BLAZE OF GLORY

Max Halton, general manager of Grey Flannel, on a jacket inspired by Harrison Ford

For almost 50 years, Grey Flannel has informed and inspired men. We’ve been on Chiltern Street since 1974, making us the street’s longest-standing independent menswear shop. We were one of the first stores to introduce brands like Stone Island, C.P. Company and Armani to London, thanks to our founder Richard Froomberg, who was one of London’s independent retail pioneers and scoured the globe for clothes that would excite his customers. Now retired, Richard has passed the torch to renowned tailor Timothy Everest to continue that legacy.

The Ford blazer has become one of our recent staples. For the past eight months it has been proven really popular among both new and regular customers. Inspired by – and named for –the iconic travel jacket worn by Harrison Ford in Paris in the late 1970s – just after the first Star Wars and just before he became Indiana Jones – it is a two-button regular-fitting jacket made from a robust virgin wool. The paisley lining and relaxed style make it the perfect all-rounder, which can be worn from a board meeting during the day through to sipping a cocktail at the Chiltern Firehouse, without ever looking out of place.

It can be worn casually with a pair of jeans, polo shirt and trainers, or dressed up with a pair of flannel trousers, roll-neck sweater and pair of loafers. I own this blazer myself, and I can confirm that it’s a very versatile piece!

GREY FLANNEL

7 Chiltern Street, W1U 7PE greyflannel.co.uk

MEN’S TRAINERS

Long gone are the days when men wore trainers to train in, loafers to loaf in, slippers to snooze in and smart shoes for everything else. Now it’s the trainer for all of the above and more. Even a suit with trainers, once a sartorially criminal combination, has become acceptable – even de rigeur. And you can see why. Not only are trainers fundamentally more comfortable to walk in and wear than other shoes, they now boast an infinite variety. There are smart trainers, sports trainers, slim trainers, statement trainers, perennial trainers, and trainers for each season. All you have to do is choose them. Here are three of our Marylebone favourites.

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A classically designed tennis shoe which is probably best worn off the court, given the swishy suede material. Indeed, Sunspel describes it as a “versatile everyday sneaker that makes a relaxed shoe for travelling”, and one could easily imagine wearing these on a train from St Pancras down to the sun-dappled banks of the Seine. The sole is lightweight, the insole is cushioned and the upper is 100 per cent suede, beautifully crafted in Portugal.

Bryceland’s & Co

Founded by Hong Kong businessman Kenji Cheung and Australian-born, Tokyo-based designer Ethan Newton, Bryceland’s & Co is the latest high-quality menswear brand to arrive on Chiltern Street. With typical self-deprecation, the Bryceland’s look was described by Ethan in an interview with The Rake, as an “Australian’s interpretation of British, Continental and American clothing, presented with an attempt to match the Japanese refinement of retail presentation!” The clothes are classical in construction but distinctive in look; robust and unfussy but not without a touch of elegance.

BRYCELAND’S & CO 48 Chiltern Street, W1U 7QS brycelandsco.com

Spring is coming. No really, it is – making white trainers a less foolish and more viable option. These are some of the best: designed by Cheaney in collaboration with Goral, an 80-year-old shoe manufacturers based in Sheffield. Now in the hands of a fourth generation, Goral’s attention to detail is unchanged – even when crafting a trainer which in style and use is the height of modernity.

When spring does come, so alas will the rain. Indeed, in Britain it never really stops. That’s why sustainable shoe brand Allbirds made the Mizzle especially for the UK market. The Merino wool is both comfortable and – thanks to its puddle guard technology – waterproof. They grip well even when London’s streets are slippery and wet. They come in a jolly array of colours, and without a guilty conscience, being carbon neutral and made from materials that are either recycled, sustainably sourced or plant based.

Early Spring Cool