From Lanvin drawstring trousers to John Lobb loafers, these hyper-efficient items put an elegant spin on the concept of “fast fashion”.

Don’t believe anyone who tells you that time is a universal constant – in MR PORTER’s experience, it feels as if there’s less and less of it to be had lately. Perhaps it’s being sucked away by our needy friends on WhatsApp. Perhaps it’s all being spent on our daily commute. In any case, much as we enjoy it, we feel our clothing shouldn’t monopolise too much of our time given the various adaptable, practical and fuss-free pieces that are available on MRPORTER.COM this season. Invest in one of the options below and you too could find yourself with a wealth of extra minutes – yes, minutes – to enjoy at your leisure through the working week.

Yes, trousers with a drawstring waistband are comfortable, practical and pretty much fuss-free, but no, no, no, it’s not acceptable to slum around in them all the livelong day. Unless, of course, you invest in a pair of these trousers from Lanvin, which have both a button fastening and a sly hidden drawstring around the hips. They look sharp and can be slung on in a matter of seconds, even in the dark – if that’s how you like to do things – though this approach isn’t recommended.

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The jacket is among the garments you are most likely to remove and put back on repeatedly throughout the day, as weather, environment and mealtimes dictate. Thus it’s also the garment you waste most of your life buttoning and unbuttoning. Reclaim some of those lost hours with this nifty, light summer jacket from Japanese brand Neighborhood. Thanks to its popper fastenings, when the moment comes you can change faster than Superman – tearing it off, rolling it up and stowing it neatly in a tote or rucksack.

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Once upon a time, shoelaces must have been considered the height of convenience – the ancient equivalent of ripstop polyester or double-bonded jersey. These days, of course, it’s often quicker and simpler just to do without, particularly if you see airport security gates looming in your immediate future. For a pair of versatile slip-ons that will last for life, we recommend bench-made penny loafers from John Lobb, the celebrated British shoemaker. It’s perhaps ironic that a series of expert craftspeople will have spent a considerable amount of time creating these fantastic shoes by hand in Northampton, all so that you can slip into them effortlessly, or kick them off at the end of the day without a moment’s thought.

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A simple way to get a little more bang for your buck from your outfits is to invest in a few key garments that are convertible or dual-purpose. This grained leather belt from Mulberry, black on one side and brown on the other, fits the bill nicely, making the transition from office to whatever comes later a complete breeze. Just flip from black to brown and you’ll find yourself transformed, almost instantly, from respected colleague to all-round great guy.

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The ostensible purpose of a bag is to make your life easier, but not all such pieces are created equal. Using a weekender or tote to hold your laptop, stationery, iPad, address book and so on can result in many wasted (and inelegant) minutes spent rummaging around to find the item you want. Whether you’re a high-flying businessman or part of that emerging sub-species of humanity, the “freelance creative”, you’ll be well served by a bag such as this sleek creation from Want Les Essentiels de la Vie, which delivers supreme practicality through dual functionality – it can be carried by its leather handles or slung over the shoulder using the nylon strap – and myriad pockets to hold your essential items and keep them easily locatable.

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The biggest sartorial time-waster is having to get changed to accommodate the various occasions and differing dress codes that may arise throughout the day. Wouldn’t it be nice, therefore, if you could carry a spare blazer around with you all the time? Unfortunately, this is seldom possible, as most tailoring has a complex structure that warps and creases easily when stuffed into a bag. But you can go at least some of the distance with a knitted variation such as this nifty number from Club Monaco. Serving the dual function of cardigan and sports jacket, it can also be rolled away and stashed in a matter of seconds.

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