OK, so it’s 1848 and you find yourself in California. What are you going to wear? With the Gold Rush in full swing if you were off to dig up your fortune then you’d need to be suitably attired. Jeans are bound to be at the top of your list but you want to be sure to avoid the dreaded denim tracksuit so you need to embrace the hardwearing, blue collar style of the day. What we’re getting at is that, much like in the fast-paced cut-throat world of panning for gold in the 1840s, workwear has been embraced by the face-paced cut-throat world of fashion and is one of autumn’s hottest trends.

Seen on Bottega Veneta’s catwalk among others, workwear is a trend that can really work for everyone. We’re not by any means suggesting you hi-ho your way off to work with the seven dwarves but by picking up on a few of the essential pieces you can add that working edge to your look with little or no effort, which is good. To start you’re going to need a proper plain white t-shirt. We suggest washing it a few times before wearing it to get the desired level of wear and softness. Creases straight from the packet won’t have the right look. Second on your workwear wishlist should be a warm but unlined wool jacket like this one from Villain. Straight from the railroads of America with its mix of cashmere, angora and wool, this example has that extra element of luxury so key to the trend.

Next up we have a great, solid-looking hat from Diesel. Very reminiscent of 19th century train workers, this is one cap that is definitely from the right side of the tracks. As with the tee, this is one of the items that would benefit from a little bit of rough and tumble drying. Moving on to jewellery, no man’s man (as all those type of guys were) would be seen dead with a little trinket dangling anywhere. Instead a solid leather cuff like this one from All Saints is the order of the day as it not only looks good but provides an element of protection whilst carrying heavy stuff to a fro. More important than that, however, is a sturdy, comfortable but great looking shirt. This example from Wrangler, the kings of that rugged American style, is great with the unusual pocket detailing harking back to just the right era. This is a shirt that will only get better with age – wear is its friend.

Now, what to put your legs in? Well there’s really only one option – the worker fit jean. Made to look like original jeans which were born around the time of the gold rush, these are a world away from your usual skinny denims. Big, multiple patch pockets and cinch-back to the rear, the jeans will stand up to whatever you can throw at them. But should you find them falling down a little, don’t be afraid to go for a chunky belt to keep them up – after all a builder’s bum is not the worker look we’re after. Finally, no look like this would be complete without a solid boot. This pair from Fly is ideal with the large eyelets and thick laces hitting the nail on the head for this trend.

This is the trend that will see you right through winter and well in to next year because all the pieces are so versatile and hardwearing they’ll only get better with age. So treat them mean and keep them clean and your way of rocking the worker trend will continue to work for you until the next Gold Rush.

What do you think of the worker trend? Got a picture of you working the worker? If so, email your photo to insider@asos.com and who knows, we might make you famous. Otherwise, get involved and let us know your thought below...