Summer Essential-wear | Ape to Gentleman for Mr P. by MR PORTER
For those of you who didn’t already know, the men’s online style destination – MR PORTER – boasts its own brand, named Mr P. And for Spring/Summer 2019 the in-house label has treated us to its eighth capsule collection. The brand is noted for its “everyday essentials” and on-trend seasonal designs whilst maintaining a nod to timeless style.
The latest release follows very much in the same vain, we can gladly report, with a 56-piece collection spanning ready-to-wear, footwear and accessories. As before, we see classic styles but with up-to-date twists – all in quality fabrics, exacting fits and a soft, pastel colour palette that is perfect for summer.
On Trend, with a nod to Classic Style
Core SS19 trends run throughout the line – including workwear, plain and floral camp-collar shirts, and biker-cut blouson jackets – which can be combined with warm-weather staples such as striped Breton-like T-shirts, summer-weight knits, shorts in a variety of materials, and cropped trousers in heat-friendly fabrics such as silk, cotton and linen.
Mr P.’s growing reputation in the denim arena also continues with jeans in a variety of washes, including white for a touch of Riviera sophistication. Teamed with the brand’s ever-growing collection of footwear, including leather and suede loafers, desert boots and sneakers, it’s possible to restock and refresh your summer wardrobe with everything you need to tackle the heat in style.
On Location With Mr P. SS19
To appropriately portray the Mr P. Spring/Summer 2019 collection we deemed it necessary to trial a variety of items in the stylish, sun-soaked, Italian town of Polignano a Mare – where else but Italy? And so, Ape co-founders, myself (Chris Beastall) and Eli Ankutse headed to Bari Airport in the Apulia region, on the Adriatic Sea, southern Italy to put the collection through it’s paces.
Chris Beastall
Mr P. Light-Blue Cotton And Linen-Blend Chambray Blazer, £245 >
Mr P. Bouclé-Stripe Cotton-Jersey T-Shirt, £75 >
Mr P. Slim-Fit Garment-Dyed Peached Cotton-Twill Bermuda Shorts, £65 >
Prada Spazzolato Leather Penny Loafers, £555 >
Mr P. Camp-Collar Garment-Dyed Cotton-Poplin Shirt, £110 >
Mr P. Slim-Fit Selvedge Denim Jeans, £180 >
Common Projects Original Achilles Leather Sneakers in Taupe, £290 >
Eli Ankutse
Mr P. Camp-Collar Printed Cotton-Poplin Shirt, £135 >
Mr P. Slub Cotton-Jersey T-Shirt, £55 >
Mr P. Slim-Fit Black Wool-Twill Drawstring Trousers, £195 >
Prada Spazzolato Leather Penny Loafers £555 >
Mr P. Striped Slub Cotton-Blend Chore Jacket, £195 >
Mr P. Cotton-Jersey T-Shirt, £55 >
Mr P. Slim-Fit Grey Stretch Wool And Cotton-Blend Drawstring Trousers, £195 >
Ray-Ban Aviator Silver-Tone Sunglasses, £120 >
Conclusion
As you can see, and we’ll hope you’ll agree, the collection stood up to the stylish Italian backdrop majestically. And from an everyday wear point of view, we can confirm the comfortable fits, warm-weather friendly materials and classic style delivered on the brand’s promise. A promise of every day essentials and on-trend seasonal styles.
While MR PORTER is widely recognised as the men’s online style destination, its own brand had a lot contest with. The webstore stocks some of the finest menswear labels and designers on the planet – the likes of Gucci, Tom Ford and Prada. To try and compete with these labels, which have produced some of the most iconic and easily identifiable garments ever created, would have perhaps been a mistake. Wisely, MR PORTER decided to keep things simple. The best way to capture the attention of the every-man is via well-made essentials; those classic styles that you keep coming back to day after day, season after season. By keeping a firm eye on fit and fabric, and the other on reasonably-levelled price points, the Mr P. collection delivers quality and value for money in equal measure.
So, if you’re heading abroad this summer or fancy refreshing your warm-weather wardrobe with timeless basics that will last, then look to Mr P. for the answers. You might even find yourself wandering towards something more exotic – a Mr P. Camp-Collar Printed Cotton-Poplin Shirt at £135, perhaps? Go on, why not? You can always tame it with black linen trousers if you’re not ready to commit to white jeans just yet.
Availability
Available at mrporter.com now.
In partnership with MR PORTER – words, opinion and photography Ape’s own.
