Mr Porter launches the Paul Smith 531 cycle range

Last week I attended the launch with Mr Porter of a new cycle range by Paul Smith. The collection is named 531 after the Reynolds-made steel alloy that has formed the heart of the machines of millions of cyclists, from racing champions to shoppers. Sir Paul Smith is, of course, well-known for his love of cycling, as can be seen in this video.

At the heart of the collection is the beautiful, black, minimalist, limited-edition (two only, according to the video) fixed gear bike, hand-made by Mercian from steel in their Derby-based workshop. The bike, accessories and clothes are aimed at the commuter/weekend cyclist, rather than the carbon fibre and Lycra crowd. The shirts and jackets are made from Ventile, a water-resistant cotton fabric with an interesting history, which I've documented here on the blog before. 

I had a close look at the collection. The bike (see detail image below), clothes and accessories are all beautifully-designed and made; as you'd expect. The orange and black colour scheme is superb. The presence of a watch in a cycling collection is a novel idea, but why not? It's a chronometer, so you can time your daily commute or ride to the cafe.

Prices range from £60 for the socks pack to £4995 for the bike. See Mr Porter.

As you'd expect from a leading frame builder, the lugwork and construction are immaculate

Recreating the look - Steve McQueen, Prince of Wales check and denim

I often feel a bit uncomfortable putting together these occasional Recreating the Look posts as it is never just the clothes that make men look stylish. It takes natural self-confidence and a lack of self-consciousness to make clothes sit well a man's shoulders.

So, with the usual caveats, I bring you a recreation of Steve McQueen's style. Here he wears a soft-shouldered Prince of Wales check jacket (he would have called it Glen check) and a denim shirt. It's hard to find that creamy shade of PoW check (rather than the harsher black and white) - if you find a better alternative, let me know - vintage might be the way to go to find a perfect match. The Hentsch Man Friday shirt is a beautiful soft denim. For suppliers see below. For more Recreating the Look posts click here.

Jacket Paul Smith from Mr Porter, shirt Hentsch Man, for a white T-shirt, try Sunspel or M&S.