Ask The Rake: What Are The Wardrobe Essentials One Should Save Up And Invest In?

If you live in a city like London, where even the most trustworthy of weather apps can be caught off-guard by sudden bursts of rain, having a coat that can keep you protected against the elements is always a worthy investment. Waterproof, windproof and breathable, the short Mac by Mackintosh is crafted using the brand's exclusive RAINTEC cotton – a contemporary evolution of their classic bonded cotton, built with a technical membrane that's flexible, softly draped and easy to move in. You simply can’t go wrong. Sealup is the combination of two words: "Sea" and "lup" (Milanese dialect for "wolf"). In fact the choice of these two words is not accidental, Sealup combines an international vision with a strong Milanese tradition, making the finest Made In Italy outerwear since 1935, so you’re in pretty safe hands with any of their coats on TheRake.com. I’ve highlighted their black storm belted raincoat not only for it’s technical prowess, but because it looks pretty badass. Manchester’s Private White V.C. are the technical outerwear equivalent of the kid-in-a-sweet-shop. Of all the possible choices, I’d highly recommend the Ventile® Mac 3.0. Though the black is arguably the more ‘timeless’ version, the mustard is absolutely beautiful and surprisingly versatile. I’ve worn it with a cream shirt and brown houndstooth sports jacket and denim jeans, which leads well into my next section.

Jeans are something akin to gold dust on The TheRake.com — as soon as they come in, they pretty much sell out, which only emphasises my point that a quality pair of denim jeans should be in every wardrobe. I prefer darker shades as I feel they are significantly more — here’s that word again — versatile, and wearable than a lighter wash. Richard Anderson's Kurashiki jeans sourced from Japan exude everything that a Richard Anderson product should be. Japanese denim has become a favourite with denim connoisseurs in London, and this iteration features a zip fly as opposed to button fastening (though the latter is also available if preferred). Barbanera bring a Spaghetti Western-appeal to denim that oozes coolness. It also helps if you look anything like Sergio, Sebastiano and Ale. Whilst the entire assortment is great, the 12.5oz black denim is a favourite. Turnbull & Asser’s five-pocket jeans, meanwhile, are made in Italy from smooth cotton with a touch of added stretch for comfort. The legs taper gently but are by no means ‘slim’. We recommend you roll up the hems just a little and wear with anything from trainers to boots to loafers.

To quote our Editor Tom Chamberlin, “There are a couple false economies in the world — buying cheap meat, and buying cheap shoes. For me, shoes provide the bridge between practicality and art.” The same can be said for boots. Boots are the 4x4 of the footwear world, so it’s important to invest in something that looks good, but can importantly hold strong for whatever terrain you decide to tackle. George Cleverley’s Roughout Nathan Chukkas are a good starting point. You’re in good hands, and lasts, with Cleverley shoes and these leather versions work well in the countryside but retain a certain elegance for city wear. Black leather pebble grain is a personal favourite of mine, and Norman Vilalta duly delivers on this front. This style is bench-grade constructed at every stage in Vilalta’s Barcelona atelier. Goodyear-welted Vibram Gumlite Commando soles keep the boots light yet hard-wearing and offer exceptional traction. Completing the set, Barbanera’s Kerouac is a derby balmoral boot with old-world inspiration. Made in Italy from a beautiful deer skin and suede leather, the boots are strong, tapered and resistant; designed to last you a lifetime. A worthy investment, and then some.