Get classy in grey flannel

September is back to school month, where everyone returns to normality after the summer holidays. Taking this theme, I've styled up some outfits from that most traditional of fabrics  -  grey flannel. According to Alan Flusser in "Dressing the Man", it started life in the nineteenth centrury being used solely for underwear, (ooh, itchy?!), by the 1880's it was used for sports such as golf, cycling and tennis, and it wasn't until the late 1920's that it took it's rightful place as a style staple in a gentleman's wardrobe.

Read on for my style tutorial in grey flannel:

Take one timelessly classic pair of grey flannel trousers, add a perfect white shirt, some beautiful shoes and the flash of a coloured sock and what do you have? A stylish solution fit for a wide variety of occasions. Restock your pencil case for the coming season with this ingenious alloy tipped pen  - no ink required.

Slim cutaway poplin shirt  - Jigsaw menswear

Wool flannel trousers  - Canali at Mr Porter

Airport wool and cotton blend socks  - Falke at Mr Porter

Blakey black Derby shoes  - Mr Hare

Beta inkless metal pen  - Axel Weinbrecht at Cult Pens

Learn the art of accessorising to extend your wardrobe to the max. A simple grey sweater and chinos, are elevated to the top of the style class with a luxurious backpack (in grey flannel of course), statement silver ring, and 'classic with a twist' belt.

Light grey wool sweater with elbow patches  - Paul Smith

Washed cotton navy chinos  - Spoke

Laether trimmed grey flannel backpack  - Saint Laurent at Mr Porter

Dark navy burnished leather belt  - Paul Smith

Silver signature ring  - Maison Martin Margiela at End

Make a study of what colours suit you so they can become your best pals in making you look good. The golden yellow of this tie is suited to warm olive or freckly skin tones, and instantly enlivens the cooler grey and white. This rebellious little pocket square tones in perfectly, sharpening up your look whilst adding fun and flair.

Grey flannel 2 button slim tailored jacket  - Jigsaw Menswear

White cutaway collar shirt  - Cleeve of London for Drake's

Grenadine yellow silk tie  - Drake's

"I Will Never Surrender" silk pocket square  - Age of Reason

Aluminium pencil sharpener  - Labour and Wait

Test out collegiate style with this grey wool varsity jacket. Soft pinky red combines with the understated grey to create a quietly stylish outfit. Alden bluchers made from cordovan leather score 10 out of 10 for longevity and will stand the test of time long after their more fashion forward counterparts have failed.

Grey wool varsity jacket  - MKI at End

Anton chambray shirt  - Norse Projects at End

Light grey washed cotton chinos  - Spoke

Cap toe Derby shoe  - Alden at End

Black leather iPhone 5 flipcase  - Il Bussetto at Opumo

Experiment with a soft flannel shirt and gently tailored blazer in a textbook combination of navy and grey. It will perfectly transition your look through to Autumn and these beautiful trainers will have you winning outright on the sartorial playing field.

Navy tailored cotton blazer  - Browns

Grey soft flannel shirt  - Browns

Light grey low top trainers  - Common Projects at The Corner

Navarino pocket square  - Sartor Resartus

Metal desk stapler  - Labour and Wait

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