Esquire Promotion for M&S
The foundation of good st yle? Statement staples that will outlive ephemeral trends
Oversized tailoring. Harnesses. The Balenciaga Triple S. When you’re in the grip of a good trend, nothing can convince you that it won’t last. But, inevitably, what goes up in cachet must come down, and paying too close attention to what’s in vogue can start to feel like being on a very expensive, albeit thrilling, hamster wheel.
Instead of endlessly chasing that buzz, it’s far better to put your focus and hard-earned cash into pieces that will feel as fresh in five years as they do right now. This doesn’t mean ignoring what’s popular completely and living a life of tasteful drabness. Instead, it’s about creating a solid foundation of style that you can build on — in a variety of ways.
“Staples are the foundation of a modern man’s wardrobe,” says Mitch Hughes, who was appointed menswear director at M&S last year, and is now working with the team on a push to become a genuine menswear challenger. Having “invested heavily in understanding the M&S customer”, the focus is to take the high-street giant in a more confident, contemporary direction, fuelled by a distinctive new Menswear campaign — the first for eight years — which is “bold, disruptive and visually arresting”.
Hughes says that a good menswear staple “transcends casual into smart”, and should work with items you already own. Basics that are more neutral in colour are an obvious starting point because they can easily coordinate with prints, bolder shades and more trend-driven styles. “To increase the longevity of these pieces, I’d always recommend investing in styles made from classic, quality fabrics with a premium aesthetic to really elevate your outfit,” he adds. “One example would be our Autograph Supima Cotton T-shirt. It’s superb value at £20.”
One of the standouts of the Autumn/Winter 2023 M&S menswear collection is a simple twopiece suit with a slight Scandi feel. Cut in a deep green fabric, it’s a welcome change from the predictable navy or blue. It’s a subtle nod to this season’s trends, but with the sort of minimalist feel that feels permanently contemporary, and works for dress codes of all sorts.
“We chose this shade specifically as it feels understated, premium and adaptable,” Hughes explains. “I’ve worn it myself with a
