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How to choose an interview suit

Deciding what to wear for a job interview poses a challenge for many. It’s on a par with

making sure you’ve researched the company sufficiently and having answers ready for those

curveball questions.

Why it’s important to choose the right suit

You only have a few seconds to make a great first impression when meeting someone for the

first time. It’s human instinct to judge people on their appearance. So it’s all the more

important when attending an interview that you don’t start being adventurous with your

wardrobe or make a fashion faux pas. Before you start telling them about yourself and

highlighting your skills, knowledge and suitability for the role, your clothing plays a crucial role

in determining whether the interviewer/s will form a positive or negative opinion of you.

The psychological benefits

Dressing well increases your confidence and professionalism, especially for a job interview.

Studies have shown that formal attire enhances your thought processes, frame of mind and

makes you feel more authoritative. If you look great, you’ll feel great – and there’s a much

higher chance of being successful.

How to choose the winning suit

For a formal interview, you should aim to dress a level above what you would usually wear for

work, which obviously includes the role you’re being interviewed for. As you don’t want to look

over-dressed or fussy, a classic cut is the best option – this flawless style has been first

choice for many years and doesn’t change depending on the fashion trends that season.

It may seem easier to buy a ready-made suit, but this might not offer the best in terms of

quality, style of cut, durability or even price. Mass produced clothing doesn’t fit every

customer correctly. They are supposed to fit a ‘standard’ person, but this doesn’t always apply

as everyone’s size and shape is different. However, if you have to select this option, try to find

a seller/store that matches your figure the best. You can then use the services of a tailor to

make the alterations needed to make sure it fits you properly.

For the perfect silhouette and to accommodate individual requirements, the only choice is a

custom-made suit. This will ensure a perfect fit, a better shape to the chest, and eliminates

such problems as too long or short trousers or jacket sleeves, for example. It will be high

quality, comfortable and have much more of a personal feel.

Design

Trends come and go, but a classic suit never goes out of fashion. It is the simplest design

without the quirky details on-trend at that particular time. This usually means a single-

breasted two-piece suit with a two- or three-button cut (a three-button jacket looks better on

taller men), a notched lapel, and a single or twin back vent.

Fabric

It is very important to choose the right cloth for your suit. For many it can seem an impossible

task because of the huge selection of various fabrics on the market. Wool or wool blends

(with a synthetic fabric) are acceptable and suit all seasons.

Some blends help to keep the cost of a suit down, but they have more disadvantages than

advantages – they breathe less and don’t last as long. In most cases, they look very cheap

and will be unacceptable for formal occasions.

Colour

The most appropriate colours, and considered neutral for a job interview, are dark colours

such as navy blue or charcoal. If you want to wear black, I recommend you choose a fabric

with a pattern, such as thin pinstripes.

It’s always best to opt for a plain white or light pastel shirt with a non-patterned, single-

coloured tie. Avoid bright colours on ties as they can be a distraction for the interviewer. The

same applies to your socks because, yes, the interviewer will notice. Ideally, the tie should

complement the whole look and match the shirt as well as the suit.

How The Bespoke Tailor can help

With many years’ experience in the UK menswear and tailoring industry, I travel all over the

UK providing a bespoke service and a ‘Savile Row’ experience direct to my clients at their

office, home or other convenient location. I get to the heart of what my customers need and

work with them closely to design and create personalised suits and garments. Please contact

me on 07968 438717 or email adrian@thebespoketailor.co.uk if you would like to find out

more or to arrange a consultation.

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Prince Philip – One Of The Best Dressed Men Of 2015

Whatever your thoughts about the Royals and Prince Philip in particular, you have to hand it to the grand old Duke of Edinburgh on the sartorial stakes.

At 94 years of age, the Duke of Edinburgh has just been voted 12th in GQ magazine’s top 50 best dressed men in Britain of 2015, narrowly behind Benedict Cumberbatch and Harry Styles and well ahead of his grandchildren William and Harry.

This is not the first time that Prince Philip has made the list. He was ranked a couple of years ago as 26th and praise such as ‘underrated tweedy genius’ ‘time-honoured style’ and ‘services to classic British tailoring’ have been heaped upon him by those in the industry.

I can’t help but feel a little bit pleased about this vindication of the classic tailored look and fine British tailoring that the Prince upholds. Prince Philip has all his suits made by renowned tailor John Kent and he’s well known for having his existing garments altered and updated to reflect a more modern look.

Patrick Grant, the Savile Row tailor, has previously commented that Prince Philip has “always favoured a simple suit made from heavyweight British cloths: tough twills and twist worsted – never excessively fitted, and always well balanced”.

John Ray, creative director of Dunhill, said, “The Duke of Edinburgh embodies duty and decorum and comes across effortlessly in the way he dresses. He is always British, masculine and appropriate for his role.”

It just goes to show that individual style has nothing to do with age or fashion. Classic British tailoring bears the hallmark of what being well-dressed is all about and is the envy of the world. Order books from overseas clients have never been fuller for British tailors and in a fashion industry that is dominated by mass production and synthetic fabrics, classic British tailoring using the finest woven cloth in the world is in huge demand across the globe. Long may it continue!