Daniel Harrison Know how to rock a suit
When shopping for a suit, fit is everything. Davide Taub, head of bespoke suits at Savile Row tailor Gieves & Hawkes, advises customers to prioritise shoulder fit when purchasing off-the-peg because alterations to the chest and waist are relatively simple. Be wary of rocking a period suit unless you’re going for the full period look, he warns; otherwise, the garment will stand out too much and look like a novelty. Dark, two-button, single-breasted, and subdued in detail, the classic is best and most useful. There is no monotony. Putting on a suit is like putting on a uniform. The goal is to use this garment as a blank slate upon which to project one’s own unique personality. The way you wear it is more important than the brand name on the tag.
INVEST WISELY IN A WATCH
Don Cochrane, managing director of the British watch brand Vertex, says, “A watch is like a piece of art.” Choose what you’re passionate about, not what you think will make you the most money. Watches are intimate objects because they serve as personal markers of time. However, you must also be realistic. Sporting models that are both stylish and tough are ideal for everyday life. Nevertheless, a wristwatch must be sized to your wrist. The “Goldilocks” size is 40 mm, so that should be just right for both comfort and proportion to your wrist.
DON’T SHY AWAY FROM COLOUR
Put some colour on your clothes, whether they’re casual or formal. Designer of men’s clothing Oliver Spencer says that most men are “unjustly scared of it,” meaning that they are intimidated by any colour other than navy or grey. Yet, “colour can be timeless as well.” Spencer suggests pinks, greens, mustard, and brighter shades of blue as especially versatile year-round shades that will lift your entire outfit, and he specifically mentions a green suit as an example of something that can look particularly rakish. But he argues that less is more when it comes to colour: Only a small amount, contained in a single article of clothing, is required.
WEAR IN YOUR JEANS UNTIL THEY ARE YOURS
According to Alex Mir, co-owner of the Sheffield-based label Forge Denim, the’slim-tapered’ cut of the world’s most popular garment is the most practical one. He recommends these pants because they are “wider in the thigh, so it’s comfortable,” but then they narrow so that they can be worn with either dress shoes or sneakers. In other words, “it’s the best year-round, wear-with-anything, dress up or down style.” The savviest among us will also opt for dark, raw denim and steer clear of the pre-distressed styles. The beauty of denim lies in the fact that it softens and fades over time. What’s the point in missing out on that?
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TAKE CARE OF YOUR OUTFIT
Take care of the clothes you’ve spent time and money on, as your mom might tell you. Have your suit dry cleaned and pressed, use shoe trees for your best shoes, wash your clothes frequently (tumble drying can degrade the fabric), and polish your shoes. It’s not just the leather itself that needs TLC; your favourite jacket needs it, too. Brush your hair and cut your nails as part of a basic, but effective, grooming routine. However, the devil is in the particulars.
