The list of basic essentials that make up every well-edited wardrobe is not particularly long: a few white T-shirts, a navy suit, some selvedge denim.
But while this makes shopping and staying stocked up on the cornerstones of your look appear effortless, it also comes with the risk of turning up to work/an event/a party wearing the exact same thing as someone else.
The most effective way to avoid running into your wardrobe ringer is to keep your sources fresh, and constantly scout out new brands to add to your menswear roster. Which is exactly why if Blue Inc wasn’t already on your radar, it should be now.
For more than 100 years, the high street retailer’s straight-talking, no-nonsense approach to fashion has allowed its shoppers to stand out from the crowd, with in-house brands such as Industrialize, Retro Fire and newest addition, Carter & Rise, offering collections of trusted staples guaranteed to strengthen any ensemble.
Sitting alongside established names such as Levi’s, Timberland and Armani, as well as new and emerging labels from across the globe, the end result is an impressively broad range of accessible but contemporary staples that runs the gamut from solid basics, right the way through to trend-led and streetwear-inspired pieces.
Even more appealing is the fact that, for a limited time only, FashionBeans readers can get an exclusive 20% off all full price items* using the code BIBEANS20. Click here for more information.
Spring/Summer 2018
This season Blue Inc is upping the sartorial stakes even further with a mission to prove that great style can be synonymous with great value, making it quite possibly the best-kept secret on the high street.
The spring/summer 2018 edit sees a seasonally-appropriate palette of dusty pink, misty blue and soft green grounded with deeper earthy shades of burgundy, khaki and rust. Laundered woven cottons, textured knits and twisted yarns are punctuated with on-trend vertical stripes and botanical prints, all serving as the perfect accent to classic pieces from denim jackets and neatly cut chinos to grandad collar shirts and minimalist sneakers.
4 Go-To Looks For SS18
In case further proof was needed why Blue Inc is the high-street player worth keeping an eye on, we’ve teamed up with the retailer to create four key looks for the new season, all coming in under £100.
Easy Transition
That brief but notoriously difficult-to-dress-for period between seasons – AKA right now – requires a unique set of tools when getting dressed in the morning.
Enter: the utility shirt. Cut from slightly thicker cotton and in a boxy fit, it’s capable of slipping over a knit on cooler days, but does its best work flanking a simple T-shirt for some true military-inspired vibes.
Enlist a pair of rugged jeans in a dark colourway, then modernise the look with some sleek kicks.
Total Cost: £45.97
Bombs Away
A laid-back, throw-on-and-go bomber has emerged as a year-round essential over the past couple of seasons, and Blue Inc isn’t short of a few in its offering.
This example by Twisted Soul, a brand founded in London’s East End and championed by the retailer since 2007, injects the jacket with a streetwear edge in the form of contrast decals on the reverse.
Despite the details that make it stand out from the norm, the neat cut and ribbed-trim detailing ensures it remains versatile. Use it to dress down a classic grandad collar shirt, raw five-pocket jeans and a pair of chukka boots for a look that’s perfect for off-duty days.
Total Cost: £89.96
Sports Luxe
Athleisure, sportscore, sports luxe… whatever you call it, the art of combining high and low pieces is here to stay, so it pays to be stocked up on the key building blocks.
Few guys can make it through a weekend without resisting the urge to slip into comfortable sweats. Fortunately, Blue Inc’s next-level line-up of ribbed panel joggers and quilted hoodies from its own in-house brand are more stylish than slovenly.
To ensure you don’t get mistaken for being on your way to the gym, especially in this pair of textured runner trainers, cap the look off with a denim jacket. This one very helpfully comes in an on-trend shade of millennial pink.
Total Cost: £87.96
Flower Power
A Harrington jacket is one of those true menswear icons that never, ever goes out of style.
The timeless navy shade and deft touches – including a traditional back vent and tortoiseshell buttons – on this iteration by Carter & Rise makes it ideal for framing the season’s more daring pieces.
Tick off one of the season’s key trends while dialling down the statement by layering yours over a printed floral short-sleeved shirt. Anchor with a pair of neatly-cut chinos and some fresh kicks and you’re ready for the beer garden.
Total Cost: £86.98
Shop the full Blue Inc spring/summer 2018 range now online at blueinc.co.uk.
*20% Off offer excludes previously reduced items, gift cards and concessions. Offer valid 8-14 April, 2018.
