‘The goal shouldn’t be perfect cleanness’: stylish men share their laundry routines

When it comes to doing his laundry, Patrick Johnson says he uses the lowest temperature, the shortest and gentlest cycle, and ‘the absolute bare minimum of detergent’ Photograph: Supplied

Seeing a well-dressed gentleman on the street gives me great delight. Especially when he’s doing the kind of quiet activity – sitting at a cafe or reading a newspaper – that gives me time to appreciate the subtle details in his outfit: a crisp pleat in the front of his trousers, or the play of textures like a cable knit on tweed.

I think this attention to subtle details requires a certain kind of presence. Someone who complements his tan by balancing shades of navy linen with black suede loafers must take joy from observing the world around him.