THE JOURNAL

The colour to be seen in right now is somewhere between purple and red – here’s how to work it into your wardrobe, care of Messrs Michael Fassbender, Roger Federer and Baz Luhrman.
Whatever you might actually call them, the darker variations of the colour purple seem to be very much in the ascendant in men’s style at the moment. Naysayers might remark here, that along with dark greens and browns, burgundy, or berry, is a classic winter colour, so of course it’s been kicking around for the last few months. But judging from the latest arrivals on MR PORTER from brands including Lanvin, Burberry, Ami and Alexander McQueen, it’s a shade that’s set to continue its predominance as we move into SS17. Why is it so useful? Perhaps because it represents just the slightest tiniest step up from navy, both in terms of vibrancy and character. In short, you can add a burgundy item to your outfit as a subtle statement, without transforming into a guns-blazing, “look-at-me” party hound. Anyone wondering exactly how they might wear it: good news – we’ve sourced a few excellent examples from those paragons of elegance, the world’s famous people, to supply you with ample pointers. Scroll down to see three of our most recent favourites:

BERRY-LY THERE

Mr Michael Fassbender arrives for the UK premiere of The Light Between Oceans at The Curzon Mayfair, London, 19 October 2016. Photograph by Mr Mike Marsland/Getty Images
Here, with sartorial stealth no doubt honed by his recent starring role in video-game adaption Assassin’s Creed, Mr Michael Fassbender sneaks a subtle burgundy accent into his outfit via a slim knitted tie and the tiniest suggestion of a polka dot pocket square. This purpley colour not only brings out the blue in his navy suit, it harmonises nicely with the walkway underneath, for a pleasant, fruits-of-the-forest effect. Now that is considerate red-carpet dressing. It’s always nice to see a smile, too.
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UPWARDLY PURPLE

Mr Roger Federer arriving at Chanel Fashion show during Paris Fashion Week SS17, 4 October 2016. Photograph by Jacopo Raule/Getty Images
More commonly seen on the tennis court in his custom-made Nike kit, Mr Roger Federer must always heave a sigh of relief when he gets to wear something other than white. Or, at least it seems so given the happy-go-lucky way in which he sports this burgundy polo neck here. The polo-and-blazer combo is a relaxed look that owes a lot to the 1970s (Google “Mr Roy Halston Frowick” for an ultimate masterclass). Here, however, the burgundy and midnight blue colour palette offers a more nuanced and contemporary take on it all (despite the aviators, which, we must admit, are both timeless and very, very period).
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BURGUN-DAZZLE

Mr Baz Luhrman at the Franca Chaos And Creation screening, New York, October 2016. Photograph by Mr David X Prutting/BFA/REX Shutterstock
Mr Baz Luhrmann, the creator of, among other things, the wonderful 1996 Shakespeare adaptation Romeo + Juliet, and this year’s ambitious Netflix hip-hop musical series The Get Down, is rightly celebrated for his razzle-dazzle and showmanship. Fortunately, he also seems to have a wardrobe to match, as demonstrated by this snazzy burgundy suit. It’s a colour that works particularly well with the director’s bright, naturally grey hair, but he’s also gone with the right shades in his accessories – between the shiny chocolate-coloured Oxfords and multicoloured patterned tie he goes through a pleasant spectrum of colours from blue, to purple, to red, to brown. Ta-da!
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