SLMan Meets… Teo Van Den Broeke

There’s been a shift towards people shopping and dressing in a way that feels more considered – whether that's buying more pre-loved clothing or thinking of all the new ways to wear clothes you haven't worn for ages. It feels like there's a fresh wave of exciting stories to be told in fashion and in clothing – which in turn has reinvigorated my passion for the industry and fashion in general.

I don't think there's anything wrong with trends, but we need to be thinking about how we buy things in a different way. If you're only going to wear something once, maybe it’s better to rent. But there needs to be a menswear marketplace created for that. I do think we have a slight barrier to entry in that world. It's harder for some men to go shopping and buy clothes for themselves – I know so many men who are bought clothes by their wives or girlfriends – so there are a lot of barriers to break down before we get to a place where renting clothes that aren’t tuxedos is a real thing for men. But I do think there’s a world in which this could exist and be quite good.

I save up to buy key pieces these days – and I interrogate my desire much more. At the moment I'm saving up for this very simple workwear jacket by Bottega Veneta that I can't stop thinking about. Yesterday, I went to Bicester Village as I love shopping there and love the experience of feeling like you can get something so ‘you’. I went to a couple of shops and found a couple of things I liked which were bargains, but subconsciously I was really interrogating myself about them and it was all a bit of a struggle – I almost felt like an addict fighting a substance. I didn't buy anything in the end because I want to buy that Bottega jacket, and I want to be a bit more mindful. What's going to make me feel better is buying the one big item that I'm going to wear again and again.

When it comes to any kind of seasonal dressing, I have three pieces of advice. First, stick with a palette. If you're nervous and don't know what suits you, find a simple colour system that works. Navy is mine and I punctuate it with occasional whites and greys – plus a bit of black – and it works. It suits my colouring and always looks quite elegant.

Second, fabric is important. Try and avoid nylons, which will be shiny and will look a bit crap against the rest of your outfit. Try and focus on good fabrics that keep their shape like good walls, that have a bit of body. I like Issey Miyake trousers because the pleats keep their shape and give a good silhouette.

Finally, always think of the line you're trying to create. So many men don't consider that the point where a garment finishes creates a new shape for them on their body – so if you’re a larger man and you pick a tight top that finishes above your waist and then you wear trousers that are quite low rise, you’re going to end up with a tripod body and it just doesn't work. Instead, think about trousers that aren’t skin-tight in the calf for a cleaner line, and wear something on top that ends below the bum, so you get an unbroken line all the way down. That unbroken line creates an elegant look. This is something Yves Saint Laurent did with every outfit he wore and created, so if in doubt look at the way he dressed.