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 Top 11 Things of 2015 in navy hand-drawn lettering, the 11 in cream on a navy starburst, on pale blueHere you go — our list of things we thought were good in 2015. This list was going to be limited to a more traditional ten, but there were too many good things this year so we had to stretch the rules a bit. 

Honourable mentions go to Klättermusen, that mad YMC jacket, Ark Air, the Ralph jumper with the bear on it and those Astorflex desert boots.

Now, here’s that list… Number 11: three Peter Scott cable-knit jumpers in cream, grey and navy, stacked on a blue background11 – The Steve McQueen Jumper

Many years after his passing, Steve McQueen still casts a shadow over men’s wearable items — meaning that the cream Peter Scott jumper that he wore for a grand total of about seven minutes in The Thomas Crown Affair earns a large place in our hearts and the eleventh place in this list. Number 10: a model from behind in a white tee and dark Nudie jeans with rainbow stitching on the back pockets10 – Those Nudie Rainbow Jeans

At ten we’ve got those jeans with the rainbows stitched on the back. OP bosses Nigel and Steve had been persistently pestering Nudie to do rainbow jeans for years — in 2015 they finally buckled and made some. Bungle and George were reportedly overjoyed, but sadly Zippy was unavailable for comment. Number 9: two models in matching zip-neck tracksuits, one navy and one grey marl, with cream canvas high-tops9 – Fancy Tracksuits

There have been some particular good tracksuits this year, making getting about like a Mafioso wiseguy easier than ever. Fancy Tracksuit of the Year Y2K+15 is a toss-up between that cord adidas Spezial beauty and those high-class pique bad-boys from A Kind of Guise, but in our eyes, they’re all winners. Number 8: the Mephisto Rainbow in tan suede with brown diagonal stitching, a metal Mephisto badge and a textured sole8 – Suede Mephistos

Long seen as a Marmite footwear option, this was the year we finally saw worldwide acceptance of the Mephisto Rainbow. Critics speculate that this may be down to the visual appeal of these suede ones and the fact that the weather has been absolutely useless, or perhaps a combination of both. Number 7: the adidas Jeans in red suede with navy stripes, heel and sole, gold Jeans lettering, on a rain-streaked windowsill7 – adidas Jeans

No, not actual denim jeans made by adidas with stripes sewn down the sides — we’re talking about the trainers confusingly called adidas Jeans. Trefoil fans have been after these since the early 90s, so to see them finally back was akin to watching hundreds of white doves being released into the sky on a clear, perfect day — beautiful. Number 6: a pyramid of rolled terry towelling tees in red, navy, white, yellow, green and stripes, beside a bucket and spade6 – Towels

In at six, we’ve got towels, or to be more specific — clothes made out of towels. In these crazy days of leisure and easy living, comfort is king, and nothing says comfort quite like terry towelling tee. Number 5: a white canvas Novesta tennis shoe with a rubber toe cap, metal eyelets, ridged sole and yellow insole5 – Novesta Tennis Shoes

Slovakia has a long and illustrious history of canvas tennis shoes, so it was no surprise that in 2015 we were all strolling about in these Novesta numbers like a young Branislav Stankovič (of 1989 French Open third round fame). Those cord ones were good too. Number 4: Engineered Garments Workaday laid flat, a navy hoodie and khaki cords with an olive work jacket and navy trousers4 – Engineered Garments Workaday

This year we finally got our hands on that trouser-dousingly good Engineered Garments Workaday stuff… or at least our London shop did. Talking of our London shop, how about that new Oi Polloi in London eh?

To be honest our Soho outpost is definitely our numero uno thing that happened this year, but as this chart is more about items that you can wear instead of ‘retail spaces’, we’ve had to shoe-horn it in here instead. Number 3: the Oi Polloi Reeboks in white leather, worn with grey joggers on a concrete jetty above still water3 – Those Oi Polloi Reeboks

In at three we’ve got those trainers we made with Reebok. To be honest, all we did was tell them which shoe to do and get them put our name on the inside, but surely that counts for something? Reebok founder Joe Foster has been spotted wearing some of these himself — high praise indeed. Number 2: a model in a rust-coloured Tender shirt worn open over a white tee, with raw denim and sand suede moccasins2 – Tender

2015 hasn’t just been a big year for midnight release trainer madness, it’s also been a banner year for pirate shirts — especially those dyed with mysterious substances favoured by Celtic warriors. Number 1: the Patagonia hat in teal blue, fleece-lined ear flaps folded down, worn with a matching hoodie, seen in profile1 – This Patagonia Hat

Many years from now, when 2015 is reduced to a three minute segment on one of those late night Channel 4 nostalgia-fests, chances are it’ll be remembered primarily for this hat from Patagonia.

It’s blue, it’s lined with fleece and it’s got flaps that fold down to keep your ears warm — if there was any proof out there of higher powers at work, then this hat is surely it.

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