Peter Bevan’s August style essentials: from transitional layers to the perfect smart shoe

Our menswear expert shares the summer-to-autumn fits that deserve a spot in every man’s wardrobe

• The best short shorts for men – and how to pull them off

August is a tricky time to buy clothes. Shops are winding down their summer sales and introducing new season collections, but there’s still at least another month of good weather. Yet you don’t want to double down on summery separates too much, because autumn/winter is just around the corner.

That’s why it’s the best time to start buying transitional pieces – those you can wear whether the temperature’s in the 30s or the low teens. Think about clothes that lend themselves to layering, such as an Oxford shirt. You could wear it over a tank top with trousers for a nice dinner fit on holiday, but it works just as well under a blazer when the weather changes. Similarly, a lightweight knit could be worn around your shoulders, over a T-shirt or even across your front a la Nicholas Hoult.