The working world may be going back to some version of normality and soon it’ll hopefully be ok to socialise (sensibly) in the real world again but, for the moment at least, those Zoom calls are still going to be a constant on your calendar.

Let’s be honest, while we’ll always advocate for actually wearing trousers too, it’s your top half that’s pulling double duty on the outfit front while you’re on screen. Best make it count with a great shirt, then.

THE STRETCH SHIRT

Yes, we’re saying you should make the effort with a shirt, but nobody said you had to give up on comfort in the process. Swap your casual t-shirt for a smart stretch shirt and we promise you’ll barely notice the difference but everyone else on your Zoom call will.

And for something so good at making you look pulled together, a stretch shirt’s pretty easy to pull on too. Pair yours with formal trousers when you’ve got a call with the boss or wear it unbuttoned at the collar to take your casual chinos up a notch for virtual drinks with friends.

THE PRINT SHIRT

The best Zoom shirt is one that stands out on screen. How loud you go with your print will depend on why you’re on this Zoom call in the first place (a question you’ve likely asked yourself at some point in the last year, though perhaps for other reasons).

On a work call? A micro printed shirt is an easy way to liven up workday tailoring. Heading to a wedding without leaving your house? A scaled-up floral print will hit the right romantic note online. Got plans with your group chat for a Zoom pub quiz? Sounds like a prime time for a vivid tropical print if ever there was one.

THE PERFORMANCE SHIRT

If you’ve got used to longer in bed due to a drastically shorter commute, you need something that needs zero attention in the morning. Our zero iron shirt got its name because, you’ve guessed it, it needs zero ironing.

Not only that, but it also uses your body heat to continually ease out creases, so you’ll look pristine all day no matter how long the call or however many calls you have to sit through. Wear yours with a knitted or printed tie for a little extra detail where it counts.

THE LUXURY SHIRT

The outfit equivalent of positioning your laptop in front of a strategically stocked bookcase, the luxury shirt is the one to reach for when you want to project a certain image on your Zoom call. You know – that you are refined, composed and have used your time in lockdown to re-read your copy of War and Peace.

The Egyptian cotton shirt is that shirt. Soft, breathable and resilient with an expensive-looking lustre, Egyptian cotton is, quite simply, the best cotton in the world. We suggest wearing one with a subtle surface texture to reinforce the message that you’re a man of excellent taste.

Every year September’s a time of new beginnings. Except, this year, that familiar back-to-it feeling has been amplified following several months of barely leaving the house.

Whether it’s finally going back into work or school or even starting somewhere new, this might well be the first time since March you’ve worn anything but a tracksuit (or even pyjamas).

We say: seize the opportunity to put your best self forward again. Here are three ways to do it.

If your office is slowly opening back up again, now’s a good time to get your working wardrobe back in order.

A well-cut suit is just the ticket for a boost of confidence as you gear yourself up for your first week back (and, whisper it, the first commute). Feeling like you need a bit of comfort to ease you back into work? Pick one with a shot of stretch for a seamless transition from a tracksuit to actual suit.

SHOP WORK SUITS

SORT YOUR BACK TO SCHOOL UNIFORM

DRESS FOR SUCCESS ON THE JOB HUNT

Ask someone who regularly works from home and they’ll tell you kicking about in pyjama bottoms for the day quickly loses its appeal. You might be able to see your bed from where you’re working, but that doesn’t mean you should be dressed for it.

And while we appreciate a three-piece suit will probably feel ridiculous in the confines of your own home (though, if it works for you, go for it), we’re firm believers that dressing to distinguish work-you from home-you will put you in the right mindset for a productive day.

So, when you get up in the morning to work from home, don’t just get dressed. Dress up for the day. A little effort will do a lot for your state of mind.

For those who are used to a more formal workplace, it can be challenging to find the at-home version of your weekday norm. The answer is to go for pieces that are familiar in type but more relaxed in nature.

For example, wearing a suit jacket or blazer is short-code for feeling business-ready. However, choose one in a less formal fabric and you’ve got the benefit of feeling smart as well as that of feeling comfortable. The jacket shown above is cut in pure wool flannel from Barberis – one of Italy’s oldest mills that has perfected its flannel over 350 years – so looks impeccable when you need to dial into that video call, but feels more like wearing a super-fine sweater.

Continue the theme by styling your jacket with the business casual take on a City favourite, the pinstripe suit. The chalk stripe trousers pictured may look like formal trousers, but a touch of stretch and a brushed finish make sure comfort is firmly at the top of the agenda.

If your day doesn’t include doing face-time with the boss or clients it can be tempting to let outfit standards slip. But there is an alternative – not smart, not casual, but that just-right spot in the middle.

We’re going to suggest you wear a shirt. But, wait: while there are all sorts of shirts for men to wear when doing remote work, there’s really no need for the pristinely ironed formality of your office-bound colleagues.

Instead, the overshirt will become an essential piece of your WFH line-up. Exactly how it sounds, it’s often worn open over a t-shirt or light-knit jumper, but button it up and this workwear classic artfully balances looking pulled-together and feeling relaxed.

Keep a couple of buttons open at the neck, roll your cuffs back a turn or two and tuck it into a pair of smart trousers that are woven with added flex for maximum ease of wear.

Working from home may free you of much of the office’s less appealing policies and processes, but here’s the kicker: now there’s only you to keep the tea and coffee station topped up at home. So when the inevitable happens and you need to venture out for supplies, don’t let your well-considered outfit go to waste.

Even if your version of braving the outside world means nipping to the newsagent on the next street over rather than a more rural adventure, a field jacket‘s an easy layer to reach for. Water-repellent, wind-resistant and with plenty of pockets for stashing essential kit (wallet, keys, survival whistle), it’s the jacket of choice for the man who’s in control of his look as well as the situation at hand.

The black suit is often unfairly thought of as the fail-safe in your wardrobe; a safe piece of kit you instinctively fall back on when you want to blend in with the crowd. It’s an undeservedly bad rep, with the result that many of us avoid black tailoring like we’d avoid the Black Plague.

However, with a few well-placed tweaks, it’s incredibly easy to give what is traditionally thought of as an uninspiring choice a new lease of life.

Firstly and perhaps most importantly, the fit of your suit is key; anything ill-fitting, whatever its colour, is going to look icky, so remember to keep proportions clean with slim-fitting collars and lapels.

Surprisingly, the colour of the shirt you wear can also play a very important role in this subtle overhaul of the black suit. Our advice is to stay away from dark colours and coordinate your suit with pale greys or white instead. Wear it open-necked for causal-fashion points. Or, if your workplace rules dictate that a collar and tie are the order of the day, then mixing things up with a textured tie will give your suit an added bit of oomph.

Any concerns you may harbour about looking like you’re waiting tables at the local bistro can be quashed by ditching the smart shoes and wearing a casual trainer instead. Office etiquette permitting, this will carry you through on the right track.

Another breezy way to elevate this classic staple is to swap out the shirt for contrast-coloured knitwear; even something as uncomplicated as a grey polo can give your basic black suit the push in the right direction it so richly deserves.

ARE YOU SURE I WON’T LOOK LIKE I’M GOING TO A FUNERAL?

And if you’re still stuck in the mindset that a black suit can never look anything other than funereal, then rise to the challenge of a double-breasted style instead. Wear it over a lightweight crew neck jumper or t-shirt and you’ll soon dispel any lingering doubts you may have about not looking like the well-turned-out man you really are. This informal approach will also work for single-breasted jackets too.

Follow these simple pointers and this fast-track revamp will soon have you and your black suit enjoying best-dressed status all day every day on almost every occasion. We say ‘almost’ because there’s probably one more piece of advice you should heed: for those joyous events such as weddings, unless the dress code stipulates black tie, then ring in the changes with a suit in a lighter hue such as grey.

Assuming that you’ve been invited to a bona fide black-tie event then the simple answer is no. Black-tie dressing is a whole different ball game with a set of sartorial procedures that revolves around a tuxedo or dinner jacket. With that in mind, it’s probably the one occasion where the humble black suit just won’t cut the mustard.

In the continually evolving landscape of what we wear to work today, it can often feel as though traditional sartorial rules have been thrown out with the proverbial bathwater. But fear not, because regardless of whether you work in a conventional office or a trendy creative hub, there’s still a piece of kit that will always hit the mark.

Drum roll please for the humble suit, a mainstay of menswear that never lets you down. And this season it comes with added flexibility by way of stretch fibres as well as all sorts of ways to wear it. So when it comes to that vexing tailoring/workspace conundrum, we’ve got your back.

SHOP STRETCH SUITS

MAKE MOVES AT HQ

If you spend your working day toiling away at an ultra-smart HQ, then our new stretch suits should be the lynchpin of your working wardrobe. Constructed with extra comfort in mind, their inbuilt flexibility will help you navigate the highs and lows of your day both mentally and physically. Remember though, to keep the rest of your look simple; team with a tonal tie but jettison any colourful pocket squares or jazzy socks.

ANY STYLE, ANY SCHEDULE

And for those of you whose working arena is more Silicon Valley than the City of London, then all that’s needed is a few carefully considered tweaks to guarantee you’re still dressed for success. Maybe ditch the tie – unless you’re asking for that pay rise – for one of our button-down shirts. Or perhaps switch the shirt for one of our superior quality T-shirts, safe in the knowledge that you’ll still look polished enough to show the CEO you’ve got what it takes. The addition of a jaunty neckerchief is, of course, entirely optional.

REWORK THE SUIT

Finally, you might want to follow the lead of our Italian cousins and embrace the spezzato way of dressing. Literally translating as ‘broken’ this is the art of pairing your suit jacket with trousers of a contrasting colour or fabric. But if this feels like a step too far, keep the matching suit and swap that classic white shirt for one of our printed versions instead.

Often seen as a trusty alternative to more sombre black, a grey suit is a versatile addition to any man’s wardrobe – in a mid-toned shade and a great fit, you’ll find it works for everything from day-to-day meetings to a special occasion.

But grey can be more than reliable too. With statement details, technical cloths and a little styling creativity, tailoring’s dependable dark horse can proudly take its place in the limelight. Here are five ways with a grey suit that prove it.

SHOP GREY SUITS

Thought a grey work suit had to be boring? A pink and white windowpane check, peak lapels and statement double-breasted construction make for a firm stance in the face of outdated corporate uniforms. A suit this bold needs little more than a crisp white shirt, dark-toned tie and polished monk shoes.

Got a wedding or five to go to? A light grey suit will work for just about every type of big day and can be easily restyled so it doesn’t look like you’re wearing the same outfit in every couple’s photos. Take your grey suit from weekday to big day with a floral patterned shirt, and try mixing in a waistcoat from another suit as a simple but impactful way to change up your look.

It’s been said before and we’ll say it again now: a grey suit is about as hard-working a piece as you can get in your wardrobe. But what if it was technically treated to work even harder? Our popular performance suit is crafted from wool-blend cloth that’s been tightly spun for crease-resistance and finished with an undetectable coating that repels water and stains. So your grey suit stays looking fresh – even more so if you team it with a fresh pastel-toned shirt.

Grey suits are not just for grey days. A mid-grey suit will work all-year-round, particularly if you choose one in a breathable wool-rich blend with a little added stretch for comfort. In summer, add a zero-iron shirt with built-in moisture management in summery sky blue and finish things off with a colour-saturated tie.

Grey tailoring is a great choice for a summer wedding groom’s party (or one at any other time of year, really) as it’s universally flattering and complements just about any other colour that might make up your big day’s theme. This one’s silvery tone will mark the groom’s party out from other guests in grey, as will a statement waistcoat – tweed’s our pick for this year’s weddings.

In the market for a new grey suit? Shop our latest selection here.

Founded in 1972 by London-born Stephen Marks, French Connection is now renowned the world over for design-led menswear at affordable prices. A modern take on traditional British tailoring, its line of suiting is recognisable for its sharp slim fit and minimal structures.

SHOP FRENCH CONNECTION

Our picks are the brand’s colourful suits – a great choice for grooms and guests who want to stand out at weddings and other celebrations. Marled cloths and flannel fabrics with soft handles come in on-trend shades like pastel blues and earthy khaki, while peak lapels and patterned silk linings are occasion-worthy details.

A final flourish the decision-shy among us will appreciate: the chest pocket lining pulls up and out to double as a coordinating pocket square.

And because a great suit shouldn’t be reserved for wedding days, French Connection also does a sharp business suit. Cut in a neat, slim fit from lightweight wool-blend cloths, they come in business-appropriate hues with milled or flannel textures that make a smart contrast to the shiny office norm.