Ape’s Top 10 Of The Month: February 2026
Welcome to Ape to Gentleman’s Top 10 of the Month feature, where we curate the trends, insights and smart recommendations designed to help you live well and stay ahead of the curve.
In this instalment, we’ve handpicked 10 essential talking points spanning everything from the latest fashion drops and grooming upgrades to new technology and standout entertainment releases. Whether you’re planning a considered style refresh, fine-tuning your routine, or simply want to know what’s genuinely worth your time and attention this month, we’ve got you covered.
Let’s explore how to make February your most stylish, successful and satisfying month yet.
Nudie Jeans Repair Shops
Everyone should have a pair of jeans in their wardrobe. We’d recommend a light-to-mid wash—something that goes with everything, dressed up or down—and ideally a future-proof pair you’ll actually want to keep for years, not just seasons.
Nudie Jeans has one of the most commendable approaches in denim right now, built around a simple idea: buy once, wear them in, then keep them going. Take your jeans into a Nudie Repair Shop for repairs (for free), and if they eventually reach the point of no return, you can hand them back to be re-used or recycled through the brand’s circular programme. It’s a genuinely practical way to get more life out of a good pair, while keeping waste out of the wardrobe equation.
We’ve got our eye on a pair of Gritty Jacksons (a regular straight jean with a mid waist) in that sweet-spot wash that works with everything from a hoodie to a proper coat.
Inselberg Axiom Shell Jacket
As part of our new-year crusade to encourage more outdoor, properly human activity, we’ve been using technical outerwear as both carrot and stick. Long hikes, unpredictable weather and wintry conditions become far more appealing when you’re wrapped up in a jacket that’s genuinely built for the job.
Inselberg’s Axiom Shell is exactly that kind of piece. Designed for prolonged exposure in severe Alpine environments, it was developed in collaboration with Aoraki Mount Cook Alpine Rescue professionals — people who rely on their kit when the stakes are genuinely high. Translated into everyday terms, that means serious protection from snow, wind and freezing rain, paired with carefully engineered ventilation to keep things from getting clammy once you start working up a sweat on the hills.
It’s a no-nonsense shell that prioritises performance, durability and comfort in equal measure. There’s no excuse not to get outside now.
Saucony Endorphin Azura
Saucony is kicking off the month with a new everyday running shoe, built with speed firmly in mind. The Endorphin Azura is a plate-free daily runner designed to sit in that sweet spot between performance and practicality, making it ideal for runners who want pace without committing to race-day-only kit.
Underfoot, it combines Saucony’s latest superfoam for responsive, propulsive cushioning with the brand’s Speedroll technology, encouraging smooth, efficient forward momentum on every stride. By ditching a carbon plate, the Azura focuses on durability and versatility, keeping the ride forgiving enough for regular mileage and the price point refreshingly accessible.
The result is a fast-feeling, well-supported shoe that’s easy to live with — perfect for injecting a bit of excitement back into your weekly runs, whether that’s tempo sessions or simply picking up the pace on your usual loop.
Wasteman
Fresh from his turn in the Stephen King adaptation The Long Walk and a breakout role in HBO’s Industry, rising star David Jonsson returns front and centre in the gritty prison drama Wasteman. The film follows inmate Taylor (Jonsson), whose hopes of parole are suddenly derailed by the arrival of a volatile new cellmate, Dee, played by Tom Blyth.
Tense, character-led and stripped back, Wasteman leans into moral ambiguity and power dynamics behind bars, with Jonsson delivering a performance that continues his run as one of Britain’s most compelling young actors. The film built significant momentum on the festival circuit last year, earning strong reviews at the British Independent Film Awards, where it won the Douglas Hickox Award for Best Directorial Debut.
In cinemas from 20 February
Igloo Trailmate 52
The recent cold snaps have us daydreaming about summer parties, long afternoons, and well-planned barbecues. If 2026 is shaping up to be the year of getting outside, reconnecting with friends and hosting (indoors or out), then Igloo’s Trailmate 52 deserves a place in those plans.
Think of it as an outdoor revelry mothership. This heavy-duty, insulated cooler-on-wheels can hold up to 80 cans, along with just about anything else you might need for a serious picnic or garden gathering. Built to handle rougher terrain, it rolls easily from car to park to patio, while clever details like integrated cupholders, lockable storage and a flat lid mean it doubles up as a table or extra seat once you arrive.
Practical, over-engineered and quietly brilliant, it’s exactly the kind of kit that turns a good day outside into a memorable one — and keeps the cold ones cold while it’s at it.
The Greek Kitchen
Phaidon’s The Greek Kitchen is the first cookbook we’ve come across in a while that delivers on every recipe from the very start. No filler, no weak links… just a greatest-hits collection with no skips. Drawn from the publisher’s all-encompassing Greece: The Cookbook, this more focused volume distils the very best of Greek home cooking into something genuinely usable and endlessly tempting.
It’s a dream for entertaining, leaning into vegetable-forward, wholesome dishes that still feel generous and celebratory. Expect everything from mezedes like garlic-stuffed courgettes and stuffed mussels, to centrepiece plates such as stuffed lamb roll wrapped in grape leaves. Simple, confident cooking rooted in flavour, seasonality and sharing.
If you’re committing to the Mediterranean diet this year, or just want to cook food that feels both nourishing and indulgent, this is an excellent place to start.
Sake ONO Rare
Sake and soju were everywhere in 2025, and all signs point to even more drinks-menu sightings in 2026 as curiosity around premium East Asian spirits continues to grow. Riding that momentum, modern sake brand Sake ONO has unveiled a high-end new expression: Sake ONO Rare.
This limited release marries two rare Junmai Daiginjo sakes (the top tier of sake classification), which are harmonised over an eight-month resting period to build depth, balance and elegance. For the US launch, production has been capped at just 12,000 bottles, with the sake made using Ipponjime rice, a variety once overproduced to the point of extinction and now considered one of the rarest rice strains in the world.
The result is a refined, contemporary take on premium sake that feels as at home on a fine-dining table as in a serious drinks cabinet. Expect it to reach British shores very soon.
Wales Bonner FW26
‘Elemental simplicity’ and the ‘pursuit of harmony in modernist architectural traditions’ underpin Wales Bonner’s Morning Raga Autumn/Winter 2026 collection, with the work of Indian architect Balkrishna Doshi serving as a key point of reference. As ever, Grace Wales Bonner draws on global culture with intelligence and restraint, weaving together ideas of craft, rhythm and identity.
Madras checks, Bengal-stripe shirting and heritage polo silhouettes are layered with ceremonial details, including a sash motif that lends a quiet sense of formality. The collection channels a jazz-like hybridity — Indian tradition filtered through a modern European wardrobe — resulting in pieces that feel thoughtful rather than theatrical.
Collaborations add further depth. John Smedley contributes fine merino knitwear, while Anderson & Sheppard lends its tailoring pedigree to an indigo linen tuxedo, anchoring the collection in Savile Row precision. It’s a refined, culturally rich offering that keeps Wales Bonner at the forefront of modern menswear.
Studio Nicholson Spring 2026
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- Comba Jacket
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- Cabot Jacket
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- Vital Pant
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- Daburu Jacket
There’s a strong sense of ease running through Studio Nicholson’s Spring 2026 collection. The clothing is designed to work effortlessly on the body, with movement and proportion doing much of the talking. Lightweight fabrics, relaxed volumes and refined finishes make this a quietly confident seasonal offering.
Standout pieces include the Cabot jacket, a modern update on the classic Harrington. Cut from polished cotton, it carries a subtle sheen reminiscent of leather, giving the silhouette a more elevated, tactile feel.
Alongside it sits the Comba: a boxy, water-repellent coach jacket that delivers a confident, contemporary shape without tipping into excess. Available in coal black or a rich, peaty brown, it’s an ideal transitional layer for the months ahead.
Practical, understated and unmistakably Nicholson, this collection is built for everyday wear and longevity.
Clicks Communicator
Much has been made of so-called ‘dumb phones’ in recent years, and we’re not afraid to admit we’ve been tempted. The appeal is obvious: less scrolling, fewer distractions, but still enough functionality to stay on top of work and daily essentials. A pragmatic, design-led middle ground rather than a full digital detox.
The Clicks Communicator is one of the more interesting challengers in this space. Reminiscent of a classic BlackBerry, it combines a tactile, touch-sensitive physical keyboard with a full touchscreen, along with a camera with flash, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and full Android app support. Crucially, it manages all of this in a form factor smaller than a contemporary iPhone, making it genuinely pocketable again.
Set to ship later this year, the Clicks Communicator offers a compelling rethink of how much phone you actually need. Early reservations placed before 27 February also unlock a discounted price, making now a good moment to take the plunge.
