CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Cycling apparel has traditionally lived in one of two camps: relentlessly functional or aggressively fluorescent.

Rarely does it feel considered.

That’s where PARIA has carved its lane. The Leeds-based disruptor continues to challenge what technical cycling kit can look and feel like, blending high-performance engineering with a distinctly street-informed aesthetic.

This isn’t just kit for the ride. It’s kit for the lifestyle that surrounds it.

At its core, PARIA remains committed to technical credibility. The latest release introduces a series of long-sleeve winter jerseys designed for cold-weather road sessions — insulating, durable and cut for serious mileage.

But crucially, they avoid the overbuilt, overbranded feel that so often plagues winter cycling gear.

The silhouettes are sharp. The detailing feels intentional. There’s an understanding of proportion that keeps the rider streamlined rather than swallowed. Warmth is achieved through construction and fabric choice — not bulk.

It’s the difference between dressing for performance and dressing like performance.

What sets PARIA apart is its refusal to treat cycling as an isolated activity. The brand recognises the ecosystem: the pre-ride coffee, the post-ride debrief, the social culture that sits around the sport.

Alongside its technical jerseys, the collection features heavy-duty lifestyle staples — pieces that transition seamlessly off the bike without feeling like you’ve forgotten to change.

This versatility reflects a wider shift in how performance apparel is consumed. Today’s cyclist doesn’t want a wardrobe split in two. They want garments that move with them — across environments, across temperatures, across contexts.

PARIA’s collaborative, artist-led approach also continues to differentiate it in a market saturated with heritage references and racing nostalgia.

There’s an irreverent streak running through the brand — a quiet nod to cycling’s subcultures rather than its podium moments. It feels contemporary. Grounded. Authentically Northern.

In an industry often dominated by tradition, that perspective matters.

The Future of Technical Dressing

The broader takeaway? Cycling apparel is evolving.

It’s no longer enough to be aerodynamic. Or waterproof. Or thermal. Modern riders expect design literacy alongside technical performance. They want garments that respect both their athletic intent and their aesthetic standards.

With its latest edit, PARIA continues to occupy that sweet spot between grit and refinement.

Because true performance isn’t just about how fast you move.

It’s about how confidently you arrive.

Some partnerships make sense on paper. Others feel inevitable. David Gandy as the first official face of Jaeger Menswear? The latter.

In a landmark move for the premium British label — available exclusively at Marks & Spencer — Gandy steps into the role at a pivotal moment, signalling a confident new era for Jaeger’s menswear offering.

Widely recognised as the world’s first male supermodel, Gandy’s two-decade career has been defined by iconic campaigns, global editorial presence and an unwavering association with modern British elegance. His appointment isn’t just celebrity endorsement — it’s alignment.

Gandy becomes the visual embodiment of Jaeger Menswear, presenting a refined yet effortless vision for SS26. Crisp silhouettes. Purposeful layering. Soft, foundational hues. It’s tailoring with intent — never excess.

His own words underline the synergy:

“I’m delighted to be working with M&S again at such a significant moment, as the first face of Jaeger Menswear. Our shared commitment to quality and British style has delivered great success in the past. Jaeger is a brand with a remarkable heritage and a modern vision that aligns perfectly with my own approach to menswear.”

Jaeger has long been synonymous with elevated tailoring and exceptional fabrication. Under the M&S umbrella, the brand continues to sharpen its premium focus — refined wardrobe essentials, considered cuts and fabric choices that justify the label.

The timing is deliberate. M&S menswear is experiencing sustained growth, driven by renewed attention to quality, fit and contemporary design. From sharp suiting to everyday staples, demand for elevated essentials continues to rise — and Jaeger is leading that charge.

With Gandy front and centre of Jaeger’s visual identity, the brand is speaking to male customers in a sharper, more fashion-forward tone.

If there’s a hero piece for SS26, it’s the Italian pale grey wool-rich suit with a whisper of cashmere. Tailored, streamlined and quietly luxurious, it reflects today’s hybrid lifestyle — equally at home in morning meetings or evening drinks.

Wear it buttoned-up for the 9-to-5. Or, as Gandy demonstrates, pair it with a classic white T-shirt for relaxed authority. The message is simple: sophistication doesn’t require stiffness.

Gandy and Jaeger feel cut from the same cloth — British, assured, refined without theatrics. It’s menswear built on core, considered pieces designed to work as hard as you do.

And in a market increasingly drawn to quality over quantity, that feels less like nostalgia — and more like the future of British style.

There are two types of winter dressers. Those who panic-layer until they resemble a well-dressed duvet, and those who understand that true cold-weather style is a matter of strategy, not stuffing.

With temperatures refusing to play nicely and daily life requiring us to navigate icy commutes and overheated offices in one seamless outfit, it’s no surprise that searches for “how to layer for cold weather” have surged. The modern man (and woman) doesn’t want bulk. They want balance.

And this is where considered knitwear comes into its own.

According to La Redoute, January dressing is less about adding more and more layers, and more about choosing the right ones. Sarah Link, Marketing Director at the brand, puts it succinctly: smart layering comes down to fabric, proportion and cohesion. In other words — intentional dressing.

Here’s how to master it.

1. Build From the Inside Out

Every good outfit starts with foundations. In winter, that means a streamlined base layer.

Fine-gauge knits, lightweight wool blends or a long-sleeve tee worn close to the body trap warmth efficiently without adding bulk. The golden rule? Thin to thick. Start fitted, build gradually.

Think in threes:

• Base layer (comfort)
• Mid-layer (warmth and personality)
• Outer layer (structure and protection)

It’s architectural dressing — warmth through balance, not weight.

2. Choose Fibres That Actually Work

Not all knits are created equal.

Breathable fibres like wool and cashmere regulate temperature far better than heavy synthetics. They warm you outdoors but won’t leave you wilting under office radiators. True luxury in winter isn’t just softness — it’s adaptability.

Invest in fabrics that perform. Your 4pm self will thank you.

3. Let the Mid-Layer Speak

Once the base is sleek, the mid-layer becomes your moment.

Chunkier textures. Subtle colour contrasts. Perhaps a slightly oversized silhouette. This is where personality lives. The key is control — keep one element expressive while the rest remains disciplined.

Layering isn’t about chaos. It’s about quiet confidence.

4. Master Proportion

Oversized knits are winter’s comfort blanket — but they require balance.

If the top half is relaxed or chunky, streamline the bottom. Tailored trousers, slim denim or a clean-lined skirt anchor the look. And avoid layers finishing at identical lengths; small adjustments like a half-tuck or staggered hems create visual interest and shape.

Good layering elongates. Poor layering engulfs.

5. Finish With Structure

The outer layer is not just insulation — it’s punctuation.

A tailored coat, sharp blazer or longline cardigan worn open introduces clean vertical lines and sharpens the silhouette. Allow enough room in the fit so layers sit smoothly beneath. Pulling fabric is the enemy of polish.

Structure transforms warmth into style.

As shoppers look increasingly for versatility over statement-heavy pieces, knitwear has quietly become the backbone of the winter wardrobe. The modern approach isn’t about one heroic jumper doing all the work. It’s about investing in pieces that layer effortlessly and move with you throughout the day.

The current knitwear collection at La Redoute reflects this shift — lightweight bases, classic cardigans, textured statement pieces — all designed to work together rather than compete.

Because true winter style isn’t about piling on.

It’s about knowing when to stop.

Savile Row has always stood for something deeper than fashion. Precision. Restraint. Craft refined over time. Translating that level of integrity into fragrance is a challenge — but one that Icon Partnership has approached with a clear sense of purpose in the Savile Row Private Collection.

Created under the direction of David Strickley, CEO of Icon Partnership, this six-piece unisex fragrance range draws directly from the language of bespoke tailoring. Not as a marketing shortcut, but as a genuine framework — where materials, process and detail matter just as much as the finished result.

Launched just in time for Christmas, each fragrance is presented in a 100ml bottle, colour-coded to reflect its character and finished with textured packaging and understated gold script. The result feels considered and refined — exactly what you’d expect from something bearing the Savile Row name.

Rather than leaning on abstract storytelling, each scent in the collection takes inspiration from a tangible element of the tailoring process — fit, fabric, tools and creative expression.

Savila is the anchor. A tribute to Savile Row itself, it’s smoky, woody and assured. Nutmeg, saffron and incense set a deep, confident opening before jasmine and patchouli lead into a base of sandalwood, tobacco and amber woods. It wears like a well-cut jacket — structured, balanced and quietly authoritative.

Tela explores the movement of fabric. Floral but controlled, it combines amber and spice with lemon, apricot and pepper at the top, before settling into ylang ylang, freesia, vanilla and musks. Elegant, tactile and subtly expressive.

Sartoria focuses on fit and form — and it shows. This woody aromatic marine opens clean with lime and blackcurrant, sharpened by clary sage and geranium. Lavandin, juniper and pink pepper bring lift, while leather, amber woods, patchouli and cedarwood ground it firmly in classic menswear territory.

Bucula, inspired by the tailor’s button, balances utility and decoration. Dark cherry leads, layered with toasted almond, saffron and amber, softened by rose, osmanthus and apricot. Patchouli, vanilla and praline add depth without tipping into excess.

Creatia reflects the creative heart of Savile Row — the designers, cutters and innovators who push tradition forward. Smoky and intense, it blends pimento, ginger and saffron with birch tar, labdanum and cinnamon bark, finished with myrrh, suede, sandalwood and musks. Bold, but disciplined.

Acus takes the needle as its muse. Sharp citrus notes of bergamot and lemon cut cleanly at the top, before saffron, orange blossom and rose take hold. The dry down is rich and precise, with leather, benzoin, cedarwood, vanilla and labdanum.

Strickley’s influence is felt throughout. With over three decades in the fragrance industry — including senior roles at L’Oréal, Yves Saint Laurent and Estée Lauder — he has been instrumental in shaping some of the sector’s most recognisable brands. From Ralph Lauren and DKNY to Tommy Hilfiger, Paloma Picasso and Crème de la Mer, his track record is defined by longevity rather than hype.

Through Icon Partnership, founded in 2010, Strickley has continued to build and guide fragrance and grooming brands with a clear emphasis on credibility, storytelling and execution — qualities that underpin this launch.

Point to remember is,  The Savile Row Private Collection isn’t about reinventing fragrance — it’s about applying the same values that define great menswear: craft, restraint and intention. These are scents designed to be worn, lived with and understood over time, not rushed through a trend cycle.

For men who appreciate detail, heritage and thoughtful design, this is fragrance that makes sense — built with purpose, and finished properly, aha, just like you my friend !

There’s a particular frisson when high street accessibility collides with genuine artistry. This season, that intersection feels especially considered as River Island partners with London’s family-led art house Year Zero – a collaboration that blurs the line between gallery wall and wardrobe rail.

Year Zero has built its reputation on painstakingly hand-painted works across luxury garments, each piece imbued with the intimacy and irregular beauty that only human touch can provide. Their aesthetic is bold yet personal, expressive yet refined – a balancing act that has not gone unnoticed. Admirers have included cultural heavyweights such as Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, Kylie Jenner and Pharrell Williams, each drawn to the house’s unapologetic creativity and commitment to individuality.

The partnership with River Island feels both natural and quietly disruptive. River Island has long understood the pulse of the British high street – agile, trend-aware, democratic. By inviting Year Zero into its creative orbit, the brand elevates the everyday, offering wearable canvases that speak to a more expressive consumer.

The collection itself is designed for self-definition. Elevated graphic tees carry the immediacy of hand-rendered art; sharply cut shirts feel considered rather than casual; flattering, well-structured bottoms ground the statement pieces with practicality. It is not costume. It is clothing with character.

What resonates most is the collection’s refusal to separate fine art from fashion. Instead, it proposes that personal style can be both accessible and artful – that a high street purchase can still feel singular. In an era of algorithmic dressing, this collaboration offers something more human: texture, narrative and a sense of authorship.

For those seeking to inject personality into their wardrobe without sacrificing polish, River Island x Year Zero arrives at precisely the right moment. Fashion, after all, has always been a form of self-portraiture. This time, the brushstrokes are visible.