He's been written about in the British music bible NME, works with more than 30 designers to create edgy menswear for the high-street fashion giant and is the Creative Director at Topman.
At 63, Gordon Richardson stays one step ahead in the menswear curve by bucking trends and, this winter, he's penned five commandments guys need to be just as stylish.
Taking inspiration from street style and runway shows, Topman has narrowed down the leading looks for winter in a new campaign launching in store today titled – The New Rules.
'Tis the season for 'crop & contrast', 'double-up', 'keep on track'; 'tuck it in' and 'layer game'.
Blurred lines
According to Richardson, we'll see a return to the '90s double denim (which he also placed on the catwalk a few months ago in London), a blurring of the formal and casual wear lines and plenty of cropped pants and contrast tops on blokes.
He says while it's okay to wear a sports blazer with track pants, tops worn over pants is out – don't be afraid to tuck it in this winter.
"We're inspired by everything from the catwalk to street style," says Richardson, who takes his own fashion cues from idols such as Keith Richards, David Bowie and Lou Reed.
"Our design teams are frequently travelling the globe seeking inspiration and are constantly looking both online and on social media for what is fresh and new to inspire the design process.
"This can include everything from a surfer in California to a skater in Vietnam to a group of cool guys hanging out on the street in Berlin," says Richardson.
All about the remix
The New Rules campaign is designed to inspire guys to mix existing wardrobe pieces with some new additions. Whether you're channelling surfer cool to urban skater, professional meets casual wannabe – the new style order is that anything goes [well almost], but it's all in the composition.
There's a touch of British geezer meets European peacock in there as well: sporty silhouettes; office staples mixed with casual wear, knitwear worn under blazers and trainers aren't going anywhere soon. The key to pulling off the effortless look is in the styling process.
"Guys ... want look smart, maybe for an event or work, but don't want the confines of a shirt and tie can easily opt for a plain tee or smart looking pair of track pants and still look like they mean business," explains Richardson.
"We've noticed that the gap between casual and formal wear is getting a lot smaller. Relaxed tailoring and mixing smart pieces with casual trousers and tops has become a lot more mainstream in recent years."
Athleisure's influence
We can thank the rise of athleisure wear for a decline in formal men's attire.
"Athleisure trend is here to stay and is becoming a trend for all occasions, that's why the track top has become a great must have purchase for the upcoming season," explains Richardson who channelled British pub meets 90s rave culture in his latest runway show.
Focus is also on layering – an easy way to inject your wardrobe with a new feel. Sheer lightweight bombers teamed with hoodies makes a perfect layered combination while tucking in your knitwear and t-shirts allows a higher-waisted pant to be on display – a trend we saw on European catwalks last season and now filtering into the high street.
Double take
The double denim phenomenon moves from indie geek to high street cool this season, in contrasting acid washes or different shades of blue.The key to rocking a modern double denim look is mixing your shades or adding in a striped top underneath.
Denim fits are more relaxed too, from denim jackets to jeans. New washes that come with rips, over dyes and paint splats for a modern adventure. There's even a purposeful oil stain technique to give your denim a worn-in look.
Natural style
Richardson admits you can't force yourself into a trend, but says the new rules are designed to keep it simple for guys keen to adopt them.
"We want to show that no matter where you are from or your situation, style is accessible for everyone," says Richardson.