Buyers Guide
We’ve asked the top buyers at Britain’s best retailers both online and off-line their top picks of the season. These are the must-have pieces from the people who decide what you get to buy.
Buyer's Guide - Cruise - SS 13
Deborah Gale, Head Buyer at Cruise Fashion
“A pattern blazer is the perfect way to add a touch of flair to any outfit, this striped jacket from cult Japanese label Edifice takes its influence from classic Ivy League styling, and can be employed as a statement accompaniment that will certainly turn a few respecting heads this Summer”.
Left - Edifice - Sea Green Border Jacket - £330
“This all over dot shirt is sure to pop out from under any outfit. Christophe Lemaire for Bean Pole is powerhouse collaboration between Korean label Bean Pole, and the Artistic Director of Hermes; this clean and functional dot dash print shirt is made from lightweight printed cotton poplin, which makes it an ideal choice for Summer”.
Below - Bean Pole X Christophe Lemaire - All Over Dot White Shirt - £330
“If you are in need of a suit to herald the arrival of Summer wedding season, look no further than this light blue hued three-piece suit from renowned German designers Hugo Boss. The Hold Genius suit is woven from a soft virgin wool & mohair blend that lends itself perfectly to any formal Summer occasion; if you really want to exude effortless sartorial style, pair with a printed tie and bold-coloured pocket square”.
Left - Hugo Boss Black - Light Blue Three-Piece Hold Genius Suit - £630
“In my opinion, jeans are one of the most problematic items of clothing to purchase; thankfully help is at hand in the form of these dark blue denim jeans from Paul Smith. Not too skinny or baggy to alienate wearers of a particular age-group, and fitted enough to be flattering for most body types; the tapered fit makes them ideal for both smart and casual ensembles, and the indigo wash means your jeans will begin to develop their own character over time - my jeans have a perfectly-formed outline of my phone in the coin pocket!”.
Left - Paul Smith - Tapered Fit Rinse Wash Blue Denim Jeans - £119
“Everyone has cottoned on to the Wayfarer, Clubmaster and Aviator trend now, and I reckon rounded frames are going to be huge this Summer. These Timeless frames from Han Kjøbenhavn are inspired by classic silhouettes from the 50’s & 60’s, and the acetate ‘Army’ frame is sure to garner plenty of admiring looks from passers-by whenever the sun is shining”.
Han Kjøbenhavn - Timeless Army Sunglasses - £125
Buyer's Guide - ASOS - SS 13
John Bright, Buying Manager, ASOS
"Classic vintage washed denim jackets fit and look great. Either hunt down a vintage Levi's one or go for this Edwin version...Denim jackets are also a perfect jacket for a UK Spring".
Left - Edwin - Denim Jacket Bronco Blurred Wash - £130
"The military look is all over the catwalks again, these ASOS cargo trousers are a great way to reference the trend".
Below - ASOS - Cargo Trouser - £30
"It's been about Vans for the last few seasons, but I’m into my Converse Hi Tops again. Really versatile & look better the more they are worn".
Left - Converse - All Star Hi Plimsolls - £50
"I’m moving away from skinny jeans and back into a good fitting slim jeans. Selvedge denim wears in perfectly & looks best when rolled".
Left - ASOS - Slim Selvedge Jean - £40
"Loads of choice this season in T-shirts – from all over prints to simple slogans. I wanted this Wood Wood T-shirt as soon as I saw it".
Left - Wood Wood - T-Shirt with 'I Was There' Print - £40
Men's Fashion - Buyer's Guide - The Unconventional - SS 13
Sean Ward, Owner/Buyer, the unconventional
"No life is complete without a piece of Sibling knitwear, this lightweight arabesque gold biker jacket is my stand out piece for the season."
Left - Sibling - Arabesque Knitted Bike Jacket - £350
"The perfect Summer jacket, Exclusively created for the unconventional, this translucent rubber trench coat by Passarella Death Squad certainly awakens the senses."
Below - Passarella Death Squad - Black Rep Jacket - £500
"The Oxford shirt is a wardrobe staple, this panelled Oxford by tobefrank offers a unique twist with its detachable collar and light grey panels."
Left - tobefrank - Panelled Oxford Shirt - £215
"Joseph Turvey is making a lot of noise with his current collections and as printed T-shirts go, this illustrated tee is my pick of the bunch, a strong print on a heavy weighted cotton tee, perfect for the British Summer."
Below - Joseph Turvey - Yellow Gingham Face Illustrated T-shirt - £124
"A modern take on the gentleman's sandal, a versatile Summer shoe with the ability to be dressed up or down. The soft leather upper and foam platform sole add extra comfort."
Left - Julian Zigerli - Natural Wave Sandals - £235
Men's Fashion - Buyer's Guide - Mr Porter - SS 13
Terry Betts, Buying Manager for MRPORTER.COM
"We’re delighted to welcome Ann Demuelemeester to our designer offering for this season. Followers of Ann over the years will have long admired her trademark gothic-inspired pieces, but this season’s collection saw her opening up to print and colour, giving it a whole new feeling."
Left - Ann Demeulemeester - Printed Cotton Jacket - £550
"I used to always buy my Garrett Leights on Abbott & Kinney in Venice so I’m very happy we stock these on MR PORTER now. I like the vintage tech vibe of the detachable feature."
Left - Garrett Leight - Hampton Detatchable Front Glasses - £225
"The Sibling team are three of my favourite people in the industry and theirs was one of the best shows on the London Collections:Men schedule. Sid, Joe and Cozette created this cardigan exclusively for MR PORTER."
Left - Sibling - Leopard Print Cardigan - £205
"The masters of fabric innovation, Kolor’s new take on the sweatpant is the perfect summer dressdown trouser."
Right - Kolor - Panelled Trousers - £465
"Marsell is one of the most interesting footwear brands on MR PORTER in terms of the research and treatment of the leather, and the production of these boots is incredible. These are handcrafted in Italy."
Below - Marsell - Leather Chukka Boots - £480