Among the many outdated rules that we’ve since thrown out the window is the decree that a long-sleeved shirt should not be worn with shorts. For one thing, the window is open and our arms are cold. For another, just look at this guy. It helps that the shorts in question are mid-length rather than too short, and also that the shirt ­– camp-collar, floral pattern, with what looks like a chiffon layer – is as breezy as the gust through the aforementioned opening. Just add chunky Prada loafers, pulled up socks and, go on then, hands in pockets like you don’t give one.

If the recent resurgence of 1970s and 1980s style has taught us anything, it’s got to be that you don’t need a three-piece suit to look smart. This Art Basel attendee sums up the concept pretty well: high-waisted pleated trousers, a pair of apparently low-key, stacked-heel boots and a cropped boxy shirt. The stylish decades proved there’s no harm in showing skin, after all. Less is definitely more when it comes to a good set of accessories, and his gold bracelet and Cartier Tank combination is as close as it gets.

With vibrant colour palettes encompassing many of the artworks at this year’s exhibitions, this attendee’s choice in ensemble clearly shows they know the power of black. The generously proportioned jacket and pleated trousers keep both comfort and sophistication a priority – gallery gallivanting involves a lot of walking, after all. But it’s the accessories that make their certainly more subdued ensemble shine. The deep inky black hues of the Maison Margiela Tabi boots, mock-neck top and messenger bag help to break up the dark greys and retain an air of off-duty dressiness. Art may be subjective, but good tailoring isn’t.

Getting dressed a bit like assembling a meal: it’s all about balance. Just as top chefs will ensure their plate includes notes of saltiness, fatty richness and all-important umami, the truly well-dressed know that a thoughtful mishmash of styles and silhouettes adds flavour. Case in point: combining sportswear with suiting with a dash of Western and a sprinkling of womenswear sounds barmy on paper. But take a good look at our subject and tell us his slouchy rugby shirt and cropped trousers don’t round each other out nicely. Or that the “ladies’ bag” and cowboy boots aren’t a match made in heaven. And then just when everything was starting to feel a little too neutral, he’s gone ahead and garnished with a rainbow-coloured necklace for that final surprise factor. Michelin stars all round.

Mr Gustave Flaubert catalogued the most pervasive clichés of late 18th-century Parisian society in his Dictionnaire des Idées Reçues (“Dictionary Of Received Ideas”). Had he been alive to write the 21st-century edition, he may well have included the phrase “crisp white shirt”, for it is the accepted position in fashionable circles that all good white shirts must be as stiff and wrinkle-free as a new banknote. As this punter reminds us, though, we must always question received wisdom, especially in matters of style. His white shirt – billowing, oversized, totally unironed – is the very antithesis of crisp, lending his outfit an abstract top-half silhouette that’s complemented down below by the kind of super-flared denim that we haven’t seen since the days of nu metal. You just know he’s wearing DC skate shoes underneath.

This Neo-meets-Gorp ensemble is inherently simple, yet its subversive silhouettes make the fit interesting. The black shell bomber jacket’s cropped cut paired with the matching zip-up trousers mean this gentleman looks like he fell right out of a video game. Opting for a plain white T-shirt underneath is the perfect choice for maintaining focus on the jacket and trousers, and the chunky Balenciaga sneakers sit perfectly with the monochrome colourway. This K-pop idol-worthy look proves that utility wear is not going anywhere. If anything, it encourages us to have more fun with it.