CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

The return to the office brings with it all the usual wardrobe considerations: polished shoes, pressed shirts, a decent haircut and, of course, the morning application of fragrance. But while most of us understand the basics of office dress codes, the rules surrounding scent are rather less clearly defined.

How much fragrance is too much? Where should you apply it? And is there such a thing as a fragrance that is better suited to the workplace?

With shared workspaces, meeting rooms and increasingly busy offices bringing us back into close proximity with colleagues, fragrance etiquette is worth considering. After all, perfume is personal, but its impact isn’t necessarily confined to the person wearing it.

The golden rule is perhaps best summed up by Christopher Dunn, Brand Manager at British fine fragrance house Czech & Speake: “A fragrance buyer once said to me that they work on the basis that one should wear enough fragrance for the person you are talking with to notice, not the entire office or department, and I think that is very good advice.”

It is a particularly useful distinction. Fragrance should be discovered rather than announced. If colleagues can smell you from several desks away, you’ve probably crossed the line from subtle signature to olfactory occupation.

Application plays its part, too. Pulse points such as the wrists and neck remain traditional choices, while a light application to the chest can allow the fragrance to develop more discreetly throughout the day. The key is restraint. Unlike a night out, where a more pronounced fragrance can have its place, the office is a shared environment, and not everyone will necessarily appreciate the same scent.

That makes the character of the fragrance important. Fresh citrus, aromatic, woody and clean compositions can often feel particularly appropriate for professional settings, offering a sense of polish without dominating the room. Heavier oud, intense amber, rich gourmand or heavily projecting compositions aren’t necessarily off limits, but they demand a lighter hand.

There is also something to be said for understanding the environment. An expansive private office gives you rather more freedom than a tightly packed open-plan workspace, while air-conditioned meeting rooms and confined spaces can make an otherwise moderate fragrance seem considerably more powerful.

For Dunn, the simplest test is also perhaps the most effective: “If you notice a fragrance before you see the person wearing it, then they are probably wearing too much or the fragrance is too strong.”

Czech & Speake provides an interesting case study in how fragrance can become part of a personal signature without necessarily being overwhelming. The British fragrance house has built a reputation around distinctive, sophisticated blends, with its iconic No.88 becoming particularly associated with the late Ozzy Osbourne, who reportedly wore the fragrance for more than three decades.

Beyond personal fragrance, the house has also extended some of its signature scents into home fragrance and, more recently, hand and body washes, demonstrating how a particular scent profile can become part of a wider sensory identity.

Ultimately, good office fragrance etiquette isn’t about following a rigid rulebook. It is about awareness. Fragrance should complement your presence rather than precede it, and the best scent for the workplace is arguably the one that makes someone sitting next to you think, “That smells good,” rather than wondering who has emptied half a bottle of aftershave into the lift.

The office may have changed considerably in recent years, but one rule remains timeless: leave enough of a scent to be remembered, without leaving the entire department needing to remember it.

The North Face and Aimé Leon Dore return for a second season, blending alpine performance, 90s nostalgia and New York attitude across a 30-piece Fall/Winter 2026 collection.

What happens when one of the world’s most recognisable outdoor brands meets one of New York’s coolest purveyors of modern menswear?

For a second season, The North Face and Aimé Leon Dore are bringing the mountains to the city, combining The North Face’s technical expertise with Aimé Leon Dore’s distinctly New York perspective.

The result is a 30-piece capsule that revisits some of The North Face’s most recognisable styles while introducing a handful of new silhouettes, all with a healthy dose of 90s outdoor nostalgia.

And, importantly, this isn’t performance clothing pretending to be fashion. It still has a job to do.

Alpine heritage, New York attitude

The appeal of the collaboration lies in the contrast.

The North Face has spent decades developing kit for genuinely demanding environments. Aimé Leon Dore has built its reputation around a romanticised vision of New York, blending sport, street culture and considered menswear.

Together, the two create something that feels equally at home on a mountain trail or a city street.

The collection revisits The North Face icons including the Nuptse, Mountain Jacket and Denali, while introducing new pieces such as a Fleece Rugby and Ballistic Tech Vest, the latter drawing inspiration from the utility gear of the 1990s.

It’s nostalgia without the costume drama.

Technical by design

For the first time since 2019, GORE-TEX® returns to a The North Face collaboration, bringing genuine weather protection to the collection.

The Mountain Jacket 2000 is constructed from seam-sealed three-layer GORE-TEX, while the Pertex Nuptse adds a hood and reversible construction alongside Cloud Down insulation.

These aren’t simply archive pieces given a fashionable makeover. The technical credentials remain firmly intact, which is precisely what makes the collaboration work.

The design might get you noticed, but the technology is there to get you through the weather.

From the trail to the street

The collection also extends into footwear, with the Base Camp Mule offering a more relaxed approach and the Verto Alpine GORE-TEX® Hiking Shoe providing a more technical option.

Accessories include the familiar Base Camp Duffel, alongside caps, scarves and gloves, completing a collection that covers considerably more than just outerwear.

The common thread is versatility: pieces designed for the outdoors that don’t look remotely out of place away from it.

Two worlds collide

The accompanying campaign film brings the collaboration’s central idea to life, travelling from the stillness of the Andes mountains to the energy and intensity of New York City.

Actor Keith W. Richards and legendary Chilean mountaineer Cristián García-Huidobro sit at the heart of the journey, representing two very different interpretations of exploration.

It’s an appropriate backdrop for a collaboration built around two brands with very different origins but a shared appreciation of movement, adventure and getting outside.

The North Face brings the mountains.

Aimé Leon Dore brings New York.

The seasons are changing. Summer is beginning to fade, the evenings are drawing in and London is taking on that unmistakable early-autumn character. The city feels different at this time of year — cooler, quieter and perhaps a little more atmospheric. It is the perfect backdrop for the latest collection from Wax London.

For Autumn ’26, the London-born label turns its attention firmly towards home with An Ode to London, its most ambitious autumn collection to date. Rather than simply using the capital as a backdrop, the collection is rooted in the city’s character, drawing inspiration from the streets, people and everyday details that have shaped the brand since its beginnings.

The collection will arrive in two drops, with Drop One introducing the first chapter of the story and setting the tone for the season ahead.

At its centre is the Whiting Overshirt, a familiar Wax London silhouette that has been reworked for autumn. Sitting somewhere between a traditional shirt and a lightweight jacket, it is the kind of versatile layer that makes sense in the unpredictable conditions of a London autumn — easy enough for everyday wear, but with the substance to carry you into the colder months.

It also captures something fundamental to the Wax London approach. Rather than designing pieces simply to make an impression for one season, the brand places considerable emphasis on fabric, texture and construction, creating clothing intended to become part of a wardrobe and improve with repeated wear.

An Ode to London

The collection’s London inspiration is brought to life through its accompanying hero campaign, An Ode to London, which takes its cue from one of the capital’s most famous literary tributes.

Inspired by William Wordsworth’s Composed upon Westminster Bridge, written in 1802, the campaign offers a contemporary interpretation of the poet’s affection for London. But rather than focusing solely on the landmarks familiar from postcards and tourist guides, Wax London looks at the city through a more personal lens.

The film moves through London’s streets, skylines and less obvious corners, celebrating the details that are often overlooked — the places locals pass every day, the familiar landmarks seen from a different perspective and the small moments that collectively create the rhythm of life in the capital.

There is something particularly appropriate about using London itself as the inspiration. Wax London has always been closely connected to the city, and the campaign reflects that relationship without attempting to turn it into something overly polished or idealised.

Instead, this is London beyond the postcard: lived-in, constantly moving and full of contrasts.

It is also a fitting philosophy for the clothes. The collection is designed for the reality of everyday city life, where versatility matters and the best pieces are those that can move effortlessly between different parts of the day.

With An Ode to London, Wax London is therefore doing more than introducing a new autumn collection. It is celebrating the environment that has helped shape the brand — and the city that continues to provide its most enduring source of inspiration.

Because sometimes the best way to look forward to a new season is to look a little closer at the place you already call home.

Acqua di Parma takes cedarwood somewhere rather more unexpected with Cedro Virtuoso, a sophisticated new Eau de Parfum from its Signatures of the Sun collection.

There is something reassuringly masculine about cedarwood. Dry, aromatic, elegant and quietly confident, it has been a cornerstone of men’s fragrance for decades. But, like many classic ingredients, there is always the danger of familiarity.

Acqua di Parma, however, has found an interesting way of shaking things up.

Meet Cedro Virtuoso, the latest addition to the Italian fragrance house’s Signatures of the Suncollection — a woody gourmand that takes the familiar sophistication of cedarwood and gives it an altogether more sensual, contemporary personality.

And the secret is hazelnut.

Yes, hazelnut.

Cedarwood with a twist

At the heart of Cedro Virtuoso is an exclusive co-infusion of Virginia cedarwood and hazelnut essence, created specifically for Acqua di Parma.

Rather than simply combining the two ingredients, the house allows them to develop together through a 30-day maceration process. The result is an intriguing meeting of opposites.

The cedarwood brings dryness, structure and that unmistakable woody sophistication, while the hazelnut introduces a creamy, rounded quality that softens the edges without taking away the fragrance’s underlying strength.

It is this tension between dry and creamy, structured and comforting, that makes Cedro Virtuoso rather more interesting than your average woody fragrance.

Bright beginnings, warmer depths

The fragrance opens with Calabrian bergamot, delivering the sort of bright, citrus freshness you would expect from Acqua di Parma.

But this isn’t simply another citrus-led Italian fragrance designed to remind you of a sunny afternoon on the Amalfi Coast.

As the bergamot fades, the composition becomes warmer and considerably more textured.

Cedarwood takes centre stage, revealing different facets as it develops on the skin — from smooth, warm woods to spiced balsamic nuances and more refined aromatic notes. Meanwhile, the hazelnut provides a creamy undertone that gives the fragrance its almost tactile quality.

Think less freshly cut timber and more beautifully polished wood.

The dry elegance of cedarwood remains, but it has been wrapped in something warmer and more inviting.

A gourmand for men who don’t do sweet

The term gourmand can sometimes make men’s fragrance aficionados nervous.

Understandably so.

Nobody necessarily wants to smell like a dessert trolley.

Cedro Virtuoso takes a rather more sophisticated approach. The hazelnut isn’t there to turn the fragrance into something syrupy or overtly sweet. Instead, it provides texture, warmth and softness, creating a subtle gourmand dimension underneath the woods.

That makes it an interesting proposition for anyone who enjoys traditional woody fragrances but wants something with a little more personality.

It is familiar enough to be immediately wearable, but different enough to make someone ask what you’re wearing.

And, frankly, that’s exactly what you want from a new fragrance. The sort of fragrance that works particularly well as the seasons change — when evenings become cooler, jackets return to the wardrobe and you want your fragrance to have a little more presence.

Sophisticated without being stuffy, warm without becoming overly sweet and distinctly woody without falling into familiar territory, Cedro Virtuoso is an accomplished addition to the Signatures of the Sun collection.

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.