A ‘smart casual’ dress code should be straightforward enough to master, but from informal office days to Sunday brunch with friends, nailing the perfect look can be a challenge, so a capsule wardrobe of refined yet relaxed go-to staples is a must. 

Thankfully, London-based menswear brand Trunk has thought of every ‘smart casual’ scenario, and for autumn/winter 2021 it has launched its first-ever in-house collection to keep up with the requirements of even the most discerning of dressers. 

No stranger to classic style with a contemporary twist, the Trunk store was founded by Mats Klingberg in 2010, offering a curated edit of emerging and established brands from Japan, Europe, the US and beyond. The original shop is located on Marylebone’s Chiltern Street, with a second location opened in Zurich’s Seefeld quarter in March 2018. 

The brand’s own label is a natural progression of its worldly, wearable take on relaxed yet refined sartorial attire, exemplifying the Trunk aesthetic with timeless transitional layers crafted exclusively in the UK, Italy and Portugal, all with a focus on fabric, craftsmanship and quality. 

The Brook Extrafine Merino blazer, for example, is as snug as a cardigan but with all the elegance of a tailored garment. Made in Italy and knitted from merino featuring notch lapels and patch pockets, it is ideal for layering with the Audley Chambray shirt or the Moxon polo in warmer weather. 

Similarly versatile, the military-inspired Blandford field Jacket, is not only elegant but highly practical, and the Harley crew neck sweater made from a luxurious 12-gauge extra-fine merino wool can be worn over a T-shirt or smartened up with a shirt and blazer. The sophisticated colour palette merges fresh hues of sky blue and pale olive with rich autumnal tones of chestnut and burnt orange.

‘While we haven’t been blessed with the best summer, I can’t wait for the temperatures to come down a little, so that we can start layering up with our first Trunk AW21 capsule,’ says Klingberg. ‘So many nice textures, colours and styles that will only look better with time and can provide even the most demanding and busiest of men, with a complete seasonal wardrobe solution.’

From £45; trunkclothiers.com