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Second Hand September Spotlight: Oliver Spencer
British menswear designer Oliver Spencer has reimagined a B&B Italia Metropolitan armchair with contrasting houndstooth in wool. For Second Hand September, this statement piece proves that vintage design transcends trends and endures across decades of living.
A B&B Italia Metropolitan Me84 armchair. Clean lines. Sculptural form. Modernist design at its finest.
When Oliver Spencer, founder of British menswear brand Oliver Spencer, encountered this chair, he saw something many miss in vintage pieces: timelessness. This chair was incredibly modern when it was first released, decades ago. It still looks sharp, clean and beautifully relevant today.
For our Sit Differently campaign, Oliver chose to upholster it with contrasting houndstooth in wool from his menswear collection. Panes of green and burgundy pink bring the tailored precision of menswear into dialogue with the contemporary sculptural form. The result feels both graphic and tactile, surprising yet harmonious.
"What inspires me most is how great pieces of vintage furniture transcend trends," Oliver explains. "This chair was incredibly modern when it was first released, and it still looks sharp and beautifully relevant today. That longevity, both aesthetically and structurally, is something I really admire and try to echo in our clothing."
For a designer whose work is rooted in tailoring and craftsmanship, vintage furniture represents a philosophy: pieces made to last, not follow the season.
"My modus operandi has always been about the balance of texture, shape and timelessness," he reflects. "This piece really embodies that. The modern, fluid form of the chair paired with the houndstooth wool makes it feel both contemporary but rooted in classic tailoring."
Buying better, not more
"For me, buying better, not more is about investing in pieces that are genuinely well designed and built to last," Oliver states. "Whether it's a chair or a jacket, it means choosing quality, integrity of materials and thoughtful design over volume or novelty. It's about surrounding yourself with things that can be loved, repaired and handed on rather than replaced."
When the future owner unwraps this piece, they'll feel "an immediate hit of colour and character, followed by an appreciation of the craftsmanship. It should feel like discovering a tailored jacket reimagined as a piece of furniture. Above all, I want it to feel like something they'll enjoy living with for years, not just a season."
Discover the Collection
Shop the full Sit Differently collection here
