THE JOURNAL

Press refresh on your wardrobe with the key pieces that will have you looking your sharpest through 2017 .
You’ve crawled through the first five days of the year, and you’re probably still feeling rather fragile. However, there are 360 fresh days ahead in which to flourish. Change, let’s face it, can be tricky to set in motion – which is why here at The Daily we’ve tried to make it all a bit easier for you, with our guides to amping up your career for 2017 and setting achievable goals for the year ahead. But if that still sounds overwhelming, why not start with something more manageable? Yes that’s right, we’re talking about your clothes. All it takes to make a visible difference to your wardrobe is a few choice new items and the energy to put them on your body. Simple. And what do you know, we’ve done half the work for you, very kindly putting together said new items in the below edit. You’re welcome. Scroll down for three very easy style resolutions to help you put your best foot forward this year.

Smarten up
Dress codes are rather more relaxed now than they used to be. Which means it’s less necessary – at least in creative offices – to put on a proper suit. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t. Sharpening up your appearance, particularly for work, can have a transformative effect on your mindset – and sometimes it’s just nice to make the extra effort. We promise it’ll make you feel better, particularly on a gloomy winter’s morning. Try Ermenegildo Zegna’s midnight-blue suit for size. Cut in the house’s signature Trofeo wool (a soft and resilient fabric made from Australian superfine merino wool), the slim-fit blazer and trousers are sure to give you a lift in 2017. Wear them with a crisp white shirt, such as this piece from Giorgio Armani, and a tie if you’re feeling fancy.
Buy proper shoes
One of the big trends of 2016 was sensible footwear and, unlike more transient style fads (this fraying thing can’t go on for ever, can it?), this is one we at MR PORTER wholeheartedly condone. Investing in a good pair of shoes is a smart move – both sartorially and financially. If looked after, good footwear will last a lifetime, so choose well and pick a pair like these from British shoemaker Tricker’s, which has been creating masterful benchmade footwear since 1829. These chocolate-brown Derbies are fitted with sturdy Dainite rubber soles, which makes them particularly hardwearing. Proper shoes deserve proper trousers, so pair yours with some chinos, such as these from Italian brand Aspesi, designed exclusively for MR PORTER and made in a stonewashed cotton twill.
Be more fun
It’s all very well deciding to sort everything out in the new year – stripping things back and presenting a more refined version of yourself. But that doesn’t mean you need to be dull. In fact, we encourage you to go in the opposite direction and make a conscious effort to jazz things up – because if 2016 taught us one lesson, it’s that anything (really, anything) can happen. Which means now is the time to invest in a few statement pieces to bring some excitement to your life, such as this exuberant piece from Alexander McQueen. Last year we talked a lot about camp-collar shirts and bold patterns, neither of which appear to be going anywhere – but as they’re strong style propositions, keep the rest of your outfit simple. You can’t go far wrong with a pair of black trousers, and this pair from Valentino is a playful iteration, thanks to a sporty drawstring waist detail.