The aphorism, ‘if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it’, perfectly encapsulates Margaret Howell’s approach to menswear for SS15

Howell’s collections are ever an exercise in refined dressing with staple items stylistically tweaked from season to season to produce a wardrobe of viable options for the smartly dressed man and this seasons’ stylish and understated collection was by no means an exception.

The colour palette resided within earthy tones beginning with a homage to 50 shades of grey which quickly blended into muted creams, crisp whites and blacks before the collection jumped into a flurry of navy, interspersed with a standout lime green jumper.

The labels origins are tied to the men’s dress shirt, so it was fitting to see this staple item revisited with a more casual aesthetic with several reincarnations throughout this SS15 collection. Sleeves were short or rolled up with cutaway collars while an oversized striped shirt with a granddad collar was a lesson in smart city dressing with a laid back vibe.

Linen trousers were worn loosely with a high waist, a crisp front pleat and exaggerated turn-ups accompanied by tucked in jumpers, whilst suit jackets and overcoats were cut slightly oversized. Suits and a thickly cabled beige aran jumper were worn with roughly tied cravats providing an alternative to the orthodox men’s dress tie.

Perhaps predicting a wet spring/summer season next year, there were coats a-plenty in an array of colours which were both wearable and practical. The most covetable of the lot? A cobalt blue parka.

It’s safe to say that Howell has developed a winning formula that guarantees she produces classic collections every season, proving that continuity and ingenuity are a match made in sartorial heaven.

Words: Josie Ayre