Here are three ways you can use custom tailoring to turn an ordinary suit into an individualised style statement.

1. Custom Lining

Hidden flair (Image courtesy of Alison Church Photography)

As mentioned in the above example, custom lining is a great way to add swag to your suit. Instead of staid and boring liners that are solely functional, take advantage of a custom liner to sport your team’s favourite colours or add a custom pattern, like a harlequin print, to make a bold yet subtle statement. It is important to remember that lining is not technically a component of the outfit, so a custom design does not need to be accounted for when pairing with a shirt or tie. Only when your jacket is unbuttoned might someone steal a glance at your lining; it’s for your own personal satisfaction, so be as bold as you dare.

2. Accent Stitching

Accent stitching is a subtle and unique detail that announces that you’re a serious dresser. Normally stitching around the boutonniere hole on a lapel matches the stitching throughout the jacket, meaning it is dark or neutral. Have a tailor replace this bland functionality with a more noticeable color (one that might even match the custom lining of your jacket), and your jacket will make an immediate impression.

3. Monogramming

Perhaps the most literal way to personalise your jacket, monogramming is the final step to having a truly one-of-a-kind item. Often compared to an artist signing his work, adding your name inside your jacket in an elegantly stitched fine script is a statement of ownership – not only of the jacket itself, of course, but of your command of style. Own your look, and let others know about it.

The post Don’t Forget the Details: How to Add Personal Touches to Your Suit appeared first on Instyle Bespoke Tailors.

If you show up to your friend’s wedding wearing a baby blue tux with Converse All-Star sneakers, you might not be doing the bride and groom’s impeccably planned style scheme any favours (unless, of course, they specifically asked their guests to dress this way!). “Fine,” you might say. “Then if that’s the wrong thing to wear, what’s the right thing?”

That all depends upon how casually the bride and groom are approaching their event. Usually (and thankfully), the wedding invitation makes this easy by specifying which of these three dress code categories to adhere to:

Black Tie

The most formal of the three, this dress code insists upon:

• A classic white tuxedo shirt
• Solid black tuxedo (but a black suit can also pass)
• Classic black bow-tie
• Studded tuxedo buttons
• Black patent leather Oxfords (polished, of course!)
• A white pocket square (optional, but encouraged)

Black Tie Optional

A step in a slightly more casual direction. This dress code calls for:

• A crisp white dress shirt (not a tux shirt)
• A dark coloured, conservative tie (doesn’t have to be black, but you should probably opt to leave your yellow power-tie at home for this one)
• Black suit
• Dark leather shoes (yes, polish these too!)

Semi Formal

Sometimes also referred to as “After 5” or “Cocktail Attire,” this is a laid back approach that we’re seeing at more and more weddings these days. Here’s what you need to ace this look:

• A dark suit
• Dress shirt (it can have a pattern, but make sure it’s not too loud)
• Classy tie of choice
• Dark dressy leather shoes
• Optional colourful pocket square for a pop of brightness

A few other pro-tips for the big day:

• “If you’re not part of the wedding party, go for a slim fit suit with clean lines and a peak lapel to add interest,” suggests Daisy Thistlethwaite, senior menswear designer at co.uk
• Make sure your pocket square isn’t hanging out of your pocket like a magician’s scarf.
• And, while we’re at it, here’s a guide to tying a bow-tie as well — just in case!
• Unless you’re sporting well-groomed, successfully grown-in facial hair, opt for a clean shaven look.
• Don’t overdress — if the invitation says “Cocktail Attire,” wearing a full tuxedo might be overkill. If the wedding invitation doesn’t specify a dress code at all, ask the bride or groom. If they’re indecisive about it, then the smartest option is usually to go for a semi-formal look with a simple dress shirt and unobtrusive tie.

Let us help you put a fresh spin on your get-up for the next wedding you’re invited to! We offer custom tailoring and only the highest quality materials for all your formal attire needs.

The post A Gents’s Guide to Dressing for a Wedding appeared first on Instyle Bespoke Tailors.

But given the expense of buying suits, it is vital to know how to properly care for them, so as to maintain your suits for years to come.

Too much dry-cleaning can be hazardous

For many professionals, dry-cleaning seems like a great option. Drop the suits off; pick them back up looking great. But the chemicals used in dry-cleaning can wear down the material of your suit, meaning that frequently dry-cleaned suits will not last as long as those dry-cleaned less often. Sometimes, dry-cleaning is the only option, but to keep your suits lasting longer, space these appointments out. Dry-clean only when the suit really needs it.

There are some Proper suit care at-home alternatives to frequent dry-cleaning

There are several DIY options that can keep your suit looking professional in between cleanings. One is a clothing brush. Wool, the most common suit material, is a natural material that can retain particles from the environment encountered over the course of the day — dust and lint, for example — and these particles can wear down the suit if not removed. A brush with natural bristles is a gentle way to remove these particles without subjecting the suit to harsh chemicals. Many professionals also swear by a lint roller, which rolls some of these particles off of the suit material without any invasive procedures.

Proper suit care – Steaming is also a good option for maintaining the quality of a suit at home. While the direct heat of an iron can cause the material to deteriorate faster, steaming is a gentler way of removing stains and odours from the suit. If steaming is not an option for you, and you need to remove wrinkles right away, be sure to place a barrier between the iron and your suit to protect it from the heat.

Rotate suits

Once you find a suit that fits perfectly, it can be tempting to wear it every day, or at least several days in a row. But repeated wear without a break can damage your suit, just like excessive dry-cleaning, causing it to deteriorate faster. Because your suit is composed of natural wool fibres, it needs time to recover from a full work day before you wear it again. Try to rotate outfits throughout the work week; your suits will thank you.

Store the suit by hanging it up

The steamer is a great way to remove wrinkles, but an even better one is of course to avoid these wrinkles in the first place. Always store your suit hanging up to prevent wrinkles that occur from folding. When you’re traveling, try use a garment bag, if possible. The stress of travel can damage your suit – and you won’t want that to happen to your dearest friend, would you?

Always hang your suit up in a well-spaced area when you’re not wearing it.  Don’t hang it with one of those flimsy metal hangers that will leave hanger divots in the shoulders. Don’t make that mistake. Invest instead in a proper wooden hanger with a wide-spread contoured shape to ensure that you’ll preserve the shape and drape of the suit. The hanger should be wide enough to touch the edge of the shoulders and wide enough to fill up a portion of the shoulders. When out buying hangers, try to buy one that is made of natural wood, as they will help absorb the moisture from the fabric after a long day of wear.

Your suit can even suffer damage while you wear it

Although most of what we think of as “Proper suit care” occurs after removing the suit at the end of the day, taking some preventative measures while wearing the suit can help it stay intact longer. For instance, be sure to unbutton your suit jacket before sitting down, as this position tends to put more strain on the seams and buttons compared to when standing. Similarly, pull up on the trouser leg before sitting. Pants rip most often at the knee because of the additional strain placed on them by bending one’s legs, and moving the fabric up helps alleviate the pressure.

Traveling

A garment bag is (or at least should be) the favourite companion for your suit when you’re out traveling. Make sure to use one that is not only easy to carry, but also one that will protect your suit properly. Garment bags should be breathable and light to keep your suit cool during transit.

Traveling without a Garment Bag

More often than not, it may be impractical to travel with a garment bag for a suit.  For those rare occasions, where space is a luxury you don’t have, you’ll be needing to know how to properly fold and pack a suit in a way that minimises wrinkles. Click on the link above to see a video on how to fold a suit. You’ll quickly see that this is how your suit was folded when it first came out of the bag when it was delivered to you from us, and into your life.

Bonus Travel Tip

If you’re traveling and don’t have access to a steamer, then hang your suit on your bathroom door while you take a hot shower. If you don’t like hot showers, then give your suit some steam treatment of its own by hanging it up in the bathroom, turn up the hot water and leave the vent off and close the door. In matter of just a few minutes, your suit should be relaxed and relatively wrinkle-free from the all the hot steam.

That’s all for this week. We wish you safe travels wherever you go!

The post A Guide to Proper Suit Care appeared first on Instyle Bespoke Tailors.