll need to rethink your footwear strategy once the leaves start falling. For something that’s smart and stylish but won’t wither in the rain and snow, add a pair of well-built brogues, Derby, or Chelsea boots to your shoe rack.

Smart but sturdy boots offer more coverage than a pair of shoes but are no less versatile. Dress them up with smart trousers or a suit and they’ll fit in just fine at most formal events, or keep things casual by teaming with a pair of selvedge jeans with the hems rolled up.