CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

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.

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.