CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

There is something rather satisfying about September. The mornings are a little crisper, the evenings begin to draw in and, after the relative chaos of summer, life starts to find its rhythm again. And for the well-dressed man, it is also the perfect excuse to take another look at the wardrobe.

Not necessarily to buy a completely new one.

In fact, quite the opposite.

The smartest autumn wardrobe is built around a handful of dependable pieces that can earn their keep. Shirts that can be worn solo or layered. Trousers that work just as well away from the office. Knitwear that can be thrown on when the temperature drops. And a good pair of shoes capable of navigating that increasingly blurred line between smart and casual.

It is less about following the latest trend and more about getting the foundations right.

Brook Taverner’s latest guide to the new season takes precisely this approach, highlighting some of the key pieces that can make the transition from summer into autumn a rather more stylish affair.

1. Start with a shirt that earns its place

The humble shirt remains one of the hardest-working pieces in any man’s wardrobe.

The trick for autumn is choosing something with a little more substance and character than the lightweight cotton shirts that have carried you through summer. Look for interesting textures and fabrics that can be worn on their own while the weather remains relatively kind, but equally comfortably beneath knitwear, tailoring or a jacket once things turn colder.

Brook Taverner’s Regular Fit Air Force Blue Cotton Needlecord Shirt ticks plenty of those boxes.

The needlecord texture gives what could otherwise be a straightforward blue shirt a little more personality, while the cotton construction keeps it comfortable enough for a full day. Wear it with chinos and loafers for the office, or leave the tie and tailoring at home and pair it with denim at the weekend.

That is the kind of versatility a September wardrobe should be built around.

2. Find trousers that can escape the office

There was a time when chinos occupied a rather specific position somewhere between jeans and formal trousers.

Thankfully, those days are gone.

A well-cut chino is now one of the most useful pieces a man can own, particularly when the brief is smart enough for Monday morning but relaxed enough for Friday evening.

Brook Taverner’s Regular Fit Bolt Teal Italian Fine Twill Stretch Cotton Chinos offer a welcome alternative to the seemingly endless parade of navy, beige and stone.

The flat-front design keeps things neat and contemporary, while the fine twill fabric provides a little more refinement than your average chino. There is also stretch in the cotton and a comfort waistband, which is exactly the sort of practical detail you appreciate after a long day.

And then there is the colour.

Teal is distinctive without being difficult. Wear it with a pale blue or white shirt, a navy crew neck and brown leather shoes, or take things in a more relaxed direction with knitwear and suede.

The point is simple: your trousers should work harder than your commute.

3. Get serious about knitwear

September is when knitwear comes into its own.

It is not quite cold enough to reach for the heavy winter coat, but there are mornings when leaving the house in nothing more than a shirt suddenly feels rather optimistic.

This is where the trusty jumper earns its place.

Brook Taverner’s Rooth Blue Chunky Lambswool Crew Neck Jumper brings some welcome texture to the autumn wardrobe while providing warmth without the bulk of heavier winter knitwear. The blue is equally useful, sitting comfortably alongside navy, grey, denim and the more earthy tones that naturally creep into an autumn wardrobe.

For something a little more sophisticated, however, the roll neck remains difficult to beat.

Brook Taverner’s Navy Cashmere Roll Neck Jumper, made from 100% Mongolian cashmere, is the sort of piece that can instantly make an outfit feel more considered. Keep it simple with tailored trousers and loafers, or layer it beneath an unstructured blazer for an effortlessly smarter take on autumn dressing.

And unlike some seasonal purchases, good knitwear has the advantage of looking better when it becomes familiar.

4. Finish the look with the right shoes

Finally, there is the footwear.

The arrival of autumn doesn’t mean every man needs to immediately reach for heavy boots. There is still plenty of mileage in smarter, lighter footwear, particularly during those transitional weeks when the weather can’t quite decide what season it is.

Boat shoes are particularly good at occupying that smart-casual middle ground.

Brook Taverner’s Loake Sardina Light Blue Suede Boat Shoes offer a softer, more relaxed finish, with a suede upper and durable rubber sole making them a practical choice for everyday wear.

The light blue is also a refreshing departure from the usual brown or navy, working particularly well with chinos, lightweight trousers and denim.

The September rule

Perhaps the most useful approach to the September wardrobe is to resist the temptation to overcomplicate things.

You don’t need an entirely new wardrobe simply because the calendar has changed.

Instead, look for pieces that can work together, layer easily and move comfortably between the different demands of modern life. A textured shirt, a versatile pair of chinos, quality knitwear and a dependable pair of shoes can provide the foundations for considerably more outfits than their individual price tags might suggest.

Because good menswear isn’t really about having more clothes.

It’s about having better options.

And as we head into autumn, that’s a pretty good place to start.

Few ingredients in perfumery carry quite the mystique of oud. Often described as ‘black gold’, this rare and precious wood has an extraordinary depth, revealing smoky, animalic, honeyed, floral and even fruity facets depending on its origin and treatment.

For Francis Kurkdjian, oud has long represented something more than simply another ingredient. It is a material with history, complexity and an almost instinctive sensuality — qualities that have made it central to his exploration of contemporary French perfumery.

His fascination with oud began to take a more definitive form in 2012, when he introduced a distinctive interpretation of the material into the fragrance wardrobe of Maison Francis Kurkdjian. Rather than attempting to reproduce the traditional Eastern interpretation of oud, Kurkdjian sought to explore its rougher, more sensual characteristics through the lens of a Parisian perfumer.

That philosophy has since developed into the Maison’s OUD collection, where the richness of oud is explored through the language of texture and fabric.

OUD silk mood introduced the crispness of raw silk, while OUD satin mood explored the fluidity and sensuality of satin. Now, OUD velvet mood turns its attention to something softer, warmer and more tactile: velvet.

From the Desert to the Bottle

The inspiration behind OUD velvet mood comes from an unexpected place: the desert landscapes of Liwa in the United Arab Emirates.

During a visit to the region, Kurkdjian was struck by the vastness of the landscape — endless horizons, shifting dunes and the extraordinary contrast between the scale of the desert and the intimate, tactile quality of the sand beneath his feet.

It was this contrast that became the starting point for the fragrance.

The idea is not to recreate the smell of the desert literally, but rather to capture its sensation. Warmth. Softness. Texture. Skin. Movement.

OUD velvet mood therefore takes the powerful character of oud and surrounds it with softer, more tactile elements, creating a fragrance that feels less like a traditional interpretation of oud and more like an exploration of its sensual side.

At its heart, the fragrance combines the raw character of oud wood with a textured peach note, introducing a subtle sweetness and unexpected brightness. Osmanthus brings leathery and apricot nuances, while a supple suede accord adds to the impression of warm skin.

The result is an oud that feels contemporary rather than austere — rich and enveloping, but with an almost intimate quality.

What makes OUD velvet mood particularly interesting is the way Kurkdjian continues to reinterpret a historically significant ingredient through a distinctly French perspective.

Oud has deep cultural roots across the Middle East and Asia and has become increasingly prominent within Western fragrance over recent decades. Yet rather than simply adopting its traditional codes, Kurkdjian treats it as raw material to be explored, balanced and transformed.

That approach is central to his wider creative philosophy: bringing together exceptional ingredients from around the world and shaping them through the discipline, refinement and heritage of French perfumery.

In OUD velvet mood, the contrast between rough and soft becomes the defining characteristic. The intensity of oud meets peach, osmanthus and suede, creating something that is both powerful and intimate.

It is perhaps best understood not simply as another oud fragrance, but as an exercise in texture.

Where silk glides and satin flows, velvet invites you to touch it. And that sense of touch is ultimately what OUD velvet mood seeks to capture — the warmth of sun-soaked sand, the softness of skin and the sensuality of something experienced slowly rather than simply observed.

For those already familiar with Francis Kurkdjian’s work, it represents another chapter in his continuing exploration of oud. For anyone discovering the material for the first time, it offers a more contemporary and tactile introduction to one of perfumery’s most intriguing ingredients.

Workwear has officially clocked off. Once reserved for the job site, carpenter trousers, chore jackets, utility vests and heavy-duty boots have become unlikely staples of the modern wardrobe, bringing practicality and purpose firmly into everyday dressing.

What was once worn because it had a job to do is now being worn because it looks the part, too. And while the fashion world has embraced the aesthetic, the appeal of workwear goes deeper than simply looking rugged.

For CAT Footwear, this is hardly a new territory. With its heritage rooted in workwear and footwear engineered around durability, comfort and function, CAT has been making the products that define the look long before workwear became a fashion trend.

Today, the distinction between workwear and streetwear is becoming increasingly difficult to define. Consumers are looking beyond clothes that simply look good, instead seeking pieces that earn their place in the wardrobe — footwear and clothing that are durable, versatile and capable of doing more.

That shift has helped transform the humble work boot from a purely functional necessity into a cornerstone of contemporary style. Paired with relaxed denim, carpenter trousers or even more refined everyday pieces, its appeal now extends far beyond the workplace.

The same can be said for utility dressing more broadly. Practical pockets, hard-wearing fabrics, sturdy construction and functional silhouettes have all found a place in modern fashion, proving that practicality and style no longer need to exist at opposite ends of the wardrobe.

And perhaps that is why workwear continues to resonate. Unlike trends that arrive and disappear with the seasons, it is built around something rather more enduring: clothes designed to work.

For CAT Footwear, the movement represents less a new fashion phenomenon and more a recognition of something the brand has understood for decades. When clothing and footwear are designed with purpose, durability and everyday functionality at their core, they don’t need to follow fashion — fashion eventually comes to them.

Workwear hasn’t simply entered the everyday wardrobe. It has helped redefine what we expect from it.

As hybrid working continues to reshape the way we live, the home office has evolved from a temporary necessity into a permanent fixture of modern interiors. Yet for many households, creating a productive workspace remains a challenge. Few homes were originally designed with dedicated offices in mind, meaning spare corners, bedroom alcoves and living room walls are increasingly being asked to work harder than ever before.

Fortunately, effective home working no longer requires sacrificing style for practicality. SCHMIDT’s latest collection of made-to-measure office solutions demonstrates how thoughtful design can transform even the most challenging spaces into productive, elegant environments tailored to modern life.

Whether you’re looking to carve out a quiet corner for focused work, create a shared workspace for two, or simply bring greater organisation to your daily routine, these are the home office trends defining 2026.

The Bedroom Desk Nook

Not everyone has the luxury of a dedicated study, making the bedroom one of the most popular locations for a home workspace. The challenge, however, lies in creating an area that feels purposeful during working hours while maintaining the sense of calm and relaxation essential to a bedroom.

SCHMIDT’s bespoke bedroom desk solutions achieve precisely that balance. Designed to fit seamlessly against walls and within alcoves, these made-to-measure desks maximise every available centimetre while incorporating practical storage that keeps clutter hidden from view.

Available in an extensive range of finishes, from warm timber tones to contemporary matt neutrals, the result is a workspace that feels integrated rather than improvised, complementing the room’s overall design while providing everything needed for a productive working day.

The Living Room Study

As home working becomes increasingly integrated into daily life, the office has moved beyond the spare room and into the social heart of the home.

SCHMIDT’s striking Botanic Black living room concept embraces this shift, seamlessly combining workspace and living space through fitted furniture that serves multiple purposes. A bespoke desk is integrated into a wider storage and display system, creating a sophisticated focal point that functions equally well for work and leisure.

Thoughtfully designed shelving, concealed storage and a built-in reading bench contribute to an environment that feels curated rather than corporate. The result is a workspace that disappears into the wider interior when the laptop closes, allowing the room to retain its character while supporting modern working habits.

The Corner Office

Some of the most effective workspaces emerge from the most overlooked areas of the home.

SCHMIDT’s Box Office concept transforms unused corners into highly functional workstations through intelligent, made-to-measure design. By wrapping bespoke cabinetry around the workspace, the solution creates a dedicated working environment without demanding significant floor space.

Open shelving, integrated storage compartments and overhead units ensure everything has its place, while maintaining a compact footprint ideal for apartments, smaller homes and multi-functional rooms.

For homeowners seeking to maximise every square metre, it offers a compelling example of how clever design can unlock hidden potential within existing spaces.

Dual Desks for Shared Households

With more couples and families embracing flexible working patterns, demand for shared home office environments continues to grow.

SCHMIDT’s dual-desk concept responds with a workspace designed specifically for two. Symmetrical layouts create visual harmony, while dedicated storage zones ensure each user has their own organised area for documents, technology and everyday essentials.

Integrated shelving and concealed storage maintain a clean, uncluttered aesthetic, while a wide selection of finishes allows the workspace to blend naturally into the surrounding interior.

The result is a practical solution that supports productivity without compromising on design, making it ideal for households where multiple people regularly work from home.

Smart Storage: The Secret to Every Great Workspace

While desk design often takes centre stage, it is intelligent storage that ultimately determines how well a home office functions.

Across every SCHMIDT design, thoughtful storage solutions form the foundation of a productive environment. Bespoke wall units conceal paperwork, integrated cable management eliminates visual clutter, and carefully planned drawer systems keep everyday essentials organised and accessible.

Open niches provide space for books, decorative objects and personal touches, ensuring workspaces feel welcoming and individual rather than purely functional.

Perhaps most importantly, every solution is made to measure, allowing SCHMIDT to accommodate the realities of British homes, including sloping ceilings, awkward alcoves, narrow rooms and unconventional layouts that standard furniture often struggles to address.

The Final Word

The future of home working is no longer about finding space for a desk. It is about designing environments that support productivity while enhancing the way we live.

SCHMIDT’s latest home office concepts demonstrate how bespoke furniture can transform bedrooms, living rooms, unused corners and shared spaces into beautifully considered work environments tailored to individual lifestyles. By combining intelligent storage, thoughtful design and made-to-measure craftsmanship, these solutions prove that working from home can be every bit as stylish as it is practical.

For those preparing to settle back into post-summer routines, it may be time to rethink what a home office can be.

Every season the fashion world tells us what’s next for men’s hair. But, which of those trends will actually make it off the runway and into the barber’s chair?

While some men will claim not to notice the trends from the shows, the looks have a habit of filtering down into everyday life. And few people see that happen in real time better than Guray Kesman, founder of Kesman Male Grooming. With two busy London barbershops, one in Victoria and one in Farringdon, Guray is on the frontline of where catwalk trends meet the man on the street.

Day in, day out, he sees which looks clients are genuinely asking for, which runway looks have real staying power, and which don’t. From softer fades and effortless texture to the growing confidence around colour, Guray shares the AW26 hair trends he believes will genuinely resonate this autumn, and which are likely to stay exactly where they belong.

1. The Undone Crop

“The big shift this season is away from anything that looks too finished. Soft, natural movement is what’s coming up again and again, and it’s exactly what I’m seeing requested in the barbershop too. Men don’t want a cut that only works for the first hour after they leave the chair. They want something with texture built in, so it still looks good on day three.”

2. The Rumpled Barnet

“There’s a real ‘bed-head’ energy about this season, hair that looks like you’ve barely touched it, even though it’s taken real skill to get there. Clients are asking for that same effortless look. It’s a harder cut to execute than it looks. Getting hair to fall naturally, rather than sit stiffly, takes a proper technique.”

3. The Matte Reset

“Shine had a moment for years, but matte is what men are asking for now. It reads as more grown-up and less try-hard. I’ve changed what I reach for on the finishing side because of it.”

4. The Bold Tint

“There’s a real confidence coming through around colour this season, nothing subtle about it. I’m not seeing men asking for anything too extreme just yet, but there’s definitely more openness to it generally, whether that’s a client wanting to cover grey with more warmth, or someone genuinely wanting to experiment for the first time.”

5. The European Flow

“This continues to be one of the biggest men’s hairstyle trends this season, thanks to its effortless movement, natural texture, and versatility. With soft layers and a relaxed finish, it suits a wide range of hair types and can be styled casually for everyday wear or refined for a more polished look. It’s the perfect choice for anyone wanting a modern hairstyle that looks stylish without trying too hard.”

6. The Braided Edit

“Braiding has become a real point of interest this season, and it’s a good reminder to clients that texture and detail aren’t off limits for men. It’s not something everyone will take to the barbershop, but it’s opened up more conversations about texture work generally.”

7. The Soft Fade

“There’s been a shift away from razor-sharp, high-contrast fades towards something softer and more blended. It’s a small technical change, but it changes the whole feel of a cut. Combined with more length on top, it’s giving men a much softer, more natural overall shape than we were seeing a couple of years ago.”

8. The Easy Edit

“Whatever’s driving the trends this season, the real priority for most men walking into a barbershop is still ease. And this season is actually good news on that front. Natural texture and softer fades genuinely need less daily effort than the sharp, sculpted looks that were popular before. It’s a season where looking current and looking after yourself line up.”