dunhill may now be one of London’s best-known menswear brands, but when it was founded by Alfred Dunhill Jr. back in 1883, it specialised in ‘motorities’: in other words, everything from car horns and goggles to leather overcoats and timepieces. At the time, he had noticed that motor aficionados were clamouring for stylish, high-quality accessories. Emboldened and fascinated by cars himself, he stepped in to fill this gap in the market – and the rest is history.

This history was the key source of inspiration behind Automotive, the latest in a series of SS20 campaigns. Shot by Jack Webb in a luxury Mayfair garage, the striking images juxtapose classic cars, half-exposed underneath protective covers, and experimental, contemporary designs.

For the collection itself, creative director Mark Weston played with volume and wrapped tailoring techniques. This approach yielded a fresh take on classic tailoring, with pin-striped, double-breasted jackets appearing alongside leather skirts and sleek, wraparound coats buckled shut at the waist.

“It’s about sophistication of taste,” says Weston of his overall vision. “With dunhill, it has to be of a certain level and worthy of the house’s legacy.” In his own words, this history is “varied and storied”, a description which offers room for manoeuvre. It’s about nodding to the past while keeping eyes fixed firmly on the future – and it’s arguable that his slick yet unusual take on menswear staples manages to strike that balance.