When it comes to style, most guys can be divided up into two camps. On the one hand, there are those who like to break with convention. On the other, those who put their faith in what has gone before. At first glance, these two factions, the trendsetters and the traditionalists, couldn’t be more different. They do have a shared interest in looking their best, though, and in that sense they’re members of the same congregation. Here at MR PORTER, we preach a broad vision of style, and in that spirit our style editors have put together two outfits from opposing ends of the spectrum: one representing the very best in traditional menswear, the other showcasing the shape of things to come. Which one do you prefer?

If I’m going to splash out, I’m investing in pieces I’ll still be wearing five years from now.

There are few brands that produce casualwear as luxurious as TOM FORD. Though he is known for some of the, shall we say, more risqué fashion moments of the 1990s and early 2000s, his menswear would be right at home in a cigar club, or an extensive and very dark library. This cashmere and mohair-blend shawl-collar knit is a perfect example of such a piece. It’s low-key luxury at its finest.

The brand behind this particular grandad-collar shirt, Incotex, employs separate factories for each aspect of a man’s closet. In other words, shirts are made in shirt factories, trousers in trouser factories, and so on. Imagine that: craftsmen who specialise in just one thing. It’s as close to bespoke as you can get with off the peg. Oh, and this is just a great classic shirt, too.

Did you know that this print, also known as Glen plaid, originates in the 1840s and was popularised by the playboy prince himself, later King Edward VII (son of Queen Victoria)? It doesn’t get more old-school than that. Kiton, a Neapolitan tailoring brand, has updated the print in the form of slim-fit cashmere trousers that feel even better they look.

Chelsea boots can also be traced back to Victorian times – legend has it that the Queen’s shoemaker, Mr J Sparks-Hall, made them as a walking shoe for Her Majesty and she wore them daily. Nowadays, they’re as ubiquitous a menswear item as… actually, they might be the most popular shoe in existence. R.M.Williams makes a killer specimen, sporty and comfortable, but sleek enough to wear under suit trousers.

Sure, you can repurpose your gym bag or a canvas tote for a weekend away, but why do that when you can invest in a leather duffle that will only get better with age and thereby be enduring proof of the fun you’ve had. Berluti’s mahogany leather version is the ultimate buttery, luxurious thing in which to stash your underpants and socks. 

Hype might be often cast as fashion’s fickle, transient side, but it’s also about looking to the future.

A camp-collar shirt is an easy summer staple for pretty much any man, but splash it with tie-dye and it gets an instant update – see: this shirt from Valentino. Tie-dye has been one of the great enduring trends of the past few years, which, considering it was written off as nothing more than a hippie-throwback phase, is impressive. Hype that endures through its own hype without getting cannibalised by it? That’s called a future classic.

Layering a long-sleeved T-shirt under a shirt is a good styling cue to take if you want to smarten up a casual look, but still keep it streetwise (bonus points if the arms are printed). Neighborhood, for the uninitiated, is a Japanese streetwear stalwart, and its recent collaboration with the LA-based tattooist and graffiti artist Mr Cartoon is both fun and fresh.

Ah, Ms Prada. What you do with nylon, no other brand can match. The synthetic fabric, once more commonly seen on the backs of dowdy ramblers than on runways, has taken on a fashionable significance thanks to the Italian designer, and these cargo trousers are a great example. They’ll last forever, too.

These Track sneakers are very much in the school of “I shouldn’t want to wear them, but inexplicably I do” and you know what? I don’t regret it – people who hate on ugly sneakers have ugly hearts. To quote American Horror Story, my final words while dying on that hill are, of course: “Balenciagaaaaa!”

No hype-worthy look is complete without some sunglasses as chunky as your sneakers. This acetate example from Rhude is not style over substance, either; it was handcrafted in France from Mazzucchelli acetate.