THE JOURNAL
3 MINUTE READ
This Is The Suede Jacket You’re Looking For
Words by Chris Elvidge
Photography by Mr Daniel Benson
Styling by Mr Charlie Schneider
17 April 2023
Mr P.’s spring collection is starting to trickle in. And with the first arrivals now available to buy – exclusively at MR PORTER, we might add – you may be wondering where to start. Well, that’s where we come in. Rather than overwhelm you with choice, we thought we’d hone in on one particular item: this beautiful suede Harrington jacket. It’s a timeless piece given a luxurious makeover and we’ve used it here as the basis of an outfit loosely inspired by the codes of classic menswear.
“At Mr P., we’ve always favoured the ‘dressed-down tailoring, dressed-up sportswear’ approach,” says Mr Olie Arnold, MR PORTER’s Style Director and one of the design minds behind the in-house brand. “This season is no different. Shirts and ties are back – just make them less stuffy with a suede bomber.”
Fancy trying this one for yourself? Read on.
01.
The hero jacket
Taking the silhouette and details of a classic bomber jacket and adding just a sprinkle of luxury, this suede jacket is a real showpiece that’ll elevate any look this spring. “Suede is the perfect spring material as it can take multiple shades of colour and is equipped to cope with changeable weather,” says Arnold. “Just don’t wear out in the rain until you’ve applied ample suede protector.”
02.
The knit tie
With fewer guys obliged to wear a tie in the office these days, there’s a growing argument for introducing one into your off-duty wardrobe instead. Not only is it a fairly unique style move but it looks good, too. This one, in a knitted burgundy silk, is a versatile choice that you could just as easily wear to your next summer wedding.
03.
The corduroy trousers
Stuck in a blue-jeans rut? Corduroy is an easy way out. Another fabric with roots in heritage workwear, it’s is a touch smarter than denim but still relaxed enough to slot right into your casual weekend rotation. These straight-legged trousers by Mr P. are a particularly fine example, their wide wales lending them a tactile quality that contrasts nicely with the super-soft suede of the bomber jacket.
04.
The monk-strap shoes
There’s something inherently dandyish about the double monk-strap shoe, so it’s surprising in a way to see it sitting on the sort of chunky rubber sole you’d expect to see attached to a military boot. The result of this Frankensteinian experiment is the Olie, a shoe named after MR PORTER’s Style Director, which echoes the classic menswear inspirations at the heart of this outfit, but feels wholly contemporary, too.
05.
The cotton socks
It may seem like an insignificant detail, but a good pair of socks can make the difference between a great outfit and one that falls just short – especially when you’re wearing ankle-grazing trousers. This pair, knitted in Japan from a charcoal-grey cotton with just a hint of stretch, is a failsafe choice.
