The Style Evolution of the Jumper

A jumper is one of the most diverse pieces of clothing in the Western closet. If this garment was to be personified, there would be a version for almost every kind of person. There are the playfully exuberant designs that are sartorial extroverts; there’s the understated designs that could reflect both introverts and minimalists.

Monotone

Have you ever given black or white much thought? These monotone shades are so everyday, and to an extent so austere, that it’s unlikely they conjure an emotion in the same way that colours can. Yellow is a mood-booster.

British Colours

What comes to mind when you think of Britain?

An American might answer this question with reference to accents, bad weather, and biscuits. Others might refer to our breakfasts, or pots of tea in china cups.

Quiet Luxury

“Quiet luxury” might be a term coined in response to the sartorial code of the hit TV show Succession. But for those who favour timeless closet staples, it’s not a seasonal trend linked to the Roy family’s signature look. It’s a way of life.

The Cotton T-Shirt

The T-shirt is to every wardrobe what salt and pepper are to a kitchen cupboard: a fundamental staple. It’s one that is often overshadowed by more standout ingredients, but that provides a consistent base that’s always in season—and forever appropriate.

Knitwear Icons

Fashion is a powerful communicator, and for habitual wearers, specific garments, or categories of clothes, become a part of their identity. For many celebrities over the decades, that gravitation has been towards knitwear.

The Jumper

The jumper has a unique significance in today’s modern wardrobe. Comfortable, reliable, and endlessly wearable, its constant presence in our day-to-day lives means each jumper racks up its own sentimental history — each pullover has seen it all.

The Roll Neck

Consider the closet a feat of architecture. In a similar vein to a brick-and-mortar structure, today's modern wardrobe is built upon a foundation of solid staples that stand the test of time and endure all seasons. And fewer pieces encapsulate this sense of permanence quite like the roll-neck jumper.

The Polo Shirt

If ever there was a garment to define smart-casual style, then the polo shirt would be it. Today, it’s a seamless hybrid between a classic tee and a button-up shirt; the collar offers a laid-back polish that looks as good worn with denim as it does paired with tailoring for lower-octane events or warm-weather weddings.

Blue: Our Most Wearable Colour

Of all the colours in the rainbow, blue is the one that continually captivates us. From the palest of pastels akin to the sunny dawn sky to the inkiest shades that backdrop the starry, dark abyss, blue is earthly, and our connection to it is visceral. It’s the one tone we can use to tell the time.

Mod Style

Mod style, popularised in 1960s Britain, is characterised by sleek, tailored looks, bold patterns, and iconic accessories, embodying a rebellion against tradition with a contemporary, cosmopolitan flair.

Collar Types

Collars have been used by John Smedley ever since the men’s polo shirt, Isis, was launched in the 1930s. We use six different collar designs, which are knitted at our Lea Mills factory in Derbyshire. 

Why Our Products Are So Good

Whether it’s cotton, cashmere or Merino wool each one of our chosen fibres is lavished with care and attention long before it arrives at our factory doors.

Masters of Merino

Our extra fine Merino, nature’s wonder fibre has been around for centuries and plays an integral part in the creation of our iconic garments.