Jack Wills is best described as the British response to the likes of American Eagle and Abercrombie & Fitch. The UK brand makes no secret of its target demographic: affluent University-bound, twenty-somethings with a penchant for varsity chic. Having been around for the better part of a decade now, I visited their Covent Garden location to see what all the fuss was about. I wasn’t terribly impressed, but the likes of Abercrombie & Fitch have never been my cup of tea in the first place so I wasn’t surprised. Some good came out of it, though, as I stumbled upon their spin-off brand, Aubin & Wills. Created in 2008, the brand is meant to cater to an older audience who have grown weary of contrived trends and are in search of something more timeless. Their knitwear is a great example of that versatility. Their collection is a tribute to classic regional outerwear, particularly inspired by the fishing industry. Pictured above is the Escomb Cardigan (left), hitting all the right notes with a chunky hand knit appearance, button fastening and a relaxed fit. The Arran Seahouses Funnel Neck (right) is a mighty popular look in the UK right now, coupled with dark denim and desert boots. According to their site the Arran knit pattern dates back 3000 years; you can’t get much more timeless than that.
