It’s no surprise that the old office rules of dressing have been rewritten in light of finding the balance between professional and casual for all those back–to-back zoom meetings and FaceTime conferences. But while a starch collared shirt and cravat partnered with joggers and flip flops may have been a style default for a number of professionals during lockdown, for others the illusion of formality just didn’t cut it.

Celebrity stylist Samson Soboye, whose inimitable way with a suit is often featured on the pages of glossy magazines, says, “I always pay attention to how I’m dressed, even when I’m off duty. I’ve noticed generally men making an effort in their appearance, even if it’s just to go to grab a coffee. Regardless of when I’m styling a private client or public figure, like actor John Boyega, the trusty suit is all about confident dressing and adding personal touches. Personally, I lean towards a bow tie, but I also like to wear collarless shirts buttoned to the top. For some reason, it looks less corporate.”

So whether you’ve made a full return to the office, opted for part-time office hours, split-shift desk sessions and/or intermittent home working, what are the new rules of office style?

Formal offices continue to uphold the convention of a classic suit and tie. And this is double-edged as although a suit is not necessarily the most comfortable thing in your wardrobe, it’s certainly a relatively straightforward formula first thing in the morning. But what has been noticeable out on the streets in cities such as London is that office workers are enjoying accessorising their suits again with contrasting pocket squares, statement ties and other accents such as stealth cufflinks and watches. Likewise, sportier bags like cross-body styles seem to have replaced the once-customary laptop cases.

The traditional suit may still be a staple (and hopefully yours is without any signs of moth nibbles), however, for workplaces that are more relaxed in their stylistic expectations, the loosening of dress restrictions that came with lockdown has translated into a new take on business-casual. This causalisation of formalwear is about looking the part without compromising on style and is an opportunity to bring your personality to the formality of tailoring. The key is to wear separates, contrasting a touch of ‘street’ with a sharp cut. Think athleisure meets Wall Street.

A suit worn with a plain cotton T-shirt beneath a well-cut jacket or a tucked-in unbuttoned shirt (keep it PG-rated, though) points to a look that many offices are now welcoming. A polo shirt can appear equally modern and for those impending days when a late-summer chill demands more coverage, why not try a fine-knit polo neck? As an alternative to buttoned-up pieces, consider flannel or wool trousers with pleated waistbands together with a blazer and a crisp shirt or a cashmere crewneck sweater.

How would you describe yourself? And how would your friends describe you?
I’m a medium height guy. I’m 24. I have black hair and nice eyebrows. Other people would describe me as a cheeky chappy.

Tell us about what you get up to?
I like sports, I like clothes and I like hanging out with people in pubs and restaurants. I’m very musical: I like listening to music, playing the guitar, jamming on the sax or cello and singing.

Do you have any signature things you really like to wear?
Most days I wear stretchy black jeans and a long sleeved shirt. Usually I opt for Chelsea boots or high tops. I like smart things, but my skinny jeans are my go-tos. Often I’ll pair them with a suit jacket, to mix it up a bit. Other times a leather jacket, to keep it casual.

Who influences your style?
My style influencers are David Beckham and Jack P. Shepherd.

What did you like most about what you’re wearing in this shoot?
I loved the grey check suit, especially the skinny trousers. The slim fit is very me, it goes really well with my monochrome shirts and tops. I’m keeping it for the next wedding I go to!

And finally, any advice for anyone who needs encouragement to express themselves with their style?
My advice would be to wear what makes you happy, if you feel good you’ll look good!

What we wear can be damaging to the environment, especially when we throw items out after just a few outings. But it doesn’t need to be the way. By making a few smart choices, you can still wear a great outfit that makes you look good and feel confident without the guilty conscience.

Here are five small tweaks that make a big difference to the planet.

To avoid throwing your suit away after just a few wears, choose a staple that will last both in terms of style and quality. Blended suits with a percentage of polyester are long-lasting and a great option if you’ll be wearing yours day-in, day-out for work. If you love a pure wool suit, make sure you have more than one in rotation and give it proper care so you can keep it for years.

You can’t go wrong with a navy or grey suit as these are always in style. Plain fabrics are timeless, and you can use accessories to change up the look. Checks are another classic choice that keeps coming back around in the tailoring world.

Choose fabrics that are designed to be kinder on the planet. Our eco suit is made from recycled polyester that saves up to 45 plastic bottles from going into landfill or the ocean. What’s more, the fabric has a low-carbon footprint as up to 90% of the water used to make it is recycled and it’s free from harmful chemicals.

For those who favour wool, turn to the Alter Eco suit we’ve made in collaboration with Ted Baker. It blends yarn made from recycled PET bottles with pure new wool – a fibre that’s naturally breathable and crease-resistant but also naturally renewable and ethically sourced from farmers who don’t subject their sheep to museling (a painful procedure that aims to deter flies from their skin).

Elsewhere, look out for natural materials like organic cotton and Tencel, which is made from wood pulp. Both biodegradable and more sustainable than lots of other fabrics, they’re a good choice for shirts and t-shirts. Linen is a strong natural fibre that works well for suits.

Dry cleaning often uses chemicals (like Perc) that are harmful to us and the environment. It’s best to limit how often you visit the dry cleaner and shop around for one that uses water, carbon dioxide or natural substances to lift stains. You can make your suit go longer in between washes by using a brush to gently sweep away any specks.

For washing your shirts, t-shirts and jumpers at home, choose eco-friendly detergents to avoid releasing chemicals into waterways.

There’s no need to throw away a suit because a seam has come undone. Invest in a sewing kit to stitch it or ask someone to do it for you. Not sure who to turn to? Visit a tailor – they’ll have it mended in no time.

The same goes for your shoes. Pick good quality ones that will last a long time and take them to a cobbler to be patched up if any stitching comes apart. They can attach sturdy heels and soles that last, make your shoes feel bigger or tighter so they’re more comfortable or even weather-proof them to stop rain getting in.

It’s always nice having something fresh to wear, but our constant need for new is damaging the planet – it’s estimated that humans produce more than 12 million tons of textile waste globally each year.

Instead, consider renting clothes rather than buying. Our new rental subscription service gives you access to an unlimited wardrobe of premium pieces you can wear as much or little as you like before swapping them for something new. You get the joy of that new-for-you feeling and trying endless new looks, all without the worry or waste of one-off wears. Plus, eco-friendly dry cleaning is on us.

So leave your sweats where they belong with the sight of your own four walls and put your best self back out there.

At last, it’s time to celebrate with friends and family again.
For stags and real-life speeches and dancefloors beyond your kitchen. To wear something that makes you feel on top of the world.

It’s also time for date night in the real world, for footie on the big screen and for birthday celebrations with actual people.

Pub garden days and after-work socialising and dinner round yours. It’s all on.

So are weekends somewhere new. Anywhere new, really.

And, yes, it’s true: big-ticket events are back on too.

Like prom night and race day and any other reason you can grab to experience how good it feels to get properly dressed up again.

Styled with casual pieces, a staple suit can take you back out there, whatever you’ve got going on.

Start slowly by swapping your lower-half loungewear for your suit trousers – a shot of stretch in the fabric will make the transition even easier. Add a smooth cotton t-shirt up top plus casual accessories and you’re out the door (exactly where you should be).

Finally got dinner plans? Take the chance to roll out your two-piece. The same t-shirt keeps things relaxed under your open jacket, while a bandana tied around your neck adds the kind of flourish you’ve been waiting to pull off in public.

For any low-key weddings you’ve got coming up, a polo shirt is a fresh alternative to a buttoned-up shirt. Style the collar over your suit jacket lapels and add a ruffled pocket square for an occasion feel.

Refresh jeans-and-a-tee with pleated trousers and a brushed, organic cotton t-shirt in a seasonal shade.

It’s not as simple as a complete wardrobe overhaul. For the sake of our wallets and the planet, it’s more about taking a fresh look at how we put it all together. What we’ve got, what we can add in, how we can rework it to feel right for now. So we enlisted stylist Grace Gilfeather to pull her picks from our collection and show how to make them work for whatever comes next.

Hi Grace. First of all, can you tell us a little about you and your work?

I started out at British GQ magazine as an intern, learning how fashion shoots are put together and how a busy editorial office is run. I stayed for 12 years, eventually becoming Fashion Editor. I was so lucky to travel the world, equipped with about 10 suitcases on every flight and visited some extraordinary places and met some truly wonderful people. I am now Fashion Director at bi-monthly menswear title, The Rake, where I continue to style and produce their cover shoots and main fashion stories. Working here has allowed me to venture into more commercial work between issues. I have an 18-month-old baby too, so I have to be flexible!

Let’s start with which items you selected from our collection and why?

I feel this collection is very clean, contemporary, comfortable and very versatile. Traditionally, guys opt for a ‘safe’ navy suit for work and perhaps a grey suit for something more formal but I think we’ve curated a slightly more modern approach to tailored dressing. The Moss London forest green suit, for example, is deceptively versatile with what you can wear it with. Use the waistcoat and a white or chambray shirt and tie for dressing up and a roll neck or t-shirt without the waistcoat for less formal days. The same applies to footwear. A dark green wool suit will look sharp with brown boots in colder weather and still look effortless and smart with clean white leather trainers for more summery times.

And how about some of your standout looks from the shoot – how did you put them together?

I am a big fan of a rollneck. It works well with some of the looks we shot. A hangover from the 70s, this simple piece of knitwear is such a smart alternative to your traditional shirt and tie combination and teamed with the right colours, looks really modern and cool. Having a couple in shades like black or brown in your wardrobe is really useful.

Alternatively, throw a white or brown t-shirt underneath for sunnier days. The oatmeal suit is equally as versatile. I styled the look up with a peach shirt and brown tie, which would be ideal for a smart, summer day out, but the colour and texture of the suit will lend itself to more wintery occasions, too, if you simply add knitwear and boots. A dark brown knit underneath would look super slick.

This collection’s versatility in colour and texture gives lots of opportunities to get more out of tailoring. The oatmeal, forest green and taupe shades of suits can look completely different when you add in or take out certain accessories.  They’re not scary colours once you try them!

Part of our New for Now campaign is about relooking at things you might already own or have been wearing forever and making them feel fresh. Can you tell us more about the looks you styled around that idea?

I think we all have to be more sensible with our approach to buying. For our own financial reasons, of course, plus our duty to be more sustainable in our lifestyle choices now.

Often we orbit around the same colours and same outfits we feel safe in. Guys want a change and admire certain celebrity male looks but don’t know how to go about achieving it. Most of us will be surprised by what we can re-work with what we already have. Perhaps you can invest in a good pair of Chelsea boots to wear with your favourite wool trousers or buy key pieces of knitwear to replace your old shirts. These are quite traditional items of clothing but put together properly, as per the looks you see in our shoot, can look really new and contemporary.

Or maybe you’ve already got your favourite suits but want to get more out of them. Can you wear your suit jacket with some smart chinos and a loafer? A lot of this collection can be mixed and matched. You don’t have to have a lot of anything – just make sure what you have really fits you properly.

All these lockdowns have meant we’ve all got very used to dressing a certain way at home, but life is going to open back up again – how do you see that playing out in how we dress?

I imagine people are missing dressing up. For those who are still able to work, it will feel good to get out and meet people again. Seeing more people in professional and social circumstances offers more opportunities to change outfits. Which is why it will be fun to invest in some new pieces.

I think we will all suddenly be re-visiting our wardrobes again with new eyes when lockdown ends. Have our bodies changed? Have our jobs changed? For some, this could be a real effort and seem daunting. This is where looking at the easy, sensibly priced ideas from this shoot could help. We can’t wear our sweatpants forever!

Prince of Wales, windowpane, plaid… the years have given us many styles of check trousers, each enduring for its knack to take a so-so outfit to something much sharper. Style a stretch-rich pair with comfy kit at home now and rest easy knowing they’ll look just as good, if not better, styled up when life’s back on later.

The ease of chinos has kept them in style for over a century, so it’s a safe bet they’ll go the distance for you too. Sitting comfortably between casual days at home and relaxed formality when the moment calls for it, this wardrobe all-rounder will be its most timeless in a crisp fit, mid-rise and straight, slim-cut legs.

Seeing as even a soft collar refines your look in a way a crew-neck could never, a good shirt isn’t going anywhere in your lineup anytime soon. Leave the stiff, starched types to your Grandad (or a special day at a push) and instead go for lived-in fabrics that’ll ease you through any season, this year and many after.

Streetwear and classic menswear have been fusing for some time but, ironically, a year spent mostly inside, off the streets, is arguably what’s cemented leisurely basics like the hoodie in our wardrobes for good. We like a fine-gauge knit version as a styling layer you’ll use all year round.

It’s true we’ve all worn less of them lately, but a solid suit is a staple you’ll never not need. Bank on longevity by choosing one in a suits-all shade like blue or grey, a neatly tailored fit and minimal detailing that’ll style up nicely in all sorts of ways.

Here’s the thing about a statement party jacket: it needs very little styling. Whether brightly coloured or loudly patterned, your party jacket is your hero piece so let it shine by keeping everything else understated. Or, if you’re up for it, dial it up with a printed shirt instead.

It’s a truth that the festive season comes at the darkest time of the year and most eveningwear tends to reflect this by coming in similarly dark colours. And while you’ll never go wrong with a midnight-blue or sleek black tuxedo, neither will come alive in candlelight or a moodily lit bar/your kitchen quite like a high-octane jacket. Try one in lurex yarns for a metallic finish that catches the light (and all the attention).

Your party jacket is designed with late-night revelry in mind but styled with more casual pieces you’d be surprised how versatile it can be on other occasions too. Take the look down a notch for a family party or dinner date by styling it with a knitted jumper underneath. Not only does this make the look feel instantly more relaxed, but you’ll appreciate the extra warmth if you step outside for a break from the in-laws.

SHOP PARTY JACKETS

The beauty of a good basic like a knitted hoodie is its ability to ground a strong look. Here, worn with single-toned trousers, t-shirt and trainers, it does a stellar job of balancing a statement coat.

Alternatively, a zip-up hoodie makes smarter tailoring feel more relaxed for day-to-day dressing. And in a fine-gauge knit, it adds warmth without bulk so won’t disrupt the lines of your well-cut overcoat either.

Of course, it’d be foolish not to acknowledge you’ll probably wear your knitted hoodie at home too. Choose one in luxurious merino-rich yarns and pair with stretch chinos for a look that’s a notch up from joggers but just as comfy.