Don’t be fooled by the word “utility” – the practice of marching around the streets wearing a garment that, up until about a year ago, was more often found on a weekend fishing expedition, is most definitely an aesthetic-driven thing. That said, there are worse things than adding several extra pockets to your quotidian wardrobe. Ultimately, it provides an opportunity to reconnect with some simple pleasures, like always having a pack of tissues to hand and permanently being in the possession of a secret pack of sweets. Don’t worry: we’re joking – well, sort of. We are also more than aware what you’re really here for is some pictures of men who have worn the utility vest with pride and aplomb and whom, if you are considering diving into this singular style movement of the late 2010s, you might want to imitate. So then, without further ado…

Here, it’s tempting to make some remark about how “utility vest” might as well be Mr Heron Preston’s middle name, such is the importance of this New York-based designer’s wares in putting such garments on the fashion agenda. The fact is, though, that his middle name is actually “Preston”, his full name being Mr Heron Preston Johnson, which makes the whole gag that little bit too confusing to embark upon, really. But it’s good that we’ve cleared that up, because now we can dive into what exactly it is about the way he is wearing his vest here that makes it look so good. It’s the way he has paired it with a simple white T-shirt, to retain a straightforward, workmanlike feel to the whole ensemble, and also, the addition of a more refined pair of flat-fronted chinos, which makes for a nice contrast. The thick chain around his neck – along with the black, white and acid-green colour scheme – takes the whole look into Berlin clubland, which is itself is an unexpected delight. (Or so we hear.)

Our first thought on seeing this picture was: “My goodness, this man must have a lot of stuff but, also, a lot of credit cards.” Not satisfied with the capacious pockets of his Junya Watanabe tweed vest (we’ve sold out of these now, but from what we can remember, the RRP was in the one-month’s-rent bracket), he has added one of Mr Kim Jones’ new cross-body bags from his revamped Dior men’s line. The latter, sadly, we have never stocked, and it probably isn’t necessary to inform you that they aren’t cheap. Move beyond the inevitable wincing at this display of spending power, though, and you have to admit it’s a nice combination – where a vest by itself may look like you’re merely an onlooker in the ongoing battle that is fashion, a plethora of straps, buckles and additional field gear makes a statement that, to you, this is a war. The combination of military-inspired gear with a more seaside-y striped Breton top is, too, a pleasing non sequitur.

The humble chino – now a long-tenured member of your favourite financier’s weekend wardrobe – actually has military origins. Which is why it’s interesting to see it feeding itself back into the design of this utility vest, which comes in a beige cotton canvas, and is a perfect complement for – you guessed it – chinos. What we particularly like about this outfit, though – largely thanks to the dashing, matching hat and knotted scarf – is the feeling of Indiana Jones-esque intrepidness that it evokes. This individual is as well-equipped for heading to the valley of the kings, with a whip and a humourous female sidekick, as he is for the quest he is, in reality, taking on: turning up to a fashion show. The fact that these two hair-raising adventures might, today, demand a similar get-up just demonstrates what a challenging world we live in these days, we can only suppose.

The men featured in this story are not associated with and do not endorse MR PORTER or the products shown