Screw Blue Monday, I'm all about Grey Wednesday
Grey might be dreary, but it’s the reigning chromatic king this season - here’s your guide to the best pieces to buy now.
We’ve officially hit the most soul-crushing stretch of the year, people. But instead of resisting the gloom, I’m leaning into it by diving headfirst into the dreariest hue of them all: grey.
For me, though, grey isn’t depressing - it’s the most wearable, elegant, and effortless shade there is. Clearly, the designers in Milan and Florence agree, because last week at the AW/25 menswear shows, grey dominated the runways.
Giorgio Armani sent dove velvet suits slinking down the catwalk with signature finesse, Dunhill made a statement with sleek stand-collar jackets in every smoky tone, and Prada delivered dramatic oversized charcoal coats trimmed with faux fur. All offering a masterclass in how to make grey look anything but dull.
So, if you’re ready to embrace the drab, here are the best all-grey pieces you can buy right now.
1 | The Shirt-Jacket Thing
Zara has obviously been inspired by a certain Montobello-based luxury brand for this stand-collar shirt jacket in textured viscose, but I’m not complaining. Elegant, easy to wear, and with a certain Fiona Bruce-ness about it - it’s my high street pick of the season. Best worn with shades of black, I reckon.
2 | The Shoes
I’m lucky enough to own these near-perfect grey suede deck shoes by Saman Amel, and I can attest they’re as comfortable as they are zhuzhy. Fortunately, they don’t look out of place with winter outfits, by way of the all-black sole.
3 | The Easy Shirt
This silk shirt from Lemaire will look great worn under all the oversized grey blazers I’ve advised you to buy, of late. It would also look excellent with that stand collar grey jacket from Massimo Alba I recommended last week.
4 | The Hernia Cardi
I’m slightly obsessed with the hammer horror ridiculousness of this herniated knit from the master of playful menswear, Jonathan Anderson. It’s in the sale (unsurprisingly), but I reckon you could make it work if you wear it with blue denim jeans and a white tee - simplicity is key.
5 | The Blazer
Oops, another Zara recommendation, but this fringe-hemmed blazer from Harry Lambert’s collection for the high street brand is too good not to include. It’s also a steal. Wear with cropped hem black denim jeans or a pair of matching trousers.
6 | The Leather Jacket
I love this worn-in leather shirt jacket from the new collaboration between the oversized mavens at The Frankie Shop and Scandinavian stalwart Samsoe Samsoe. Wear oversized with, well, other shades of grey.
7 | The Jeans
Entire Studios is doing interesting things right now, and these sleek yet oversized grey denim jeans are a case in point. Team with heavy-duty black loafers and an oversized black mohair sweater.
8 | The Smart Bomber
Swedish label Our Legacy can always be relied upon to produce an easy-wearing cropped bomber crafted from tailoring fabric. This one would look great worn zipped-up beneath the lighter grey Emporio Armani coat below.
9 | The Proper Coat
Emporio Armani is having a moment - the brand’s show in Milan last week was the most refined and idea-filled in a while. Buy into the hype with this beautifully tailored long grey overcoat, which - like most things on this list - just happens to be in the sale.
10 | The Nana Cardi
I really love Magliano at the moment. Luca’s show in Milan last week was an homage to incredible worn-in fabrics and oversized, tailored pieces. This knitted shirt-cardi would look great worn with tailoring or, indeed, with some high-waisted jeans and a flash of midriff. Dare ya!
11 | The Trousers
Alexandre Mattiusi cuts a good trouser, and these fluid grey pinstripe numbers more than demonstrate the point. Wear with some low-key slippers (ideally from The Row) in a lighter shade of grey suede, and the cropped Our Legacy jacket, above. That’s the beauty of grey - it goes with (almost) all other greys!
12 | The Blazer Coat
I’ve been coveting this Studio Nicholson blazer-cum-coat for a while now, but I can’t justify the purchase because I have around five million jackets that look exactly the same. You should buy it though, while it’s still in the sale.
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