David Beckham has been hailed as the leader of a new menswear trend dubbed 'rich autumn dad' (Rad) after guest editing Country Life magazine. The former England captain appears in the 100-year-old title in tweed blazers and corduroy trousers, tending to a vegetable patch and beehives on his Cotswolds estate.
The look, which blends British country attire with old money style, is being embraced by men of all ages. According to fashion commentators, the trend reflects a rise in men caring more about personal style, with a shift from oversized silhouettes to waxed jackets, tweed coats and polished loafers.
Retailers are reporting a surge in demand for country-inspired clothing. John Lewis has seen searches for tweed jackets rise by 300% and check coats by 100% since last week, while Depop reports a 207% increase in searches for Barbour jackets since July.
Esquire's style director Johnny Davis notes a performative element to the trend, crediting Guy Ritchie's Netflix series The Gentlemen as an early instigator. Author Jason Diamond says the country gentleman look combines stylishness with ruggedness, offering a 'rebellion against being too plugged in'.
