Lyle & Scott's new range

Knitwear king raids its rich, woolly history

Lyle & Scott's new range

The words ‘sports casual’ once conjured up images of a pastel-bedecked Alan Partridge, but in recent years the sartorial tide has turned. These days, old-fashioned leisurewear adorns rock stars as well as retirees and a huge part of that is down to Lyle & Scott.

Conceived in 1874 by Scottish business associates William Lyle and Walter Scott, the classic British brand with the swooping eagle logo has evolved from Seventies golf outfitter to modern high-street mainstay — but its latest range looks to the past for inspiration.

Revamped by an all-new team, Lyle & Scott Heritage plunders the brand’s past for a bumper collection of elegantly simple cold-weather pieces that yet another soggy British summer may necessitate sooner rather than later.

There’s a sharply tailored wool pea coat, a pair of professorial blazers in knitted tweed and wool flannel, and a black gilet that’s just the right side of lumberjack cool. Over-dyed shirts and a spruced-up version of the classic polo favoured by bands such as Arctic Monkeys also feature.

But it’s the knitwear that truly impresses. Featuring a new silk and wool blend, the heavy-duty knits on show include crew-neck jumpers in gratifyingly bright colours, a chunky cardigan with natty leather buttons, a preppy cricket jumper and a fitted roll-neck (above) with a maritime feel.

Each of these items is capped off by a new red version of the iconic eagle — not to be confused with the golden eagle that characterises the vintage line — and will be available online from 8 August and in stores including Selfridges, Fenwick and Brown Thomas just after.

Consider your weather-battling autumn wardrobe sorted. But whatever you do, don’t team them with a monogrammed blazer and string-backed driving gloves.

Lyleandscott.com

Marc Chacksfield
Content Director

As Content Director of Shortlist, Marc likes nothing more than to compile endless lists of an evening by candlelight. He started out life as a movie writer for numerous (now defunct) magazines and soon found himself online - editing a gaggle of gadget sites, including TechRadar, Digital Camera World and Tom's Guide UK. At Shortlist you'll find him mostly writing about movies and tech, so no change there then.