I have a confession that I’m happy to admit with nary a wince of shame. Tallying up the contents of my closet, I count 48 pieces of leather outerwear. That includes top, over, wrap, pea, car, duffel, anorak, down and trench coats, in skins that have been waxed, quilted, buffed, fused, sueded, pebbled, burnished and distressed. Add to that an array of motorcycle, bomber, flight, racer, trucker, puffer and CPO jackets. Most of my collection is black, but colour extends to charcoal, chocolate, saddle, caramel, russet, oxblood and mustard.

With autumn now in full swing, our wardrobes have decisively transitioned into cold-months mode, with big coats and even bigger knits taking centre stage. This change in season has also paved the way for the strong return of heritage checked fabrics, as seen throughout the autumn/winter 2025 collections earlier this year. These much-loved, traditional cloths are full of character, pattern and colour. Their resurgence into the mainstream has helped usher the departure of the era of quiet luxury, which was defined by flat, understated fabrics in rich, subdued tones. For those who like clothes that have substance and charm, this should be welcome news.

These days, everyone is a curator. That’s as true of our tightly managed Instagram feeds – guilty! – as it is of the contents of our wardrobes. At MR PORTER, we’re no different. Which is why we like to keep a careful eye on the brands that we stock. Everything you see here on our virtual shelves has earnt its place. And while we’re a lot nicer about it than the bouncers at Berghain, we’re still pretty rigorous when it comes to our editing process. If your name’s not down, you’re not coming in.

Anyone who has felt the indulgent, silky embrace of cashmere will know that it rightly deserves its accolade as the king of yarns. And for the months when the mercury is southward-bound, it’s a warm, fuzzy antidote to any Arctic fronts that blow into town. Its wondrous ability to keep you snug as a bug is down to the hollow structure of the fibre, which traps myriad air particles, forming a body-heat-fuelled barrier against cold air. You are, essentially, your own self-contained central heating unit. As with all items of worth, cashmere requires due care to ensure it stays in shape. We’ve got the insider knowledge to keep your prized woollens in fine fettle.

I have a confession that I’m happy to admit with nary a wince of shame. Tallying up the contents of my closet, I count 48 pieces of leather outerwear. That includes top, over, wrap, pea, car, duffel, anorak, down and trench coats, in skins that have been waxed, quilted, buffed, fused, sueded, pebbled, burnished and distressed. Add to that an array of motorcycle, bomber, flight, racer, trucker, puffer and CPO jackets. Most of my collection is black, but colour extends to charcoal, chocolate, saddle, caramel, russet, oxblood and mustard.

With autumn now in full swing, our wardrobes have decisively transitioned into cold-months mode, with big coats and even bigger knits taking centre stage. This change in season has also paved the way for the strong return of heritage checked fabrics, as seen throughout the autumn/winter 2025 collections earlier this year. These much-loved, traditional cloths are full of character, pattern and colour. Their resurgence into the mainstream has helped usher the departure of the era of quiet luxury, which was defined by flat, understated fabrics in rich, subdued tones. For those who like clothes that have substance and charm, this should be welcome news.