Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Apparel review: Ben Sherman mixes indoor and outdoor flawlessly

Ben Sherman takes you from the office to the trailhead

Man wearing Ben Sherman jacket and shirt
Image by Mark D. McKee/The Manual

Every office has its own dress code, usually the dreadfully vague business casual dress code. While that can be a very specific portion of your closet dedicated to chinos, polos, and button-ups, it doesn’t always crossover to other areas of your wardrobe. That is where Ben Sherman comes in.

Recommended Videos

I wore an outfit from the 60-year-old, London-based brand and discovered the joy of going from the office to the trailhead with zero effort. Of course, you wouldn’t usually feel the need to leave your cubicle behind for a trek into the wild unknown, but with Ben Sherman, you don’t need to buy a new pair of pants, shirt, or jacket for either.

Utility Jacket – Airforce

While you may be thinking, who would ever need to go from the office to the woods right away (clearly, you’ve never lived in the Pacific Northwest), there is one person who did it all the time, Indiana Jones. The Indiana Jones Style Archetype is known for ditching the classroom for adventure and putting together a wardrobe fit for both.

This Ben Sherman jacket is perfect to pair over your business casual outfit on the light and breezy days, or for shielding you from the rain when you thirst for adventure. Its 60/40 cotton/nylon makeup keeps it light and waterproof, while the five-button front allows for fastened security or open casual looks.

Man wearing Ben Sherman jacket, shirt, and chinos
Image by Mark D. McKee/The Manual

24/7 Motion Stretch Slim Chinos

Pants are the unsung heroes of your wardrobe. Many times, they are simply seen as an afterthought, a base layer to the shirt, which gets all the attention. Ben Sherman’s 24/7 Motion Stretch Chinos will change that, getting you attention both in the office and on the trail.

Available in olive, blue, and gray, in addition to the sand, the mix of nylon and spandex is quick-dry and waterproof. The best feature of the pants is the stretch. Not just any stretch, but up to 2 inches of give. So whether you are sitting and standing all day in the office or climbing embankments and working through trees and caves, you have a lot of movement in your pants to keep you comfortable while you climb mountains, literally in the wilderness and metaphorically in the office.

Man wearing Ben Sherman shirt and jacket
Image by Mark D. McKee/The Manual

Chambray Patchwork Geo Print Long-Sleeve Shirt

Like I said before, the shirt always steals the attention, and the Chambray Patchwork Geo Print Long-Sleeve Shirt is going to be one of your biggest offenders of this. Sure, it is a striking blue color, but the subtle and somehow simultaneously eye-catching pattern looks just as good under a sport coat as it does with dark dress denim when you meet your friends for a drink.

Of course, this is the one item in the outfit that won’t translate as well to deep woods hiking; you’ll want to keep this one nice. However, it fits in every other casual situation you can think of, be it dinner and drinks, catching a movie, or a backyard barbecue.

There is a lot to love about Ben Sherman shirts, but one of the coolest features offered is the custom option. Want a unique pattern with a specific fit or feature? Hit up its custom shirts and get precisely what you want. In addition, whatever you are perusing on the website, scroll to the bottom for inspiration on how to wear it. Indiana Jones may have made going from the classroom to the field cool, but you and Ben Sherman will be perfect it together.

Mark D McKee
Mark is a full-time freelance writer and men's coach. He spent time as a style consultant and bespoke suit salesman before…
This Ben Sherman collab with the John Lennon Estate has at least one must-have item we’re drooling over
Who doesn't love a good polo?
Ben Sherman x John Lennon Imagine tee

If you're a fashion-forward music enthusiast, you're about to embark on a sartorial journey that blends the worlds of iconic British fashion and timeless musical genius. The John Lennon Estate and the iconic British fashion label Ben Sherman have collaborated to release a limited edition collection that honors John Lennon, one of the most important composers and songwriters in history. The spirit of Ben Sherman is flawlessly merged with authentic John Lennon doodles, classic album artwork, soul-stirring song lyrics, and Lennon's distinctive signature in this one-of-a-kind collaboration.
The inspiration: "Imagine" and timeless lyrics
This collaboration is centered around the classic song "Imagine." The idea behind this collection was to skillfully blend John Lennon's brilliant words into contemporary menswear while remaining true to Ben Sherman's character. The collection was inspired by Lennon's outstanding music and moving lyrics, as it's more than just apparel; it pays homage to the legendary musician. The goal, according to Ben Sherman's Creative Director Mark Williams, was to architecturally incorporate Lennon's lyrics into the design—a really novel strategy that had never been explored in such depth.
Iconic styles of John Lennon
The design team dug deep into John Lennon's famous style and the clothes he wore in order to bring this collection to life. The banded striped t-shirt, button-down cardigan, and striped rugby shirt are just a few examples of items that fit the style direction. The Lennon Estate helped them create designs that expertly combined the greatest elements of both worlds, yielding a truly original design direction.

The Ben Sherman x John Lennon collection is a flawless synthesis of the late Beatles musician's well-known doodles and has graphic t-shirts with his artwork as well as a button-down shirt with numerous sketches on it. A little self-portrait, possibly Lennon's most well-known doodle, appears on a blue knit jumper. The Lennon Dreamer Tee is more than simply a piece of clothing; it's a gorgeous homage to the singer's creative brilliance. Its front bears the recognizable "Lennon Dreamer" image, which features a long-haired man playing the piano and singing the line "You may say I'm a dreamer." Also included in this collection is a knit polo, and several other graphic tees, one of which features a John Lennon album and "Power to the People."

Read more
Men’s apparel: The secrets to maintaining clothes for a long-lasting wardrobe
Men's clothes can last for decades if you invest in the right products and take care of them
Trendy handsome man posing in autumn park alone

The world today is based on a "throwaway culture." That means we have become obsessed with one-time-use items like plastic water bottles, grocery bags, and paper towels. While this can make things feel cheaper and easier up front, it can be more expensive and cumbersome in the long run, not to mention hazardous to the environment. This is also true with your wardrobe. There are plenty of places you can get cheap clothing if you just need to wear it one time. In the long run, though, this is detrimental to you, your bank account, and the environment.

Learning how to care for your wardrobe to make it last longer is better for you, your wallet, and your sanity. Invest in quality items that are made to stand the test of time so that you won't have to shop for clothing every time a new event comes up like other men do. Once you have those quality items, here are the tips that will ensure they last for years, and maybe even a lifetime.

Read more
These are the best tactical pants for all of your outdoor adventures
Your adventurous lifestyle is made better with the best tactical pants on the market
Prometheus Design Werx Man Bouldering

Few styles of pants have a more functional combination of features than tactical pants. Many of them are designed specifically for law enforcement officers and military personnel, meaning they have to be durable for the most demanding environments in the world. The best way to keep them in that arena and on the top of the list of options for the soldiers and officers that wear them is a combination of durable workwear and movable hiking gear.

Of course, you don't have to wear a badge or join the military to find uses for these pants. Wilderness survival experts, photographers, explorers, hikers, and many others find these pants the best combination to support their lifestyle. Forget jeans or cargo pants; tactical pants for men are the way to go. While there are countless options for you to choose from, we have done what we do and put together a list of the best of the best for you to choose from.

Read more