Posts in category: Blog Post

Have you placed your bets yet? It’s time to organise your Grand National outfit!

The Grand National at Aintree is a prestigious 3 day event. Offering fun, thrills and drama it culminates with the big race itself on Saturday afternoon.

A day at the races is a great occasion to get dressed up. Be a bit more creative and bold, adding your own personality and style to your outfit! During this 3 day event, ladies day is hugely popular. Giving all women the opportunity to dress up – but who says men cannot go that extra mile and dress to impress? Having a unique Grand National outfit is the type of event that many of our clients commission us for.

Aintree is known for its glamorous, smart and sophisticated attire. At The Bespoke Tailor we can help you to achieve this look! You may be too late to cut a strut at this year’s event but there are plenty more opportunities throughout the year. From Royal Ascot, Epsom Derby and Glorious Goodwood to name just a few.

Grand National Outfit Styling

Sometimes, less is definitely more. With a good fit and cut, and with an eye for detail this look can be established with ease. If you do want to add a bit more to your Grand National Outfit. A bold, check jacket is the way forward, but always keep everything else clean and sharply tailored.  We use only the very best British cloth merchants. So, rest assured, not only will the quality of the tailoring be the best the U.K has to offer, but the cloth will be too!

Lapel
A classic “Notch” lapel is advised on a country suit. Hand stitching always adds a touch of detail. The width is important and a tailor should always take into account the proportion of the client.

Vents
The rear vent found on the back of the jacket ware invented when we began riding horses. The idea of the side (or double) vent was that is splayed across the back of the horse. I, being a tailor will always advise this to be the best route.

Buttoning
The traditionalists out there would argue that a single breast 3 button jacket is the ideal. They are not wrong, although a majority of clients would opt for the more elegant 2 button fastening.

Detailing
If want to add to the detail of your Grand National outfit, there are many ways to do so. From a storm collar to shooting back. Half belt to football buttons, country attire is where clients have fun with the details.

Lining
As you can see from the image here of a garment recently made for the horse racing, there are plenty of interesting linings around that allow you bespoke Grand National Outfit to stand out from the crowd!

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Enclosure Type

The dress code can depend on the enclosure you are attending – will it be the Members club or the Premier enclosure? These are by far the more prestige enclosures and strict race day dress code is applied. Most men are required to wear formal wear; a smart jacket and tie. For example, at Royal Ascot in the Royal Enclosure, you are required to wear a formal morning suit and ideally a top hat.

Formal morning suits consist of a black coat, waistcoat and grey striped trousers. Men may also wear a popular variant where all parts are the same colour and material, often grey and usually called ‘morning grey’ to distinguish it.

For less strict enclosures (Grandstand, Paddock) a traditional tweed suit is very popular – we recommend a good fitting three piece suit which will make you feel the part. And don’t forget the little touches – a pocket square will complete the look nicely.

Nothing looks better than a well-dressed man who oozes both style and confidence. The races are meant to be fun so you need to feel comfortable in your suit – let us help you to complete your look for the next key event on the racing calendar.

For further information, click here to view the official Aintree website.

Yes, I know it’s only September but it’s time to start thinking about the dreaded C word. Yes, that’s right – Christmas. The Christmas party season will soon be upon us and if you want to look like the dapper man-about- town that I know that you do, you need to plan ahead.

Office Christmas parties can be strange affairs. They can be an eclectic mix of Directors, Senior Managers, colleagues, clients and of course, their partners, Therefore, this is not an occasion for dressing down. You should seize this opportunity to wear something smart, eye-catching and above all, memorable. In other words, a bespoke tailored suit and if you want one in time for Christmas, you need to speak to your tailor now. Here are my 3 top tips for looking stylish at this year’s Christmas party:

• • Don’t wear the suit you always wear. A new suit in navy, black or grey that has been perfectly tailored to your body shape will make the impact you want to make and get you noticed.
  • Waistcoats are optional but I would recommend accessorizing your suit with a silk pocket square and a nice watch. Cuff-links will complete the look but don’t choose anything Christmas-themed and ruin the elegance of your attire.
  •  Same goes for ties. I personally prefer to wear a tie with a suit but it is definitely optional these days. Once again, don’t wear a tie that is Christmas – themed or has flashing strobe lights on it! Go for something silk, elegant and complimentary to your pocket square.

I know the above may sound a bit ‘bah humbug’ but leave the Christmas-themed attire for get-togethers with your friends or in the home….if you have to. Whether you like it or not, you are on display at the office Christmas party and you want people to remember you for all the right reasons.

If you do not own a blazer, then you’re missing out! A blazer is an essential piece of clothing for any man, for any occasion and for any season. They are an extremely versatile garment that will give you a stylish, confident look for either the workplace or a social gathering. A textured blazer is the best option to go for. It can easily be worn for casual weekends or smart weekdays. If money allows, a tailored blazer is the best way to go. A tailored blazer will fit to perfection and will make you feel smart and debonair.

Wool is the best material to choose for the winter months. Being a natural fibre with non-allergenic and heat-retaining qualities, all you need to worry about is picking your wool blazer in the colour you like the most. Opting for neutral colours will ensure you can wear your blazer with most of your other clothing. A tweed blazer is another great winter option, with its woven structure, tweed is well known for its durability. Tweed blazers are always present in menswear collections and will never go out of fashion so it’s money well spent.

If the occasion is floating somewhere between formal and casual, then the blazer really comes into its own. The blazer with a formal pair of trousers and a t shirt will create the look that fits somewhere in between, making sure you are not too over or under dressed. This is an ideal outfit for a formal occasion in a casual setting.

A textured blazer can help you go from casual to smart casual in the blink of an eye.  Paired with a simple shirt and jeans, this blazer will ensure you are smart enough for that last-minute meeting or networking event.

For the mature dinner party or fancy restaurant, a blazer will compliment a pair of chinos and a classic oxford shirt with some leather brogues. This outfit will ensure you are at the top end of smart casual so you don’t risk being underdressed.

For a special occasion, a blazer with formal trousers and shirt will create that modern, confident look. It is more interesting than the usual suit—but just as formal. You will create that enviable style and stand out from the usual ‘same suit for all occasions’ look.

You don’t have to own numerous blazers to achieve all the looks above; one tailored blazer will go a long way to creating that stylish look for every occasion.

With summer well and truly here (despite all the rain), it may seem like trying to achieve a new cool, stylish wardrobe is going to be hard work but with many options and variations on offer, it may be easier than you think.

If you work in a stuffy office then the main objective of creating a summer wardrobe is that you always represent a cool, fresh and summer feel. A stylish, confident business look can still be achieved by choosing the correct fabrics and items of clothing to portray a professional image.

A smart office suit does not always entail a three-piece suit. There are many items that can be applied – opting for just a waistcoat is a great example of creating a smart look without feeling the full effect of a jacket. Waistcoats are a great alternative if the workplace or meeting requires a strict business dress code. If a jacket is required, then avoid full lining and instead opt for half lined jackets.

When choosing your shirts, you need to opt for lighter fabrics such as seersucker, linen or cotton. Pale colours will really help with the summer feel and not attract the heat as much as dark colours. You can never go wrong with classic white, pale blues and pale pink shirts – these colours can be matched with all suit types and are very clean cut.

For your trousers, again choosing linen, cotton or a combination of the two will allow a light airy option to keep you cool. If your workplace dress code allows, choosing tailored cuffed trousers can help you go from smart workplace to after work drinks with ease. A lightweight blazer can be added for the evening chill.

As far as summer footwear is concerned, loafers are a great versatile summer shoe that compliments many suit styles. Suede is the best option for the spring and summer months but if a smarter look is required, leather loafers will work well. For a more formal shoe, suede brogues are a great choice, they are light in weight and offer excellent ventilation.

So, by choosing the correct fabrics and selective items you can achieve a wardrobe that portrays a clean, fresh and confident attire that will make people wonder how you manage to stay cool whilst all around you are wilting!

Enjoy the summer and stay cool, calm and collected with your carefully chosen summer wardrobe.

The British summer season is upon us and making sure we’re suited and booted for any occasion is vital for giving a confident and stylish appearance. With the sun finally making an appearance we can all start to venture out into more lightweight clothing and summery tones.

Opting for cotton, linen or a combination of the two will allow you to feel comfortable and cool as these fabrics allow air to circulate more freely. Cotton is a natural fibre and breathes really well so it’s ideal for those muggy days we get in mid-summer.

Summer is the perfect time to branch out and wear light coloured trousers and shorts. White tailored chinos can sound quite daring but pairing them with a classic oxford shirt in pale blue, along with a dark blue sports jacket can help tone down the trousers and create a smart bold outfit.

If white is not suitable for the occasion, two variations of the same colour will always look good; navy blue chino shorts and a subtle blue shirt or polo shirt will compliment your look – this is a great outfit for those BBQ evenings with friends.

Even your footwear can be bolder as the weather gets kinder – boat shoes, loafers or smart canvass trainers can help keep your feet cool as no socks are required for these types of shoes.

If your summer calendar takes you to a prestigious sporting event such as the Henley Royal Regatta or The Open at Royal Troon, then raising the stakes, and creating a smart tailored look is essential. The Henley Royal Regatta is a perfect excuse to enjoy a quintessentially British event. It is a popular social occasion and there is a party atmosphere in the fashionable pop-up bars that visit from London. Creating a trendy outfit by opting for bright colours and a smart blazer will help you feel at ease in your surroundings.

The Open will showcase some of the best golf in the world. You can watch some of the top players in action and allow yourself to be submerged into the atmosphere by dressing the part. Tailored trousers and a polo shirt is a must. A V-neck sweater is recommended if the weather is looking unpredictable and a smart cap or trilby hat can be worn to complete the look.

Creating a wardrobe that will keep you cool and fashionable is the main objective but keep in mind that the British weather can be unpredictable so having casual and smart jackets to hand will allow you to create an outfit for any occasion.

Enjoy the summer and make sure that you dress perfectly for it!

Let’s celebrate and be proud of our English heritage by honouring St George’s Day on 23rd April. St George’s Day was once celebrated as widely as Christmas, with it being a National holiday but the celebrations began to subside by the end of the 18th century after England united with Scotland. A well known symbol which relates to St George’s Day is the English Cross. It is understood that English soldiers wore a sign of St George on their chest and on their backs during the 14th century, as the Saint was regarded as a special protector of the English.

A traditional custom that is not now adopted widely is to wear a red rose on your lapel! This is a strong but conservative way to support St George’s Day.

At The Bespoke Tailor we can help you achieve a confident and proud look by providing you with a traditional British suit, tailored to your needs using only British fabrics. And to display your subtle red rose we can offer luxury suits with different styles of lapels which range from peak, wide peak, standard notch, narrow notch, wide notch and shawl.

Our luxury British traditional suits have a design that can offer a fitted feel with a professional cut closer to the body. They have narrower and more defined shoulders with high arm holes that can provide close fitting sleeves.  To complement these assets, slim neat shoulder pads are added.

For your jacket, we recommend the two side vent jacket that can be either single or double breasted. Single-breasted jackets have a single row of buttons down the front, and the jacket flaps only overlap enough to allow buttoning. A double-breasted jacket has two rows of buttons, and the front overlaps sufficiently to allow both flaps to be attached to the opposite row of buttons. The style is then completed with tapered waist trousers to give you a traditional look.

Navy and Grey are the perfect colour suits for this occasion – depending on your preferred choice, we can complete the look with a wide choice of coloured shirts and accessories, giving you an impeccable look where you will ooze confidence. After all, we are celebrating being proud of England!

When it comes to using fabrics for our suits, I only use British cloth as it is without doubt the best in the world and I’m only prepared to work with the best.  British cloth is renowned throughout the globe for its sheer quality and what better way of supporting our own Cloth Specialists?

So, why not celebrate St George’s Day with a traditional British suit?

The Bespoke Tailor can help with all your needs and make you feel proud of our English heritage.

While both options look good, the single-breasted option is the most common and has buttons down one side and button holes on the opposite side that meet in the middle when closed.

The double-breasted version has sets of buttons on each side and the left side folds over the right and is fastened by one or two of the buttons.

A single-breasted jacket or blazer is the staple of most men’s wardrobes however, a double-breasted version can look fantastic. When fitted correctly, a double-breasted jacket oozes sophistication and style but will require extra time and effort to get the look just right. What outfit doesn’t look striking with extra attention to detail and fine tailoring? A custom made double-breasted jacket will look elegant, like a second skin, and it will accentuate your assets whilst disguising any flaws.

The double-breasted jacket always has peak lapels, completing the superior look. The original design has six buttons, two of which close.

This classic look is perfect for tall men. If you are short in height, a four- or six-button combination where only the bottom one closes is a better choice for you. The four-button double-breasted variety is sometimes known as the ‘Kent’ after its supposed creator, the Duke of Kent. Carefully chosen fabrics and colours will complete your masculine, powerful look.

So when should you wear your statement piece? It’s probably not for every day use, unless you’re in the movies or always on the red carpet! Perhaps wear it on those occasions where you just have to stand out, like a wedding or other special event. Choose only the best fabrics and the finished product will make you look like you mean business!

I know it’s hard to think about spring when the rain is lashing against your windows and the wind is buffeting against your conservatory but it might just put you in a better mood if you do.

Daffodils and crocuses are already starting to emerge and sooner or later you need to be turning to your wardrobe to see what you’ve got available and what new garments you may need to invest in.

The changes you make at the start of spring can be fairly subtle. There may still be a nip in the air so rather than make changes in cloth at this stage you should be looking at colours. The deep dark colours of winter can start changing to the gentler hues of greens, mid-blues, and lighter greys. Waistcoats can still be worn and you may want to invest in a lightweight coat to keep the chill out.

As the temperature creeps up you can gradually put away your heavy wool suits and move to lighter flannels, cavalry twills and milled worsteds. Every man’s wardrobe should contain a lightweight suit and sports jacket that will serve them for the spring season and moving to more pastel colours such as beige, tan and ivory are ideal for this time of year.

For a more casual look then a smart pair of chinos, a soft and lightweight blazer, a pale relaxed shirt and a silk pocket handkerchief cuts a fine sartorial figure. For the office, then light grey, mid blue or beige two piece suits in soft cotton or light wool will set the tone perfectly.

Cloths that allow the air to circulate through them are a good choice for spring so wool-linen blends or silk blends may be a good addition to your wardrobe. Now is a good time to look at your spring wardrobe and see if it fits the bill. What have you got planned for spring? Are you taking a short break? Will you be going to a sporting event? Plan your spring wardrobe now so that you can look sharp for the season.

If you regularly wear a suit to work then you may think the office Christmas party is a time to dress down and wear what you like. This is not a good idea. The office party, to a certain extent, is just like any other office event except it has more profile. This means that your boss is likely to be there, there’s a good chance that your boss’s boss will be there and there may even be some clients there so it’s still a time where presentation and impressions count.

Don’t wear the same suit that you always wear to work. Instead, wear a suit that you wouldn’t normally wear…as long as it’s not a summer suit in a pale pastel colour. Navy, grey or black suits are best and, together with a crisp white shirt, you will cut a fine sartorial figure. You don’t want to blend into the crowd and by wearing a new suit or a suit your colleagues haven’t seen before; you will still make a good impact. Here are some other quick tips for suiting up for the office Christmas party:

• Ties tend to be optional at Christmas parties but if you’re unsure, take one with you. You can always slip it on at the last moment if everybody else is wearing one.
• Fight the temptation to wear a Christmas-themed tie or waistcoat. It’s okay to maybe have some tasteful festive cuff-links or tie clip but when it comes to being festive, subtlety is the key.
• Accessorizing with a pocket square and a nice watch will give a classic finishing touch to your suit.
• A lot of Christmas office parties start shortly after the working day so there’s not a lot of time to get ready. Plan your attire in advance so that you can immediately change and be ready for the event.

Another good reason for men getting suited up for the office Christmas party is showing some respect to your female colleagues. There’s a good chance that they will want to wear something more elegant and sparkly than their normal office attire and if you’re there in your jeans and shirt, they will be made to look and feel a bit awkward. Your female colleagues will prefer it if you’ve made an effort so getting suited up is just plain old-fashioned good manners!