Why velvet’s more casual cousin is making a comeback.

New York’s Fanmail is a brand that’s made a name for itself by offering exceptional versions of male wardrobe basics (exemplified in its brilliantly tactile slub hemp tees), and manufacturing them in as ethical and transparent a way as possible. For its latest exclusive capsule with MR PORTER, however, it’s got another talking point: velour. Yes, the fabric that once clothed Mr William Shatner in Star Trek (the original TV series) has been granted a stylish reincarnation by Fanmail’s designer Mr Charlie Morris as part of a collection of relaxed casualwear pieces with decidedly retro stylings. Given the rise and rise of vintage sportswear references in this and next season’s collections, the timing seems just about right. But in case you’re wondering, here’s how to wear it.

Velour might seem slightly scary to the uninitiated, but really it’s just one step sheenier than velvet and corduroy, and should be worn in a similar way – ie, not completely head to toe. In the above piece, velour is offered up in an easy-to-wear navy as part of a decidedly nostalgic design, featuring contrast burgundy ribbing at the sleeves and neckline. Given the vintage feel of the whole thing, it will work best with a pair of distressed jeans in a faded wash – try this pair from Saint Laurent with a pair of classic white Converse All Stars, and imagine yourself running about the set of Stranger Things.

Fanmail’s products, though visually on the pared-back side, reveal a wealth of detail when you actually get up close and touch them. A case in point is this new camp-collar shirt from the brand’s MR PORTER capsule, rendered in a crisp and beautifully textured cotton crepe fabric. Wear it over one of the brand’s slub hemp T-shirts – themselves imbued with an appealingly liquid feel thanks to the silky qualities of hemp fibre – and experience the joy of an outfit that feels as good as it looks.

Side-striped trousers are one of MR PORTER’s key pieces for the AW16 season, and look set to continue their upward climb in the SS17 collections, thanks to the abundance of retro sportswear references contained therein. The above pair, in an understated olive with khaki stripes, represent an opportune chance to get in on the action early (perhaps as you pad around the house this holiday). Work with their leafy, autumnal colour scheme by pairing them with a pair of classic skate shoes in a caramel colour from Californian institution Vans.