There are some items in our wardrobe that we return to again and again, defying our rabid desire for the new. But what are they and why do they keep calling to us?
Nicolas Gabard, Founder and Creative Director of Husbands Paris
Vintage velvet jacket
I bought this jacket 20 years ago. It’s from the 70s, made of cheap dark blue velvet and has a style reminiscent of Jarvis Cocker; it’s also quite David Hemmings in BurstIt’s actually a bit too small for me, but it’s one of my favorite jackets. I bought it in a vintage shop in Paris before I got married and I still wear it a lot. Over the last few years we’ve been trying to copy the Husbands shoulder pad (it’s pagoda-shaped but with very little padding), but it never seems to fit right; they’re always too heavy. single breasted velvet jacket [£1,008] It has the same spirit but a straighter line. One day I hope we can recreate my super subtle style, maybe in autumn/winter 2025.
Charlene Prempeh, author and founder of A Vibe Called Tech
Rick Owens Sleeveless Quilted Coat
A decade ago I was living in a creative community in Southwark and one day a film and TV agent called John Wood asked me if I would like to buy a sleeveless puffer jacket. It sounds tragic, but that moment changed my life. I think I gave him £200 for it. Today it is the item of clothing I most associate with my personal style. It is partly functional, but it is also a bit ridiculous. A balloon without arms It doesn’t really make much sense, but the silhouette is spectacular and I love that it can be folded up or down depending on the temperature. I can basically wear it all year round in the UK, given how crazy our weather is, and I do. I’ve since bought another version in brown.
Ben Cobb, editor of IS Magazine
Tom Ford brown turtleneck sweater
I already had my chocolate brown Tom Ford Turtleneck Sweater I’ve been wearing this for about 16 years now and still adore it. It’s a beautiful cashmere and silk blend so it feels amazing and is great for wearing under tailored pieces. Brown is also my favourite colour and a strong shade in my wardrobe so it goes brilliantly with a lot of clothes. My wife bought it for one of my birthdays. We hadn’t been together very long at the time but once I opened this gift I knew it was a good choice. (Just to clarify, that’s not why I married her. Well, not entirely.)
Bianca Saunders, Founder and Creative Director of Bianca Saunders
Black vintage v-neck sweater
I found my thick v-neck in VintadoIt’s a bit short and oversized, and I wear it all the time. I don’t own a lot of jumpers, but I feel like I have a bit of a uniform when I wear this one – I can get dressed in the morning without thinking too much about it. I mostly wear clothes that I’ve designed, and I’m a very indecisive shopper, so when I find something I like, a staple piece, it becomes a constant go-to. I like the timelessness of this jumper, which reflects the way I design. When I make clothes, I think about whether they’ll be wearable in the future without looking dated. That’s important to me.
William Gilchrist, stylist and design consultant
William Gilchrist Hybrid Shirt-Jacket
I have worked with several tailors to develop jacket-shirt hybrids over the years. I have one that I usually wear in the summer and I also have a warmer one. The original was inspired by a safari jacket my father wore when we lived in Africa. I had the first one made from lightweight linen. I didn’t like the classic short sleeves so I added long jacket sleeves and a sort of fitted Neapolitan shoulder pad; I also adapted the pockets to be bellows pockets. It’s probably best described as a cross between a safari jacket and a Cuban guayabera. It’s also similar to something Indonesian politicians wear. I often wear a lightweight version of the jacket over a shirt in the summer because I can’t stand wearing shirts on their own. I feel a bit incomplete, a bit masculine. The jacket, which I have had remade and repaired many times over the years, is simple and elegant, I hope. I have made a few for friends over the years, including Charlie Watts, and am currently producing a limited edition.
Caroline Issa, editor and fashion director of Tank magazine
Miu Miu A-line trench coat
I bought my Miu Miu Trench Coat in 2002. I had just started working in fashion in Tank Magazine, coming from a management consultancy where I wore a lot of practical coats. This new coat combined that practicality (it’s waterproof) with amazing style, which took my new persona to the next level. It’s cut in an A-line silhouette with a wide belt so you can cinch in the waist. It also has a cool stand-up collar. I’ve lost the little strip that holds up the collar, but that doesn’t matter – it’s still the best coat I’ll ever own. I feel like a part of my fashion language would be lost if I ever misplaced or damaged it.
Nick Wakeman, Founder and Creative Director of Studio Nicholson
Shoes for the arts and sciences room
I bought these house slippers on a trip to Japan 16 years ago. They are in such good condition because I tend to admire them more than I wear them. In Japan, everyone takes off their shoes, which I love. I have always been a big proponent of taking off your shoes when you come into the house. In fact, I take off all my clothes – I have indoor clothes and outdoor clothes. When I first visited Japan, it changed my life – there was texture everywhere; everything was clean, neat and tidy. Arts and Sciences Backless Pumps In burgundy leather, for me, that feeling is reflected in them. Now, every time I visit Japanese homes, I look at their collection of slippers at the entrance door. You can tell a lot about people by the slippers they wear.
Alexander Fury, journalist, curator and editor
Prada black nylon backpack
I bought my first Prada nylon backpack In my fashion journey, I’ve jumped into the fashion adventure relatively early. I now buy a new version every few years; it does the job. I’ve gone for a few variations on the original design, but the classic one (pocket on the front, handle on the top, zip closure) has proven to be the best. There are plenty of other fashion people who seem equally loyal to this style (Amanda Harlech has one that she’s used to death), which is interesting because they’re actually pretty nondescript. It’s not a fashion bag per se, although it is by Prada. I’ve had lots of bags, but none of them work as well. Somehow I feel confident when I’m wearing it. It knows what it’s doing.
Anna Foster, Founder and Creative Director of ELV Denim
My mom’s striped shirt
I stole this shirt from my mother when I was about 17. She was so stylish and beautiful that I just wanted to be like her. She taught me the value of good quality clothes and taught me how to take care of them. It was this shirt, with its masculine stripe, that first inspired me. Diana’s shirt (named after her), which is now in my collection. Sadly, my mother passed away 16 years ago, but I still wear her shirt, either under overalls or alone with shorts, and every time I wear it, I feel connected to her.
The Closet: A Coming-of-Age Story About the Clothes That Made Me Grow Upby Teo van den Broeke, is published by HQ at £18.99