This summer’s easy lived-in look features clothes that fit the pre-worn, time-faded trend. Starring Massimo Alba, Faherty Brand and Orlebar Brown.

At a work dinner last week, I met someone who, upon finding out that I work for MR PORTER, explained that he never bought new clothes because he grew up in a huge family, the seventh of 10 kids, and so had only ever worn hand-me-downs. And now, as an adult, he only shops at second-hand stores because he prefers the look and feel of something that has been well worn in. “So I’m afraid there wouldn’t be anything on MR PORTER for me,” he said.

On the contrary, I replied, for the lived-in, pre-worn, time-faded look is very much on trend this coming summer. We’ve all got those old-favourite T-shirts or sweatshirts we’ve had for years that feel soft and cosy, with their colours bleached out by the sun and/or the washing machine. They remind you of endless summers, easy Sunday mornings, the comfort of home. This trend is all about recreating that. Here are three new items made to look old by three brands that warmly embrace the lived-in feel. Repeat to fade.

Mr Massimo Alba’s design ethos is centred on a super-soft hand-feel and washed-out colour palette. Exhibit A: these cool linen shorts in charcoal and off-white – easier to wear than starkly contrasted black and white. If you’re going to wear striped shorts, then we recommend keeping the top half pattern-free and echoing one of the stripes’ colours.

Close your eyes and you can almost smell the surf wax and sea salt. Founded by the surf-obsessed all-American brothers Messrs Mike and Alex Faherty, this beachwear brand is comprised of laid-back pieces to throw on when you come out of the water. Take this Baja-striped cotton twill hoodie as an example. It has the look of a beach throw that has been left to sunbake all summer. Wear with a pair of faded navy shorts and Birkenstocks.

Having successfully reinvented the swim short by replacing drawstring waistbands with tab-fasteners for a more tailored pool-to-restaurant look, Orlebar Brown has applied the same principle to the rest of your “abroadrobe”. Its slim-fit polo shirts are cut from tactile cotton-terry – in this case, a tan-flattering pastelly pink melange. Wear with darker shorts or chinos and a pair of sand coloured slip-ons from Want Les Essentials.