In this mad, infuriating, ever-changing world, wise counsel is not to be underestimated. This new fortnightly column is here to offer just that, answering your burning questions on style, etiquette, wellness, grooming, the workplace and more. Want to know the answer to something? Drop us a line at asky@mrporter.com and we’ll do our best to connect you with an authority in the field, drawn from our family of style experts and industry insiders. Welcome to Ask MR PORTER.

“I’m so happy you asked,” says our US Editor Mr Chris Wallace. “After Mr LeBron James showed up for a game in a matching set from Aimé Leon Dore, I can’t think of any reason not to go all in on a same-same tops and shorts vibe – whether you are wearing swim trunks or regular shorts.

“As a weird sidebar, has anyone seen the slapstick action film Polar, starring our pal Mr Mads Mikkelsen? There is a disgustingly violent early scene in which Mr Johnny Knoxville wears an absolutely smashing silk short-and-camp-collar-shirt set, which seems to me to be the perfect uniform for our WFH new normal. See also the styling pictures for these silky shorts from Dries Van Noten. Matchy-matchy and even close-clashing are good again. Pick up a pair of leather sandals, maybe some bracelets and a chain and that’s it, you’re all set.”

We certainly hear you on this one. Much conversation down the old MR PORTER Zoom lines these past many months has been about the sad state of our collective barnets. For those who are in a position to visit the barber and are looking for a little inspiration, may we suggest a few of the best styles to see you through this summer. And, while we’re at it, what about some dye? Depending on your work situation, this might be a good time for bold exploration. Fluorescent ’dos are sort of having a moment. Hey, it’s a thought.

For the rest of us who are having to sort out our grooming needs at home, we’ve turned to Mr Jeff Laub of Blind Barber for some helpful suggestions. “There is nothing more uncomfortable than having a hairstyle that you don’t want,” he agrees. He’s helpfully supplied us with the following tips.

First and foremost, make sure you tidy up the following three areas: back of neck; sideburns and the area around the ears; your beard and front of neck. All of these can be achieved with a consumer-friendly pair of clippers. “A little cleaning will make any style at any length look better,” Mr Laub promises. Note: while bringing your sideburns and beard down, start with a higher guard and work your way down for desired looks. For more tips, check out this video guide from Blind Barber Mr Troy Hugie.

“Secondly, switch up the products,” says Mr Laub. “Most guys are using a pomade or wax to keep those short, clean cuts in shape, but as the hair grows, we would recommend using some lighter hold products that keep the shape but allow for hair to lay in a place as opposed to ‘stick’ in a place.” Styling creams will provide structure and a light hold as your brush styles off your face, but won’t clump as a traditional pomade might. Sea salt sprays offer a slightly stronger hold and provide a nice textured finish that is still easy to run your hands through.

And if all else fails? One last piece of advice from the barber: “Buy a couple of good hats from MR PORTER and just wait this out.”

We love where your head is at. The old five panel or baseball cap is all well and good for hiding the mane on a video call, but bravo for thinking about bigger brims – we heartily support you. And in order to better support you, we asked the best big brim ambassador imaginable, Mr David Coggins, author of the terrific compendium Men And Style, creator of The Contender, and a great wearer of hats, for his advice.

“Wearing a hat should never look like an experiment,” says Mr Coggins. “That’s why old hats look better than new ones. They should look worn in, possibly frayed, inherited, even destroyed. That’s why I get my Panama hats wet before I wear them, based on the same principle as Mr Fred Astaire having his valet (yes, valet) throw his suits against the wall to take the newness out of them.

“I also think large brims look better on most men – they balance out the size of one’s head. Small hats, particularly fedoras, lead one into the realm of boy bands and, unless you are receiving royalty checks, then that’s not ideal.

“A hat is also aspirational in the sense that it belongs to the feeling of a place. So a Stetson plays well with RRL. A crisp Panama hat with a rakish Kiton suit, perhaps a linen shirt undone halfway, as if you had just enjoyed a Pernod while watching a match at the French Open. Just remember that every hat, and I mean every hat, looks better the third time you wear it.”

A final takeaway from Mr Coggins: “Practise wearing it in private so when you make your public debut you get the attention you deserve.”

Indeed. Now that you have your jazzy WFH shirt and perpetual sweatpants look sorted, it is a good time to go bolder and more expressive with your wristwear. “It’s such a personal choice, after all,” says our Watch Editor Mr Chris Hall, who recommends that you “be colourful, and be casual” – and his recommendations include this Breitling and this Montblanc. 

Refreshments can also be made to the timepieces already in your collection. Change the strap on an old watch (here’s how), or if you’re feeling adventurous, consider whether you can get away with something a little bigger (here’s a guide to watch sizes), such as this Panerai watch.