‘There are all kinds of style guides to formal dressing, but we don’t actually spend most of our time wearing white tie, says David Bradshaw. ‘For most men, looking good is about getting the basics right.’
Bradshaw is standing in the middle of the flagship store of his new project, Hunter Gather. His feet have hardly touched the ground since the recent Milan show for Versace menswear, which he oversees alongside Donatella, but he’s still managing to look sharp, as befits a menswear stalwart who has worked on collections and runway shows for Prada, Calvin Klein and Alexander McQueen, in between stints as creative director in the early days of Arena and editor of GQ Style.
‘The Hunter Gather look is all about pieces that will form the core of the collection for years to come,’ he says. ‘It’s all about creating a wardrobe that will last.’ Which is why we turned to Mr Bradshaw for advice on creating a casual capsule. Read on for his rundown of the absolute essentials.
Everyday Essentials
Investment buy
A good cashmere jumper in a nice neutral colour looks great on its own, and is an excellent piece for creating looks.
Hunter Gather, cashmere crew neck jumper, £290
The white T-shirt
A timeless classic. It goes with literally everything.
Uniqlo, white T-shirt, £4.90
The jeans
Jeans are the bedrock of every casual wardrobe. Acne does a good pair.
Acne, slim-fit jeans, £140
Lace-up shoes
Derby shoes are as versatile as they come, and no one makes a better pair than Grenson. We collaborated with them on this pair.
Grenson x Hunter Gather, Derby lace-ups, £295
The classic coat
An enduring classic of menswear, the peacoat looks great with its collar popped up against the wind.
Hunter Gather, wool pea coat, £390
It’s a wrap
A good selection of accessories can make your wardrobe seem much bigger than it actually is. A red scarf overhauls any look.
Hunter Gather, red lambswool scarf, £39
Statement colour
Every casual capsule should have a colourful statement piece, and bright orange does this better than anything.
Hunter Gather, orange wool golf jacket, £290
Winter warmer
It’s good to vary the textures in your wardrobe. This sheepskin bomber is a classic shape in an unexpected material.