Could you start by introducing yourself and telling us a little about your background and what you do?

My name is Luke Hodges. I’m a menswear stylist, content creator, and occasionally a writer and photographer. I also run a pre-owned menswear store called Archer & Woods. I originally started out photographing menswear during Fashion Week, which gradually led into styling, and now most of my work involves talking about clothes, exploring brands I admire, and showcasing the people and outfits that make the industry so interesting.

You’re a strong advocate for buying secondhand through your Thrifted Garms Club newsletter and your own store, Archer and Woods. What first drew you to that world, and why has it become such an important part of what you do? How do you see secondhand shaping the future of menswear?

If I’m honest, whilst I’d love to say it started because I wanted to be more environmentally conscious, the real reason was that I simply couldn’t afford the brands I admired. I’d discovered designers and tailors whose clothes I loved, but buying them new was out of reach, so the secondhand market became a way of accessing those pieces and experimenting. Along the way I started learning more about fast fashion and the problems it causes, and it made sense to focus on well-made garments that were designed to last and could have several lives with different owners.

That idea has really shaped what I do now. With brands that focus on quality fabrics and thoughtful design, the clothes can genuinely last decades and still feel relevant.

I think secondhand is already influencing menswear today. You can see it in the renewed interest in older styles, whether that’s fuller trousers or more classic tailoring, and in the fact that younger people are increasingly conscious of buying fewer, better things.

You recently commissioned a made-to-measure suit with us at Trunk. How did you find the experience, and what led you to settle on the cloth and style you chose?

I found the whole process incredibly enjoyable. Working with Ed and talking through the suit from the very beginning made it feel like a genuinely collaborative experience, which gave me a much stronger connection to the garment than if I’d simply bought something off the rack.

When it comes to made-to-measure there are so many options that it can feel a little overwhelming, so I tend to lean into the strengths of the house I’m working with. In this case I settled on a double-breasted grey check flannel in a Fox Brothers cloth. I’d always wanted a proper flannel suit, and once I felt how soft the fabric was it just felt right. Ed was also brilliant throughout the process, keeping me updated and helping me feel confident about the decisions we were making, which is an underrated part of good tailoring.

Looking through your Instagram, there’s a clear thread of classic menswear references — workwear, military, tailoring — yet everything feels easy and wearable rather than overly styled. How would you describe your approach to getting dressed?

A lot of the time I start with one piece that I really want to wear that day and build the outfit around it, whether that’s a suit, a jacket, or a particular pair of shoes. I take a lot of inspiration from other people. I have endless Pinterest boards saved with outfits, colours, and textures that catch my eye, and I’ve always encouraged people to steal ideas and adapt them to their own style.

Personally I tend to keep things quite simple. I really admire people who layer a lot, but it’s never quite been me. I usually prefer to let one or two strong pieces do the work, whether that’s a great suit or a good pair of shoes, and keep the rest of the outfit fairly understated.

You’ve also styled an outfit for us using pieces from our latest collections. What caught your eye, and how did you go about putting the look together?

As soon as I looked through the new arrivals in the store, the piece that immediately stood out was the Valstar suede overshirt. Suede, especially this time of year, is an essential part of a spring wardrobe. It has a great texture and it’s one of those materials that instantly makes an outfit feel elevated.

I paired it with Trunk’s own grey cashmere jumper underneath, some dark denim from Orslow, and brown suede Alden boots. I wanted to keep everything quite simple and relaxed, especially since the suit we’d made was more formal. The earthy tones work nicely together and it’s the sort of outfit you could wear to something like a Sunday pub lunch while still feeling like you’ve put a bit of thought into it.

When you walk into a shop, what makes something feel worth investing in?

For me it usually comes down to a few things. Mainly the material used, the colour and quality of it, whether the piece has a real place in my wardrobe, and how often I’ll actually wear it. I’m also always thinking about whether it has that timeless quality that means it won’t feel dated in a few years.

Suits are probably the best example of that. With tailoring you can really feel the hand of the maker, almost like buying a piece of art from an artist. But the same goes for certain hero pieces too, like a suede or leather jacket or a really good pair of shoes. Those are the kinds of things that can last for decades and, if they’re well made, can easily be passed on to someone else one day.