Been shoe-horning your way into skinny-fit trousers for years? Scott Fraser Simpson has something to say about that. The London-based designer has become well-known for his roomy cuts and isn’t afraid to shout about their numerous benefits.

He started his brand, Scott Fraser Collection, in 2013, and while it didn’t begin as a trouser brand, now both he and his loyal customer base can’t get enough of them. From the photos on this page it’s not hard to see why. Twin-pleated and with a high rise, they hark back to the golden age of Hollywood and can transform even the most sartorially inept man into a Clark Gable-esque stud. Pair them with one of Simpson’s Italian-made knits or Cuban collar shirts, and you’ve got a killer combination.

Like the trousers he makes, Simpson isn’t afraid to make a statement with the way he dresses. FashionBeans sat down with him to get an insight into his style choices, his vintage scooter collection and how best to wear those wide legs.

Name: Scott Fraser Simpson

Occupation: Designer

Based: London, UK

Known For: Updated takes on mid-century classics

Style Heroes: Clark Gable, Gary Grant, James Dean, Steve McQueen

The Look

The ethos behind Simpson’s style and his brand is ‘retrospective modernism’, which makes perfect sense. Both the clothes he wears and the ones he designs (which are often the same thing) have vintage sensibilities, but the clothes he makes aren’t reproductions. He takes inspiration from mid-century garments, but you’ll find subtle updates on them that improve on the decades-old designs they’re based on.

The trousers, for example, are cut from lightweight linen or seersucker, and knitwear is crafted from breathable merino wool rather than polyester or rayon, which was the norm back in the day. The former is a particularly important category for Simpson, both in terms of the look he’s become known for and his brand, as 50 percent of everything he puts out now is trousers.