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High-speed racing stars haven’t always been preoccupied with fashion. But by the time Jenson Button hung up his Formula 1 jacket in 2016, something of a shift had begun. In particular, Lewis Hamilton had emerged as an F1 fashion plate wearing Dior, Louis Vuitton and, at this year’s British Grand Prix, custom Burberry. “Now every driver has a stylist,” says Button, “because [with things like Netflix’s documentary Formula 1: Drive to Survive] they’re on-screen a lot more.” So, too, have they managed to parlay their off-track personas into lucrative sponsor deals.
For his own part, Button has collaborated with Hackett London (in 2021) and now Lestrange, partnering with the London-based menswear brand on a jacket that has become a sellout hit. When the 360° lightweight, zip-up jacket (£199) was modelled by Button in March, the drop of 1,000 sold out in just three weeks. The brand has now just released another batch this week, in a beige option, and Lestrange anticipates another quick sellout.
“My connection with Lestrange started early last year when I saw my PR guy, James Williamson, wearing a certain pair of trousers,” says Button. “He got me a pair of the Lestrange 24 trousers (from £129). They became my go-to.”
Founded by Tom Horne and his university friend-turned-business partner Will Green in 2013, Lestrange has amassed a starry following that includes Tom Hollander, Alfonso Cuarón and Frank Lampard. So impressed was Button, however, that this year he decided to come on board as an investor and become an ambassador for the brand. The collection also features regular-fit trousers (£129), a warp-knit blazer (£199), a winter-friendly thermal take on the original jacket (£229), a mesh shirt (£119) and a bomber jacket (£299). Lestrange’s focus is on producing timeless clothing outside the fashion cycle – hence the small collection of staple items – that suits “discerning, put-together” men. “I wouldn’t describe us as a fashion brand,” Horne says.
Button has always favoured the traditional jeans-and-jacket style of racers like George Russell to the more fashion-forward runway looks. “For me, it was the excitement of the capsule wardrobe,” he says. The crease-proof 360° jacket is perfect for travel: “I can bundle it up and chuck it in my bag, and it comes out looking like it did when it went in.”
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