Men's Accessories

Accessories: no decent outfit is complete without them. They are what béarnaise sauce is to steak, butter to bread, an olive to a martini. You get the idea.

But sometimes it can be difficult to know just how good an investment any of these stylistic accoutrements might turn out to be (we’re looking at you, piano key tie and bottle opener belt buckle).

Fortunately, history has taken some of the trial and error out of the process; because if it looked good 50 years ago, and it looks good now, chances are it’ll look good for 50 more. These are the men’s accessories that will never go out of style.

Few things do a man more favours than a pair of sunglasses. Flattering, practical, and a dab hand at hiding dark circles when needed; glasses conjure up images of golden-age movie stars like Steve McQueen at the flick of a hinge.

It’s telling that the most popular styles have changed little over the decades. Aviators, Wayfarers and Clubmasters are all time-honoured staples that suit different face shapes. While twists on these stalwarts are more than welcome, the overwhelming sentiment is that if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Seeing as a decent pair of sunglasses will stick around for life, don’t be afraid to make them an investment piece. Just be sure to maximise longevity by keeping everything classic and understated with either black or tortoiseshell frames and brown, black, or dark green lenses.

Paying for a pint is now as easy as the swipe of a smartwatch. So it says something about the billfold wallet that it remains a stylish accessory even today.

Practical, moulded to the contours of its contents and aged to perfection over time, a leather wallet is an accomplice that will do the business long after the business has stopped accepting cash.

It’s for this reason that many men choose to have their note carriers embossed with their initials; a move that sets out intentions to keep it for life, even if what’s inside doesn’t make it to the end of the month.

The understated, no-nonsense cousin of the gold watch, a stainless steel timepiece has the ability not only to last one lifetime but several if handed down through successive generations. The material that has its roots in gun making is as flattering as it is durable. It’s also equally at home with a suit and tie as it is a T-shirt and chinos combination. Even half a century from now, when there’s a clock face embedded into contact lenses and a calendar built into most retinas, truly stylish men will still look to their steeled wrist when someone asks for the time.