The Essentials

THE BLACK DRESS

There’s a list of credentials that go hand-in-hand with the black cocktail dress and it’s endless, but the key to finding the perfect piece is to keep things simple. There’s an unseasonal fascination to no-fuss silhouettes that fuse wearability with something altogether feminine and allow for styling experimentation in other areas. With a hero piece like this in your wardrobe, that pre-event outfit panic will become a distant memory.

THE TAILORED TROUSERS

Tailoring – and perhaps more importantly tailored trousers – hold a place in every capsule wardrobe edit but it’s time to cast your thoughts away from wearing them as part of the suit and think more openly. Classic slim-leg styles are crisp, minimal and versatile, going so much further than the boardroom and taking on a whole new aesthetic when styled causally. Think outside the box and prove that these hitlist non-movers have got legs.

THE DOUBLE-BREASTED BLAZER

The blazer has forever held prominence in the capsule wardrobe round-up but the silhouette in question has become more specific of late and it’s now double-breasted designs in particular that we trust to go the distance. Cuts that play with proportion make the strongest statement; structured shoulders, longline silhouettes and lapels in varying degrees of impact, for example, each add something distinctive to the look. Opt for styles that hint at masculinity for a modern take on power dressing.

THE SILK SHIRT

If there’s a single style that epitomises the idea of timeless simplicity, it’s the silk shirt. Sitting somewhere between elegant and effortless and best worn oversized, it’s the style’s premium fabrication that works to promote even the most understated of silhouettes. Muted hues will translate seamlessly between seasons, lend themselves well to just about any styling iteration and place further focus on texture, resulting in a modern, minimalistic look that you can depend upon whatever the occasion.

THE PERFECT JEANS

Denim is a dependable option and when imagined in saturated black, the traditional working man’s fabrication takes on a newly polished iteration that’s just as well suited to dinner plans as it is to the weekend. The secret to finding the right pair for you? It’s all in the fit. From shape to rise, hardware to fabrication, there’s a host of details that combine to make up every pair of jeans which we outline in our Denim Fit Guide.

THE CASHMERE KNIT

Not just for layering but a statement in itself, the cashmere knit is the ultimate capsule wardrobe hero and the kind of investment you can turn to on those inevitable ‘nothing-to-wear’ days come autumn. Luxury is the key to longevity here and pure cashmere and merino wool iterations offer a sumptuous riff on the classic silhouettes that should hold pride of place in your cold-weather collection (read; roll-necks, oversized cuts and longline cardigans).  

THE CLASSIC COAT

There’s always glamour in an oversized coat so whether you like to cocoon yourself in voluminous silhouettes or prefer something a little more sleek, it’s mid-length designs that will elevate your winter looks more significantly than any other, minimal effort required. Navy and black hold undeniable timelessness but they aren’t the only choices. Cast your thoughts to soft camel and khaki tones to take a fresh approach to the look.