There’s a reason everyone always fancied their English teacher. Esoteric, unconventional, and often a little flamboyant, they were the fun ones you wanted to impress. They were also the best-dressed, abiding by a specific dress code set for them by some almighty sartorial wizard sat atop a cloud in Clergerie loafers while reading The First Folio. And now that autumn is in full swing, it seems as though everyone everywhere is trying to emulate this aesthetic.
In case you weren’t paying attention in your English lessons, allow us to guide your revision. The look is defined by a few key staples: tailoring, clean lines, and an oversized silhouette. According to new data released by Depop, the so-called “heritage chic” trend is dominating the platform right now, with searches for “tweed” up by 86 per cent since July, while searches for “argyle” and “trench coat” have spiked by 127 per cent and 170 per cent, respectively. The secondhand fashion marketplace puts the sudden surge down to the popularity of Celebrity Traitors, which sees host Claudia Winkleman frequently clad in collegiate clothing, while stars including Jonathan Ross and Stephen Fry have sported capes, checked coats, and velvet jackets.
