We’re having a sporty summer. We’ve hung iconic, athletic prints on our walls. We’ve plumbed the depths of the ocean to buckle up the very best diving watches. We’ve even taken fashion inspiration from the most heavy-hitting, back-swinging tennis players of all time, from Arthur Ashe to Bjorn Borg.
But perhaps the best in sporting style this summer is not to be found cavorting on the courts; but rather wandering around the wickets. Cricket — like golf before it — is the latest discipline to become an unlikely source of fashion for modern men, spurring us to pull on bright white trousers, button up striped blazers and shrug on some of the nattiest knitwear this side of winter.
So follow us into the rolling Chiltern Hills and out onto The Cricket Ground at Wormsley, as we showcase some of our favourite brands’ fashions inspired by flannels…
So where to start? We’d kick off with colour — and, like the neatly-trimmed grass, recommend you go green. Whether it’s a sweatshirt-style jumper like this Tod’s hooded top, or a pair of Monc sunglasses with bold, bottle green lenses, you won’t go wrong this summer with a strong dose of verdant, vibrant colour.
Also available this summer is a more obvious nod to the sport. And, while long-sleeved cricket jumpers — with those deep, colourful V-necks and contrast bands around the cuffs — may seem a little loud or difficult to dress-up, you’ll be bowled over by how effortlessly elegant they are once you hang one in your wardrobe.
But the direct derivations of the game don’t end there. Whilst whites may be the style staple we most associate with cricket (more on that in a moment), we’ve always had a soft sport for the statement jacket. It may be block-coloured with some eye-catching piping, or patterned to within an inch of its lapels, but a bright, bold blazer is always cricket.
Of course, whites always play first. And there’s much to be said for incorporating the nuanced, neutral tones that typify the sport into your summer wardrobe. But we’d suggest very slightly stretching the spectrum by including beiges and creams — and then buying everything from sweaters to sneakers to suits in the versatile colours.
However, whilst whites are well and good, nothing beats a pattern. And king of these dandy designs is the bolshy block stripe. Commonly seen on club blazers, we’d recommend taking the bombastic, banded style this summer — and applying it everywhere. First up? Look down, because nothing will get you on the front foot like a stripy pair of socks.
There are a handful of design touches that define cricket whites. There’s the cable knit, the high elastic content of the trousers and, to avoid abrasions from the grass, the long-sleeved shirts. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t experiment with more summer-friendly shorter sleeves. Case in point; that perennial layering hero, the sleeveless cricket jumper.
Another of this traditional sport’s style lessons; learn how to accessorise. We’d steer well clear of any polarised, wraparound sunglasses, however — and instead point you in the considerably more dapper direction of a well-made baseball cap. True, it’s got another sport sullying its name, but this menswear staple is a sun-shielding essential for any sportsman.
Our final piece of fashion advice? Relax. Because, whilst the whites of cricket may seem stiffly starched to outsiders or onlookers, there is a softer side to the sport. And few other disciplines have embraced this relaxed feel quite so well. To emulate some tip-top training gear, focus on three fabrics; fleece, flannel and cotton piqué.
Shot by Adam Fussell; Styling by Holly Macnaghten; Casting by Marqee Miller; Grooming by Charlotte Kraftman; Hair by Simon Blay; Photo Assisstance by Ben Large; Stylist Assisstance by Daniel Gray, Jemima Frost. Models: Ben Atkins, Noyon Islam, Omari Phipps and Razak Salifou.
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