THE JOURNAL
From left: Fendi runway, Milan, 13 January. Photograph by Mr Salvatore Dragone/IMAXtree. Louis Vuitton runway, Paris, 16 January. Photograph by Mr Alessandro Lucioni/IMAXtree. Bode runway, Paris, 18 January. Photograph by Mr Salvatore Dragone/IMAXtree. Givenchy runway, Paris, 16 January. Photograph by Mr Salvatore Dragone/IMAXtree. Dries Van Noten runway, Paris, 16 January. Photograph by Mr Isidore Montag/IMAXtree
As the hype-fuelled fire around streetwear finally begins to quell, tailoring is making its way back to the forefront of fashion (although we predict the two will have to share a seat at the table from now on). This is good news for your office wardrobe, which you can update in a way that feels fresh and modern without looking sloppy. So, from Paris (and Milan, and London and a few other places) with love, here are five ways to sharpen up your working attire this season.
01.
Checks please
From left: Berluti runway, Paris, 17 January. Photograph by Mr Isidore Montag/ IMAXtree. Dries Van Noten runway, Paris, 16 January. Photograph by Mr Isidore Montag/IMAXtree. JW Anderson runway, Paris, 15 January. Photograph by Mr Salvatore Dragone/IMAXtree
The time of the statement coat is now (see the glistening silver version that closed the Dior show, or the great furry creations from Raf Simons), but wearing one to the office isn’t always the easiest thing to pull off. Enter checks. At Berluti, JW Anderson and Dries Van Noten, great checked coats were the order of the day. Wear one over a suit, and with a pair of polished Oxfords – think Withnail And I, but with a little more verve.
02.
Grey is the coolest colour
From left: Prada runway, Milan, 12 January. Photograph by Mr Daniele Oberrauch/IMAXtree. Fendi runway, Milan, 13 January. Photograph by Mr Salvatore Dragone/IMAXtree. Off-White runway, Paris, 15 January. Photograph by Mr Salvatore Dragone/IMAXtree
Need a new suit? Make sure it’s grey. The tailoring on the runways at Louis Vuitton, Dior and Fendi was 50 shades of the stuff, which looks particularly natty in dark wool, as at Prada. With the jacket, go for peak lapels – the showiness of them contrasts well with the relative subtlety of the grey. A grey sweater, too, should be on the cards, although to stop the whole thing feeling dreary it’s wise to have a colourful tie or shirt collar peeking out.
03.
Soften up
From left: Casablanca runway, Paris, 17 January. Photograph by Mr Isidore Montag/IMAXtree. Bode runway, Paris, 18 January. Photograph by Salvatore Dragone/IMAXtree. Gucci runway, Milan, 14 January. Photograph by Mr Daniele Oberrauch/IMAXtree
Late last year, Mr Harry Styles made headlines for his outfit (again) after being pictured in a sheep-print sweater vest that bore a striking resemblance to a jumper Princess Diana wore in the 1980s. And so, sweaters of the soft and fluffy variety in pastel shades (and possibly emblazoned with an animal like the clothes at Bode this season – parrots and squirrels, rather than sheep though, thanks), are very much in. Wear one over an Oxford shirt to the office – it will look well-turned-out yet approachable, always a winning combination.
04.
Carry a bag
From left: AMIRI runway, Paris, 16 January. Photograph by Mr Armando Grillo/IMAXtree. Louis Vuitton runway, Paris, 16 January. Photograph by Mr Alessandro Lucioni/IMAXtree. Jacquemus runway, Paris, 18 January. Photograph by Mr Salvatore Dragone/IMAXtree
After a few seasons of belt bags, a glut of pockets and bags the size of lockets that were good for little more than an ibuprofen or two (thanks, Jacquemus), big bags – ones with handles that one actually carries – are finally back. From your gym kit to a weekend away after ducking out of the office early on a Friday, your newest work accessory should come with extra baggage and more to love.
05.
Get leathered
From left: Vetements runway, Paris, 17 January. Photograph by Mr Salvatore Dragone/IMAXtree. Givenchy runway, Paris, 16 January. Photograph by Mr Salvatore Dragone/IMAXtree. 1017 ALYX 9SM runway, Paris, 19 January. Photograph by Mr Alessandro Lucioni/IMAXtree
Leather is everywhere, and this season full leather suits appeared on the runways at 1017 ALYX 9SM and Berluti, trousers and all, so perhaps it’s time to crack out the talc à la Ross Geller. A less messy option, though, are leather jackets. Not the worn-out type of thing an ageing record shop owner might wear, but instead something sleek and structured to toughen up a tailored look. A leather jacket worn with a pair of work-appropriate trousers, as seen at Givenchy, is perhaps the most straightforward (and kind of adventurous) update a man can make this season.