Wolsey tradition - Grey Fox buys shorts for Summer

When it comes to style I'm a real sucker for tradition. If a jacket recreates one that Mallory wore on Everest, I'll buy it. If a purveyor of menswear supplies the Royal Family, I'm hooked.

So, a couple of weeks ago, I went to investigate Wolsey's new shop in Brewer Street in London. The company is shifting away from traditional underwear and golfing jumpers to become more fashionable.

How would this move away from a more conservative (and middle-aged) market suit me as an older man? The revamped company still depends on very traditional values and much is made of the company's history, for example providing clothing to Scott's Antarctic expedition a century ago this year. As ever, successful marketing can be very schizophrenic.

Summer has arrived at last and Grey Fox's legs need an airing - so I was after a pair of shorts. The service was friendly and enthusiastic, quite a change from the studied indifference found in many London shops. The clothes are an inspiring mix of styles and tastes. There is something for most tastes, high fashion and less so.

True to Wolsey's traditions, the Wolsey 1755 shorts (the date the company was founded) are well made and, for me, the slim cut was a welcome change from the flappy-legs style. They are knee length on me, but look good folded over if a shorter style is needed.

I recommend Wolsey to other older men in search of style.