You do not need to be part of the country house shuttling squire-archy to find yourself drawn to the stable of cables and library of tweeds, waxes and wools that populate the menswear spectrum these days.

But do not buy into a dewy fantasy of mansion dwelling, Labrador hoarding and Land Rover driving. You can make these old school fabrics look fresher than ever in new school cuts and combinations that will work just as well in the city as they do in the fields of some misty fashion Avalon. After all, tweeds do not make you a lord and quilted coats don't mean you own a gun, right?

It's simply about taking your staples and renewing them with a layer of rustic charm. And for chilly, unpredictable spring, mid-weight outerwear delivers. Think waxed shirt jackets or thick knits to give your look a casual, country-strolling air; while an unstructured blazer brings in a somewhat more tailored veneer. The magic is that each works with your core wardrobe pieces like dry jeans, white shirts and navy knits while avoiding the sort of stuffiness often associated with the Gents club set.

The point being that the country aesthetic need only be a nod rather

than a full on immersion. So mix up the rich traditionalism with a more clean lined aesthetic.

Dashes of brightness infuse the look with a modern sensibility. So, be it a crisp plaid shirt or colourful sole on your brogue, go for a touch of the synthetic to lift those more natural autumn colours.

Brand-wise, the anchor of your spend should be Brit-focused - who could deny the countryside charisma of Burberry Brit, Barbour or a drop of Paul Smith. But do not agonise. Just as you are unlikely to drive a Morgan, sip from Wedgwood and relax in a Chippendale while you're scribbling in your Smythson (OK we admit that does sound idyllic) you don't have to dress unswervingly from the core Brit brands in order to enjoy the country style. Mix it up with more contemporary styling and offbeat outdoorswear. Renewed camo prints and flat colour knits will do the trick, so look to pared down minimalists like A.P.C. Universal Works and YMC; while the old school Americana of Levi's and Carhartt blends in with aplomb.

So for simple items layered for a rich effect, get pastoral, but not at the expense of your core staples.