Reiss 1971: 1 Workwear-staple Secured.

Too often it transpires that after an arduously long trek around the city in search of just one item I return to the flat empty-handed. After a rather rude awakening brought on by a harsh, unerring look at my wardrobe, I realised much of what I wear is ill-fitting or just never worn. Thus, in an attempt to put an end to the madness I took someone’s advice and decided shopping-excursions were reserved for when I actually needed to shop. Just yesterday I embarked on one of the aforementioned treks, hopeful that I’d pick up a denim shirt somewhere that wasn’t: a) too faded, b) too 90s or (surely worst of all…) c) too bloody expensive.

Had another rude awakening following nips-in to H&M, Zara (theirs wasn’t all that shabby but it still didn’t scream “BUY ME!” at a volume off the decibel scale), River Island and TK Maxx – ‘c’ (see above) was not going to be a condition satisfied. I was forced to Reiss, where the below literally caught my eye as I entered (well it and the v. fierce, flame-haired sales assistant who, thankfully, encouraged me to try the shirt on…). It’s from the recently launched capsule-collection Reiss 1971 that’s set to bring more casual, youth-focused clothing to the Reiss market so think the usual top quality and simple silhouettes in younger, less employee-of-an-office styles (denim, and lots of it, basically). €89 the poorer, but another wardrobe-staple secured for AW. A dent in the wallet somewhat mitigated, I reckon.

^ Shirt by Reiss, Belt by Carolyn Massey for Topman, Jeans (ripped shoddily by me in a fit of “I, too, can do clothes-customisation” enthusiasm) by Gap, Socks by Pierre Cardin, Shoes by Topman, Blazer (below) by Junk de Luxe.