Perhaps this understanding of just how in-demand tailoring is right now made me double-take when I saw a chic waistcoat-and-trouser section in Net-a-Porter’s new arrivals section. Clicking through, I realised the waistcoat, in the sleekest shade of olive green and with a distinctive asymmetric fastening, was from Frankie Shop, a brand our regular readers will know that Who What Wear has a soft spot for.
With its pared-back designs and minimalist silhouettes, French label Frankie Shop has become our go-to for elevated basics. It’s also a brand I wear as much as my bank balance affords me to. With a track record of its pieces selling out at lightning speed, I knew this waistcoat wouldn’t hang around for long. Adding to my Net-a-Porter wish list, I went to add the matching trousers to it, too. That’s when I realised they’re not just trousers; they’re cargo trousers. And the glossiest pair of cargo trousers I’ve ever seen at that.