Affordable Luxury : 5 UK Menswear Brands & 8 Top London Shopping Spots
The previous article, Andreas Murkudis, compiled information on some niche brands and stores worth visiting in Berlin. This article focuses on London. As a city with centuries of prestige in menswear, London certainly has many brands and stores worth paying attention to.
When Eddy buys clothes, he often chooses menswear brands that offer good value and friendly prices, many of which are from London. While being affordable, these brands still retain the unique cuts and styles characteristic of British fashion, making them especially suitable for young people who appreciate British style.
In addition to the five menswear brands highlighted in this article, London's Savile Row naturally deserves a mention. This famous "suit street" gathers many top bespoke tailoring brands. Huntsman & Sons, Henry Poole, Anderson & Sheppard, and Drake's, which I mentioned in my previous article 17 Top Luxury Men's Suit Brands for Gentlemen , are all worth a look and are located on this street.
Furthermore, I'd like to add a multi-brand boutique that I've recently come to love—Mouki Mou. Its selection leans towards soft minimalism with a clean style, showcasing excellent taste in menswear, womenswear, and accessories alike. I'll briefly introduce it at the end of the article.
Finally, the historic Harrods department store in Knightsbridge is, of course, a landmark worth exploring.
The stores and brands mentioned in this article are roughly distributed across central London. Many writers and artists residing in London also tend to live in and around this area, creating an atmosphere that's perfect for strolling and exploring.
Below are five relatively well-known, larger international accessible luxury menswear brands. As these brands are positioned in the mid-range, it's advisable to prioritize selecting their highest-priced, best-quality products, which tend to offer better value. This article will focus on compiling and recommending each brand's most representative and highest-quality items.
Oliver Spencer
Excels in pure linen and linen-cotton blend short-sleeve and long-sleeve shirts, suitable for inner or outer wear, as well as shorts, trousers, and suits. The fabrics tend to be rougher and more durable, embodying a London youth workwear style. It has 4 stores in London.
The two more centrally located stores in London are in the Marylebone and Soho areas.
Oliver Spencer's linen short-sleeve shirts: the 100% linen Santiago series and the 52% linen, 48% cotton blend Garrison series are his best quality.
For long-sleeve linen shirts, the 52% cotton and 48% linen blend Conduit series or the 55% linen, 45% cotton New York series are recommended.
For pure cotton short-sleeve shirts, the Atlanta series is their bestseller. For Oliver Spencer, I still recommend focusing on their linen items. Their linen is mid-range linen, not comparable to top Italian brands like Zegna or Kiton, but better than general popular brands like James Perse. The linen quality of these London brands mentioned in this article is quite good.
For Oliver Spencer suits, choose the pure linen or half linen, half cotton blend double-breasted or single-breasted options, typically around 4500 RMB. Their most expensive suit jackets are about 4600 RMB.
Oliver Spencer's classic suit silhouette is the single-breasted Laurel series, available in 100% linen fabric and 53% linen, 47% cotton blend fabric.
Comparing the two Laurel suit fabric series: the first row is 100% linen, which appears drier, thinner, and more breathable in texture; the second row, with added cotton, feels a bit stuffy.
Most of Oliver Spencer's suits are single-breasted; double-breasted ones don't have a specific series name, just "double breast."
If you're buying a full suit, including trousers and jacket, it's recommended to choose from their best price range of 6200 RMB to 7000 RMB, with trousers costing over 2000 RMB.
Oliver Spencer's wool coats and polyester jackets are not the brand's main focus, so it's advisable not to pay too much attention to them. Instead, you might want to explore the distinctive products of other brands.
However, the items specifically marked "Made in England" or "Water Repellent" in the images below reflect a unique British characteristic. Due to the rainy climate, clothing brands like Burberry and Barbour, which specialize in waterproof features, emerged, often using cotton, nylon, or polyester fabrics.
Generally speaking, most of the UK's apparel supply chain has shifted to Portugal. Products not specifically marked "Made in England" are typically "Made in Portugal." The brands introduced in this article mostly fall into this category.
Paul Smith
Paul Smith primarily focuses on wool suits, with production distinguishing between standard Made in Portugal and more premium Made in Italy items, making it one of the more international brands among those mentioned. Paul Smith also has a store in Beijing SKP, with overall prices roughly double those of Oliver Spencer.
In London, Paul Smith has as many as 10 stores, with 4 located in the city center, concentrated in the Mayfair and Soho areas.
Paul Smith is more formal, with the Made in Italy series being the most expensive. They collaborate with Italian fabric suppliers. High-quality 100% wool and linen suit jackets range from 11,000 to 15,000 RMB, while cheaper suits are blended with synthetic fibers.
The jackets priced at 11,990 HKD below are all blended with 40% mohair into the wool.
Brands that specialize in suits always include detailed images.
Paul Smith also has a diffusion line called PS Paul Smith, but its quality and design are generally not recommended for attention.
Beyond suits, Paul Smith's most expensive Italian-made items are highly recommended, including the Storm System® waterproof wool jacket made with Loro Piana fabric, and the Italian-made suede jacket. These two types of jackets offer a similar sophisticated style to their top-tier wool suits and are signature pieces for the brand.
Among them, the waterproof wool jacket is priced at around 11,000 RMB.
The suede lambskin jacket costs 20,000 RMB. Men who like bomber jackets should look at British brands; like waterproof trench coats and wool coats, they are a regional specialty and are very suitable for slender Asian figures, giving a youthful look.
Although Paul Smith also has a womenswear line, it's generally not recommended, especially for suits. On one hand, the range of women's suits is limited; on the other, even the highest-priced styles are mostly under 10,000 RMB, using viscose and wool blends that don't have the same quality as the menswear.
The brands compiled in this article are all primarily focused on menswear, so it's advisable to concentrate on their men's collections.
If you really want to buy something for a woman, the Paul Smith Storm System® Italian-made waterproof wool trench coat is the one.
Derek Rose
There's a London brand famous for its silk men's pajamas, which also offers an excellent women's collection. Many wealthy aristocratic characters in British TV shows are often seen wearing those exquisitely textured, long, robe-style pajamas, which typically come from this brand—Derek Rose.
Derek Rose has four stores in London, with the Knightsbridge store being the largest flagship, offering the most complete display and best experience, making it the top recommendation. If time is limited, the Notting Hill branch is also a good option, though I personally prefer the former.
Interestingly, besides the UK, Derek Rose also has a presence in the Middle Eastern market, with independent stores in Dubai and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. There's also a dedicated store in Toronto, Canada. Other regions are mainly served through department stores and high-end distributors in Europe, North America, and Asia.
The two most expensive men's pajamas: one at 27,000 RMB, 100% cashmere, and one at 12,000 RMB, jacquard, 100% mulberry silk.
Don't tell me, silk and cashmere bathrobes also have a very British feel. The hot weather in Italy wouldn't be able to handle this kind of thing.
Since pajamas are worn close to the body, it's recommended to prioritize natural, skin-friendly, and comfortable fabrics like cashmere or mulberry silk. Derek Rose's mulberry silk pajamas around 10,000 RMB and cashmere pajamas around 20,000 RMB are, of course, top-tier choices, no need to elaborate. If your budget is between 4500 and 6500 RMB, this range typically allows you to find wool pajamas with good material, or mulberry silk styles of varying thickness and gram weights.
I prefer Silk Satin silk; its luster and smoothness are self-evident.
Wool and silk below 3000 RMB don't feel good. The green one in the middle is wool, and the silk ones on either side, with a 3k price difference, have vastly different textures.
Derek Rose's best-selling items are the 3500 RMB modal fiber and 2500 RMB pure cotton pajama sets. The two sets on the right are pure cotton, so let's skip those.
Modal feels smoother, but we still can't accept it.
Derek Rose also offers men's boxer shorts, and I recommend the Silk Satin material. There are options in the 800 RMB and 1500 RMB range; the cheaper mulberry silk isn't as smooth and has less luster.
Men's shorts in Europe and America aren't typically tight-fitting; instead, they're more like summer shorts.
Derek Rose's best-selling women's items, besides cashmere and silk satin pajamas and robes, are these 100% cashmere hoodie and matching sweatpant sets.
Among the best-selling men's items, besides the quality pajamas mentioned earlier, there's also a 100% cashmere hoodie sweatsuit.
John Smedley
I've already written an article specifically for John Smedley , so I won't go into detail here; please refer to the linked article. You can freely choose from their Sea Island Cotton series and extra-fine merino wool series for both men and women. Their knitwear is around 3000 RMB, and cardigans are around 4000 RMB, making it a very cost-effective knitwear brand.
Their first store is in Brook, while the Jermyn flagship store is further south, near Sunspel.
Sunspel
Sunspel: A Century-Old British Cotton Menswear Brand - Only Buy the Most Expensive has already been covered, so I'll briefly summarize here.
Sunspel's Sea Island Cotton short-sleeve shirts are an absolute must-buy; their comfort and cut are both excellent. If Derek Rose's silk satin boxer shorts feel a bit pricey, you can opt for Sunspel's Sea Island Cotton version, which offers a great feel and better value. My personal rule is: only consider items labeled "Sea Island Cotton"; other regular cotton and knitwear options can be skipped.
Sunspel's suits and jackets also have good cuts. While their wool fabrics may not match the premium pure wool of John Smedley, they offer great value, with overall prices comparable to Oliver Spencer. It's recommended to prioritize their higher-priced items, especially those made from pure linen or pure wool, as their overall texture is suitable for everyday wear.
Among these brands, Sunspel is arguably the most comprehensive, maintaining good quality and style balance across basic T-shirts, knitwear, and other derivative items. For example, they offer affordable casual suit styles similar to Oliver Spencer, which can also serve as an alternative to Paul Smith's jackets and coats. Derek Rose's silk boxer shorts also have a pure cotton alternative. Sunspel also features Sea Island Cotton, a key fabric for John Smedley. Overall, it's ideal for consumers who appreciate British style, value quality, and want to stay within a reasonable budget.
Epilogue
Among these five menswear brands, John Smedley, Sunspel, and Derek Rose also offer womenswear collections.
Finally, I'll introduce the boutique Mouki Mou. I might write a separate, detailed article about it later. This store curates selected items from multiple brands, photographed on its own models, and displayed by menswear, womenswear, and lifestyle categories. The overall presentation is very cohesive, giving the impression of Browse a completely new, integrated lifestyle brand.
Mouki Mou has two stores in London: Mouki Mou, founded by Maria Lemos in 2013, and M.II, newly opened in 2024. Both are on Chiltern Street in Marylebone, with one decorated in black and the other in white.
The third store is in Athens, Greece. Mouki Mou's style leans towards understated earthy tones, with a selection of lightweight clothing. It also offers a variety of jewelry, fragrances, and kitchenware, all with a natural texture and unique taste.
The locations of the five brands shown on the map above are in areas such as Notting Hill, Knightsbridge, Mayfair, Marylebone, and Soho. Together with Savile Row, Mouki Mou, and Harrods, these places are hubs of fashion and trend culture in London. Besides classic menswear brands, there are also many cafes and niche stores with diverse styles, perfect for a city walk.
I'm currently organizing and recording this information. I hope to have the opportunity to live in the UK or Italy for an extended period in the future, so I can walk around with my camera and film vlogs, just like I do now in Beijing. For now, I'll prepare by gathering knowledge and materials.
This set of accompanying photos was taken on the second day after Beijing's Summer Rain Weekend. The rain had cleared up, and the midday light was too harsh. Eddy cycled all the way into the north gate of Beihai Park, intending to photograph carp, only to realize his microphone was missing. He frantically retraced his steps and finally found it on the white brick ground beside his foot in photos taken near the Houhai bar street. Looking around, since it was mostly tourists taking photos there, these small spots weren't easily noticed. Fortunately, he recovered it.
At the time, his temples were throbbing, his teeth were swollen, and his already not-so-good heart couldn't take it. Eddy sat nearby for five or six minutes before he recovered.
This year, Beijing has already hit 38 degrees Celsius starting from June 22nd, so we can only go out for some fresh air in the evening.
pamperherself
