11 Menswear Brands That Have Perfected Modern Classics

Menswear’s modern classics are those pieces that feel as if they’ve been around forever, even if they’re yet to reach double digits. It’s the khaki overshirt you can throw on with anything, the chinos you wear to work, the clean white minimalist sneakers you’ve been relying on every weekend for as long as you can remember. More recent than your three-piece suit, but better established than your latest pair of trend-led trainers.

These are the pieces that set the foundation of a well-rounded wardrobe, and there are some brands that do them better than others. To give you a nudge in the right direction, we’ve listed a few of our favourites below, from London legends to Copenhagen cool.

Drake’s

Now a household name among the menswear crowd, London’s Drake’s started with ties and has since developed into a fully fledged clothing brand with its own inimitable signature style. Think Ivy League meets Savile Row with just a touch of sprezzatura thrown in for good measure.

We’re talking soft tailoring, collegiate baseball caps, rugby shirts, crisp Oxfords and Shetland knits, all thrown together in a way that just… works. It’s a bit like what might have happened if Ralph Lauren had been made in London rather than New York, albeit with a much more tightly curated offering.

Relaxed but grown up. Playful but classy.

Shop now at Drake’s

A.P.C.

A.P.C. is a label built around restraint and clean lines. It’s one of the best basic brands in the business and is well-known as a gateway to the world of raw denim.

Fits are trim and tidy – something which has remained steadfast through fashion’s eternal shrinking and expanding of silhouettes – and the colour palette is muted.

There are few names that fit into the ‘modern classics’ category so comfortably, making the Parisian label one to know.

Shop now at Farfetch

NN07

Copenhagen is fast becoming an unofficial fashion capital. Its inhabitants always seem to be impeccably turned out, and usually right at the cutting edge of fashion. They also know what makes a good staple, which is evident when you browse NN07’s range.

Simple, stripped-back and made with care, these are modern essentials made for everyday life. Soft tailoring, easy knits, practical outerwear – essentials for modern life, reimagined with a modern touch. If you want clothes you can throw on without thinking and know you’ll look good, this is the label to know.

Shop now at MR PORTER

Norse Projects

Another Copenhagen-based brand with a knack for the modern essentials is Norse Projects. Now in its third decade, Norse is one of the originators that have really put Denmark on the menswear map, known for its melding of minimalism, skate culture influences, and streetwear.

Over the years, the brand’s designs have matured with it. Playful graphic tees, big-logo hoodies and five-panel caps were replaced by pared-back techwear, classic outerwear with a twist and grown-up staples like quality knitwear and tailored pants.

In short, it’s a solid bet if you’re building a capsule wardrobe and aren’t restricted by budget.

Shop now at END.

Percival

Subverting the classics and putting its own London twist on traditional menswear – it’s all in a day’s work for Percival. The brand focuses on staple pieces like overshirts, knit polos, tees and soft tailoring, often embellished with subtle tongue-in-cheek touches such as embroidered motifs and off-kilter fabrics.

That said, this is still sensible clobber. It’s the sort of stuff you could wear to meet your girlfriend’s parents for lunch and then meet the boys at the pub. Fun and far from boring, but not so much that it’s unsuitable for the day-to-day.

Shop now at Percival

Wax London

Think classic menswear pieces with contemporary cuts, playful colours and tactile fabrics. If you can imagine that, you can imagine Wax London. Born in London, the brand’s core piece is the Whiting overshirt – a chunky woven shirt-jacket hybrid that perfectly captures the mood.

Outside of overshirts, you’ll find colourful crochet shirts, relaxed legwear, subtle logo baseball caps and statement knitwear. Perfect for a jovial take on menswear’s classics.

Shop now at Wax London

Oliver Spencer

Oliver Spencer is perhaps London’s foremost purveyor of soft tailoring. These are suits you won’t feel stiff in. They’re easy to wear, laid-back and designed for a comfortable, lived-in feel.

It’s tailoring that’s built for the bar as opposed to the boardroom – the sort of stuff you can wear every day and not feel out of place.

Shop now at MR PORTER

Beams Plus

Heritage remixed with energy, filtered through a lens of Tokyo-style know-how. Playful shirts, perfect chinos, knitwear and smart jackets carry Ivy, outdoor and military references without tipping into costume.

Proportions are tuned for menswear enthusiasts. A touch roomier where it matters, crisp where it counts, so pieces feel authentic yet easy.

Shop now at Farfetch

OrSlow

Drawing inspiration from workwear, the military and mid-century sportswear, OrSlow is a Japanese brand with a focus on quality and longevity. It’s all about long-term wear and creating pieces that improve with age, rather than falling apart.

Part of that is about using high-quality fabrics and producing everything on Japanese soil, but it’s also about choosing modern-classic shapes that won’t be out of fashion in a few seasons’ time.

Expect to find pieces like Japanese selvedge jeans in straight-leg cuts, fatigue pants, field jackets and overshirts, all produced with that typically Japanese eye for detail.

Shop now at MR PORTER

Folk

Texture comes first at this cult London label, with knitwear you want to touch, tidy trousers, chore jackets and colour-blocked tees. Silhouettes remain relaxed and straightforward, and the palette consists of grounded, versatile tones.

Details are quiet – a neat seam, a tactile handle – which is why outfits built from Folk’s modern-classic pieces read as considered without ever trying too hard.

Understated design that elevates the everyday and blends seamlessly with everything else in your wardrobe.

Shop now at END.

Arpenteur

French workwear with neat manners, refined in Lyon. Maritime jackets, chore coats and wide trousers arrive in dense fabrics and clean lines, with practical cuts that feel precise. Colours skew towards navy and stone, with the occasional flash of something more vibrant.

The result? Familiar utility made fresh. Sturdy enough for daily wear, sharp enough to feel deliberate. If you want staples that age well and hold their shape, give Arpenteur a shout.

Shop now at Arpenteur