A decade ago, there was much talk of the bike ride supplanting the golf course as the place where deals got done. Certainly, there’s the opportunity for deeper interactions between men, side by side on the open road, chewing up the kilometres. But this isn’t that. This is when you’re late for a meeting, the trains are delayed, the traffic is at a standstill and now you’re starting to panic. And there happens to be a free Lime bike discarded right there in your path. And bib shorts are the last thing you want to think about.

At its root, most menswear comes from functionality. Some of it comes from the military – think of bomber jackets, trench coats and aviator sunglasses – where innovative and protective clothing has passed into everyday wardrobes. Then there’s workwear, all tough canvas and double-knee pants, and the technical one-upmanship that lies at the heart of Gorpcore and athletic wear. All of these come from a place where aesthetics and appearance are secondary. What really matters is how things work and what they do, their toughness and protection. Clothes are a layer of defence against whatever the world can throw at you.

In an era when suiting often falls into one of two camps – the traditional, oh-so old-school and the decidedly modern, even avant-garde approach – the Stockholm-based atelier Saman Amel occupies a quieter, more assured middle ground. Founded in 2015 by childhood friends Saman Amel and Dag Granath, the menswear label has a devoted global following thanks to the duo’s refined interpretation of the suit. The result is tailoring that’s thoughtful, contemporary and designed not to overpower the wearer; to make him feel confident, comfortable and effortlessly cool in equal measure.

Some outfits are all about the proportions. Some, the fabrics – or contrast thereof. Others, the discreet labels you find on the inside, or the loud logos on the outside. Just occasionally – and this is the part that requires a tad more thought – the outfit is the colour. Not what you’re wearing, but how two shades work together. Get that combination right and the rest takes care of itself. Here, three pairings that will be doing all the talking this summer – and how you can get them spot on.

A decade ago, there was much talk of the bike ride supplanting the golf course as the place where deals got done. Certainly, there’s the opportunity for deeper interactions between men, side by side on the open road, chewing up the kilometres. But this isn’t that. This is when you’re late for a meeting, the trains are delayed, the traffic is at a standstill and now you’re starting to panic. And there happens to be a free Lime bike discarded right there in your path. And bib shorts are the last thing you want to think about.

At its root, most menswear comes from functionality. Some of it comes from the military – think of bomber jackets, trench coats and aviator sunglasses – where innovative and protective clothing has passed into everyday wardrobes. Then there’s workwear, all tough canvas and double-knee pants, and the technical one-upmanship that lies at the heart of Gorpcore and athletic wear. All of these come from a place where aesthetics and appearance are secondary. What really matters is how things work and what they do, their toughness and protection. Clothes are a layer of defence against whatever the world can throw at you.