My blue interval: Packing for a weekend break

December 27, 2025

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A few months in the past the celebrities of friendship aligned for one wonderful weekend when two of my dearest London mates – Simon (now residing in South Carolina) and Kevin (now within the Netherlands) – occurred to be in New York on the identical weekend.

The final time the three of us had taken a visit wherever was 2009; 16 years isn’t lengthy by astrological requirements, however, assuming the identical frequency into the long run, it will imply our subsequent alternative to spend this a lot time collectively could be in my 60s. That bone-chilling thought hastened me into making preparations to hitch them.

Sadly, as with most last-minute journeys, it wasn’t shaping as much as be low cost. A compromise had been reached on the eye-watering prices of NYC lodging, whereby Kevin and I’d share a lodge room so small we might attain a degree of familiarity often solely attained by visitors of His Majesty.

In one other prudential transfer, and extra considerably from a menswear perspective, I used to be solely going to deliver carry-on baggage!

Now, for many of the male inhabitants, I concede this gained’t appear to be a lot of a sacrifice. However, nestled right here within the bosom of my PS brethren, I don’t have to inform you how difficult this was for me – as confided in my Thailand article, I’m a type of overpackers who thinks that he’s simply ‘being ready’.

Into my impossibly small baggage, I would want to cram an unimpeachable collection of garments; clothes that wholly complemented each other, with enough versatility to take me from a chic martini-and-oysters lunch on the fantastic Maison Premiere to sundown beers perched atop plastic youngsters’s stools exterior a Chinatown dive.

My cream and brown vacation capsule (above left) actually met the temporary, however felt too gentle and clear for a tough and soiled metropolis like New York – that’s a praise, by the best way. A casual edit of Simon’s chilly workplace outfits (above proper) would higher go well with the atmosphere, however with good cloudless skies forecast I needed one thing a little bit hotter.

So it’s becoming that on a visit the place I reconnected with nice outdated buddies, I additionally rekindled my affection for that nice outdated cornerstone of males’s fashion: the color blue.

A dozen years in the past, in frequent with so many guys who’ve launched into that perilous voyage to enhance their fashion, I discovered the most secure passage to be by means of the darkest of blue waters. The color navy grew to become a hedge towards the monetary and social dangers connected to attempting new (and often costlier) garments for the primary time.

Therefore, my Saman Amel navy enterprise go well with was augmented with navy knits, navy polos, darkish indigo denims and a navy pea coat. My first bespoke trousers from Pommella have been navy twill. My equipment – umbrellas, ties, hats, gloves and scarves – have been uniformly navy. And I’ll offer you one guess what color my first and solely pair of Widespread Tasks (keep in mind these?) have been.

However, missing the assuredness and wizened charisma of Noboru Kakuta (above), I believe I satisfied myself that it was all too bland. I used to be a rooster korma however my coronary heart yearned to be a spicier dish. And like a moody teenager who reflexively thumbs their nostril at their mother or father’s music, I started to scale back the quantity of navy garments I purchased and commissioned.

I do not remorse these impulses; with out them I’d by no means have realized that I want trousers to denims, commissioned a cream linen go well with or found that I’ll put on just about something in pink.

However within the final couple of years, I’ve discovered myself shopping for extra blue clothes as soon as once more: steely blue tailoring; cerulean t-shirts; azure workwear; child blue bombers; and a smattering of navy (in fact). I’m additionally now instinctively constructing outfits which can be extra monochrome than monotone: the benefit and flexibility of blue with out the sobriety and conservatism of all-navy.

In order I began to sift by means of what I’d need to pack, and will see the dabs of blue forming on the palette, I made a decision to make like Picasso and absolutely embrace my blue interval for New York. To borrow an outline from my favorite Nick Drake music, the garments I took have been “darker than the deepest sea…weaker than the palest blue”.

The plaid shirt, which I nabbed on the inaugural PS pre-owned sale, is from RRL. I usually don’t put on work shirts (of the various phrases which have been used to explain me, ‘rugged’ isn’t amongst them), however I believe the easy porcelain blue and white makes this one a fraction extra refined, and thus much less conspicuous if often worn extra well.

RRL are notably good at hanging that stability, and a cursory Google search threw up fairly a couple of good choices, together with one on Marrkt which seems to be similar to mine (accessible on the time of publication).

The washed denim shirt is from J. McLaughlin; their collars are too small, however the cloth used right here is superb – suitably weathered and textured. In shiny sunshine, and with an attendant tan, it pairs effectively with my classic 501s (from Holdwest), however on gloomier days, to obviate the danger of wanting too washed out, the navy PS cotton knit or slate blue Kamoshita x Decorum jacket assist anchor it.

The latter (nonetheless accessible in smaller sizes) has proved an enormous hit over the summer season – worn for each event from black tie occasions to drinks in New York, straight off the airplane, with my good friend Richie (high).

The linen-cotton mix fared fairly effectively within the suitcase, and the dearth of construction and extra economical RTW price-point meant I wasn’t clutching my pearls as I folded it away.

The opposite navy-adjacent merchandise I packed was the PS tapered T-shirt. Whereas listed as ‘navy’, I’d argue it’s a shade lighter, with a refined inky hue that’s simpler to discern when worn with true navy (as above, in a glance that coincidentally would match completely alongside my vacation apparel). The colouring makes a pleasant level of distinction and provides the T-shirt a classic really feel.

I often put on Uniqlo U T-shirts, that are an honest possibility on the worth. However the PS T-shirt has a greater neckline, softer and extra substantial cotton, and a extra flattering form. To not point out it’s a tubular knit. Like lots of readers, I’ve been on the ready checklist for some time and I’m very impressed with it.

The final two items I packed – a large legged trouser from Decorum (above) and a Rubato polo shirt – have been navy, and mixed to make a wise however relaxed night look. There’s an attention-grabbing parallel with tailoring right here: navy on high and backside hardly ever attracts a second look, whereas pairing comparable, pale blues walks a finer line between being hanging and hanging out.

Nevertheless, most profitable outfits are inclined to have some distinction – often achieved by mixing darker shades with lighter ones or plain materials with patterned and textured ones.

For instance, in my vacation wardrobe, whereas the RRL shirt and denims have an analogous tone, the checked sample of the previous helps create sufficient distinction with the latter. To additional delineate high and backside and add texture, I often put on a belt; in fact, I forgot to take action for this shoot (beneath), however you may think about how a pleasant leather-based one would assist right here.

I restricted myself to at least one pair of footwear – not very best from a upkeep perspective, however an actual space-saver. The fortunate pair have been black cordovan Alden LHS loafers, essentially the most snug leather-based shoe I personal, plus cordovan is mostly higher at hiding fatigue than calf.

I’ve written earlier than about my normal desire for black footwear, however I believe most readers would take a brown shoe or a canvas sneaker – each of which might work effectively with this mini wardrobe.

If choosing brown, suede is especially good, and for inspiration you needn’t look additional than Noboru Kakuta who wears it virtually completely in his all-blue ensembles.

So, how profitable was my packing? Nicely, I’ve compiled a full checklist of the garments I took with me on the finish of the article, and I used to be blissful to pair any a type of gadgets with one other. What’s extra, in distinction to most earlier holidays, I wore each single factor at the least as soon as.

There was even enough space within the case to take pleasure in a little bit purchasing on the stunning new Buck Mason flagship retailer on Broadway. (Professional tip: if, like me, jet lag performs havoc together with your sleep, the store opens at 8am and you’ll concurrently get each a caffeine and menswear repair).

However my packing’s true success isn’t measured by luggage-space-optimisation, wears-per-garment or ensemble-permutation metrics; it’s in regards to the readability and confidence a thought of wardrobe can deliver.

For the 4 days I used to be away, I wasn’t losing time in my tiny head or my tinier lodge room agonising over what to put on. I used to be current with my buddies, rolling again the years (simply with extra frequent toilet breaks). And lengthy after the primary gap within the elbow of my jumper seems and the shirts have develop into threadbare, the reminiscences of our weekend in New York will endure.

Right here’s to 2041, lads.

Manish is @the_daily_mirror on Instagram