Black Supima Cotton Jersey Polo Shirt

Black is where the collar stand earns its keep, because there is no colour to carry the shirt instead.

It is made from the same jersey as the classic T-shirt, crafted from the finest extra-long staple Supima cotton, traceable to a single Californian farm. The collar stand holds the collar upright and gives a more dressed-up, formal look than a soft collar would. As with the polo shirts first introduced in the 1950s, the focus stays on comfort, fit and softness.

That makes it the easiest thing to pack for an evening where the dress code is unclear. It works under a jacket, over tailored trousers, and through a long day without showing it. Keep everything else plain, which is what black asks for anyway.