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Raising the fashion stakes at Royal Ascot

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Royal Ascot is a major event in the British social calendar, attracting the rich and famous from all over the world and generating over 6 million pounds in prize money. It attracts many of the world’s finest racehorses and is visited by the Royal Family year after year. The Royal Procession is always an iconic moment to herald the start of every race day. Located in Berkshire, the event held on Tuesday 14th June to Saturday 18th June offers a truly memorable occasion. Anticipated and revered, these five days are made for socialising. Press coverage of the attendees and what they are wearing often exceeds coverage of the actual racing, so dressing for this unforgettable occasion is an important part of the day.

There are three enclosures visited by guests on Royal Ascot week:

Royal enclosure

The most prestigious enclosure of them all, this is an invite or membership only area. The dress code is extremely strict and gentlemen are reminded to wear either black or grey morning dress. This consists of a double or single breasted waistcoat, tie, matching top hat and black dress shoes. The morning coat has curved front edges sloping back at the sides into long tails. It is single-breasted with peaked lapels. Choosing a pale coloured shirt will sit well with the black-clad crowd.

Queen Anne enclosure (formerly Grandstand enclosure)

A more relaxed theme for this enclosure; gentlemen are required to wear a suit with a shirt and tie. A perfectly tailored suit would allow you to be more confident with the colours. Opting for light colours grey, beige or even light blue will bring the summer feeling to your outfit. Choosing a lightweight wool or linen will ensure the suit provides a cool attire. The ground will be uneasy so opting for brogue boots will compliment your look.

Windsor enclosure (formerly The Silver Ring)

Although no formal dress code applies in the Windsor Enclosure, no sportswear is allowed and smart casual is recommended.

Light coloured tapered trousers and relaxed neutral shirt will work well together. To avoid the chilly breeze, a casual blazer is recommended to really set this outfit off. Choosing a dark colour blazer will tone down your attire to provide a stylish and smart image. Again the ground will be uneasy so choosing sturdy footwear is crucial; rubber soled shoes will help you keep your footing and opting for darker colours will keep the grass stains at bay!

Wherever you get to view the most iconic races, you will have a fantastic day, topped off by feeling confident in your stylish outfit!

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It’s Official: Adrian Barrows Is the Most Popular Men’s Designer in the World

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The Bespoke Tailor Picks Up Two Top Wedding Industry Expert Awards for the Third Year Running

For the third successive year, Adrian Barrows, aka The Bespoke Tailor, has been voted Most Popular Men’s Designer, both in the UK and Worldwide, by Wedding Industry Experts. These prestigious awards recognise top wedding professionals from all over the globe, celebrating excellence in terms of quality, service and professionalism.

Of his third consecutive double-win, Adrian Barrows said, “To have won such prestigious awards for three years running is pretty special. I couldn’t be happier. I’m really lucky because I love what I do – I live, eat and breathe tailoring. It’s virtually all I’ve ever done and all I want to do. I’m also lucky because over the past 20 years I have worked with some of the top names in the industry and the skills and knowledge I have gained permeate through the work that I do.”

The Wedding Industry Experts awards are different to most industry gongs as winners are chosen according to votes cast on social media and on the awards website. In order to win, The Bespoke Tailor had to beat off stiff competition from all around the world.

Adrian Barrows was also commended recently by The Wedding Industry Awards, another prestigious prize, this one based on votes cast by previous clients. Winners for this award are chosen from wedding suppliers across 26 categories in 11 regions of the UK. Of his commendation, Adrian said: ‘Once again, it is very pleasing that my clients have taken the time to cast their votes and I would like to thank everybody who has voted for me. It is greatly appreciated.’

About The Bespoke Tailor: Adrian Barrows has been providing world class tailoring and exceptional service as The Bespoke Tailor for more than 20 years. In that time, he has worked at every level of the tailoring industry, from the shop floor all the way through to creating bespoke garments for high end corporate accounts and celebrities.

Contact:
Adrian Barrows
07968 438 717
adrian@thebespoketailor.co.uk

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Don’t be a sartorial wallflower at the Chelsea Flower show!

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From 24 th to 28 th May 2016, the joyous Chelsea Flower Show returns for a spectacular display of amazing plants and garden designs. The Royal Hospital Chelsea will be transformed into the world’s greatest flower show including a floral arch to celebrate HM the Queens 90 th birthday and the memorable poppies tribute.

With the arrival of this event, it can only mean one thing – we are entering our Spring and Summer wardrobe and stepping away from our winter woollies. It’s time to put away our thick jumpers and heavy coats and enter into lighter and cooler fabrics.

There are quite a few parallels that you can draw between garden design and tailoring. From the use of colour and the meticulous attention to detail to obviously wanting to be the best in show!

Your attire for this impressive day should be cool, comfortable and stylish – you don’t want to be blending in with the various flower displays, so opting for subtle,
plain colours will work well. Although there is no formal dress code, going for smart casual is best.

Choosing a classic plain relaxed shirt and casual light trousers or chinos will help give you a comfortable and relaxed feel. We are not yet in the midst of full summer sun and so a jacket or blazer will provide you with a welcoming warmth from the breeze. Opting for a cotton or linen jacket or a combination of the two will give you a practical and stylish outfit. Don’t be afraid to explore pastel colours when choosing your shirt – light pinks, blues and greens will work well with your surroundings without over doing it.

The flower show involves a lot of walking and so pairing this outfit with sensible (but stylish) shoes is a must. If you’re suffering from ill-fitting or painful shoes then you won’t enjoy the floral ambience and miss some of the amazing garden designs the event has to offer. Due to the nature of the show, there will be a lot of grass and mud so choosing darker colour shoes will make sure you’re not left with unforgiving shoes.

Our British weather can be slightly unpredictable and by having a waterproof lightweight jacket, umbrella or panama hat to hand you can easily roll with the season and be prepared.

The Chelsea Flower Show is one of the nation’s best-loved horticultural shows and you will want to feel smart and comfortable whilst attracting attention for being a charming and stylish individual instead of being a sartorial wallflower!

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Mixing with the beautiful people at the Monaco Grand Prix!

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The Monaco Grand Prix is the most prestigious event in the Formula 1 calendar. From the racing enthusiasts to the super rich and famous, Monaco can offer a truly memorable weekend. Since 1929, the streets of Monte Carlo have hosted some amazing races in history, with its famous harbour attracting the wealthy client base it is has become accustomed too. Monaco is all about glamour! An event where everyone wants to dress to impress. Smart casual and stylish is how men should dress for this momentous occasion.

With the event happening in late May, the sun will almost definitely be making an appearance and so a cool and clean cut attire is recommended. If you’re lucky enough to be chartering a yacht for the day, then shorts and t shirt are fine as it offers a more relaxed atmosphere – lightly coloured chino shorts and a cotton polo t shirt are beneficial for relaxing in the sun. If you plan to explore the streets and have lunch in a finer establishment, then a more, smarter look is required whereby trousers are preferred. Sandals can be worn on the yachts and the local streets but again for finer establishments, shoes are necessary.

Smart tailored trousers are best and these can be paired with a light t shirt or cotton shirt to keep you cool. A cotton or linen blazer or sports jacket is recommended to create a sleek, modern look. As Monaco is all about glamour, little accessories can make a bold statement – the smart watch, cufflinks, and sunglasses will really help bring your outfit together.

Smart tailored trousers are best and these can be paired with a light t shirt or cotton shirt to keep you cool. A cotton or linen blazer or sports jacket is recommended to create a sleek, modern look. As Monaco is all about glamour, little accessories can make a bold statement – the smart watch, cufflinks, and sunglasses will really help bring your outfit together.

The daytime dress code can differ greatly to the night time which can be more stringent depending on your location. For most places, trousers, shirt and blazer are expected; if not a suit! Shorts and flip flops are not acceptable for evening attire in many settings. Choosing a light coloured suit would be best for the evening ambience.

The Monaco atmosphere is one you will never forget and being able to relax and enjoy the occasion will be made even more easier by creating an outfit that suits you perfectly and displays a confident, smart and stylish individual. And don’t forget to pack your sun cream and sun hat – a lobster red face will clash with your well thought out attire!