HE’S got an army of fans thanks to his TV work, and gardening guru Monty Don has also become known for his laid back, hipster style.
Now, Monty has lifted the lid on where he buys his trademark clothes – which includes his linen shirt and braces combo – as well as what items are banned from his wardrobe.
The 68-year-old gardener revealed that he is a big fan of clothes that “feel good on the body” citing “soft cotton and linens” as his go-tos.
And it seems his love affair with them started way back in the seventies when he had a fashion epiphany moment.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Monty explained: “There was a shop in Basingstoke that stocked workwear and I bought a pair of baggy corduroy trousers.
“It was the early ’70s, and particularly different to what everyone else was wearing at the time. Made of thick, heavy-duty cord in olive green, they just felt right.
He continued: “From there, I started wearing clothes in that vein – loose shirts with big armholes and wide trousers.
“It’s become my approach to dressing now for 48 years.”
Nowadays, though, he has certain shops that stand out above the rest.
Monty explained: “If I see something I like, I buy multiples of everything – I can easily snap up 12 blue linen shirts.
“I buy a great deal from Old Town in Holt in Norfolk, which is a fantastic, small independent company.
“I have at least 20 suits from them. There’s a shop in Hydra in Greece I love where I buy soft cotton shirts and sturdy leather jackets.”
The green-fingered expert also took the opportunity to clear up what he carries inside his pockets – and it couldn’t be more apt.
“I need big pockets for all the things I carry with me in my day-to-day life such as secateurs, string, seed packets, pencils,” he said.
“That’s why my braces aren’t an affectation – the baggy, oversized trousers I wear are born out of practicality.”
But he said there is a certain type of trouser that he wouldn’t be seen dead wearing – for a very important reason.
“I’m tough on clothes, so I need them to be robust and work properly – good heavy twill and tweed are particularly hardwearing,” he confessed.
“They’re often caked in mud and filthy, but that only adds character. That’s why I absolutely loathe jeans.
“They’re too tight and they’re actually terrible workwear – when they get wet they become sodden and impossibly heavy, and when it’s hot they overheat and chafe.
“I stick to my tried-and-tested formula instead.”
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