I recently went to the shops with a very clear picture of what I wanted: A light grey, crew-neck, long sleeved sweater with ribbed cuffs and hem. It also had to be of good quality. UniQlo had exactly what I had in mind and for the very reasonable price of £19.90 - check out the below…

This one is in ‘Oatmeal’, rather than grey.

Unfortunately, I can’t seem to find the grey sweatshirt on their website - but they should have it in-store at the moment.

I’m really pleased with the quality of my sweater; very soft and thick - nice to own a good sweater without a hood.

I’m really not sure what this v-shaped panel on the collar is called, but it’s a common design feature in this kind of sweater.

Find these sweaters at the UniQlo site for £19.90 here.

Thanks to UniQlo for the pics.

Spring has most definitely sprung. In fact, here in London it’s been positively summery over the last couple of days. It’s an interesting period in terms of clothing; not quite cold enough for a coat, but not warm enough to go without an extra layer.

I’ve put together a couple of ideas for essentials over the next few months. These two collections represent some of the affordable clothing that could be useful for you in our ever-unpredictable springtime climate.

Oxford Collar Uniqlo Shirt - £20 (on sale right now for £9! Buy one. I have three and they are brilliant)

John Lewis light-weight V-neck jumper - also on sale for £9. I don’t own one of these, but John Lewis are reliable in turning out good quality clobber.

H&M Chinos - £14.99

Sued Dr. Martens Sawyer boots - on sale now for £40. Buying sued is a risk. They won’t look this good for very long. I own two pairs of Sawyers (as covered here) I can testify; they are the most comfortable boots I’ve ever owned. Probably worth shelling out £90 for the leather versions too.

Marks and Spencer Collezione Square Buckle Weave Stretch Belt - £19.50. Will probably last the rest of your life.

Uniqlo Dry Pique Short Sleeve Polo Shirt B - £14.99. Available in a huge array of colours. Polo shirts and easy to pull off and always look smart. If you’re brave, keep the top button done up and raise the collar.

Uniqlo Selvage Slim Fit Straight Jeans - £29.99. You don’t need to spend sixty to a hundred pounds on jeans, it’s pointless. Chances are, you’ll wear them every day: You’ll you’ll run for the bus in them. You’ll spill mayonnaise on them. You’ll get drunk in them. Denim wasn’t created by frontiersmen in the colonisation of America to impress your mates, it was created to cover wagons and to till land in. Spend as much as you feel proper; I’ve got a pair of Uniqlo jeans. They’re good. No nonsense.

Ben Sherman Harrington Jacket - £65. A mid-range Harrington, but a very good Harrington. After some thorough research, I’m convinced that this is worth your money. If you don’t want to go the whole hog and be a proper Mod, this is a good choice. Lightweight and well made.

H&M Leather Belt - £7.99

Black Superga 2750 Canvas Plimsolls - £40.00. Possibly the best plimsolls you’ll ever own. Smart, lightweight and well made. Can’t argue with that.

Of course, these are just a few ideas to base a look on. Take what’s here and go wild with it if you want.

Thanks to the brands and retailers for the images.

Even though January is still a couple of weeks away, some of the sales have already started. Uniqlo have some nice items up on their site if you’re interested. I’ve plucked out a few I’d like to pick up. It’s a sale, so expect sizes and availablity to be limited!

Slim Fit Corduroy Shirt Jacket

Heavy Flannel Check Long Sleeve Shirt

Argyle V Neck Vest

Easy Care Dobby Long Sleeve Shirt

Thanks to Uniqlo for the images.