The New Rules of Tailoring: 9 Ways to Look Suave in 2016
While cut and colour can vary from season to season, the basic elements of a suit — jacket, trousers, sometimes a vest — never really change. To make a statement in 2016, you need to reconsider what you wear with your tailored goods: double up on shirts, give lace and silk a shot, and don’t shy away from colours and patterns.
Yes, it’s possible to wear lace and not look like your grandmother’s favourite teatime tablecloth. This shirt is trim, stiff and minimalist, with the embroidery creating an understated pattern.
Wool-mohair blend jacket ($2,090), cotton button down ($1,175), and wool-mohair pants ($1,045) by Burberry; leather shoes ($650) by A.P.C.
Texture can elevate any outfit, especially when it comes to simple silhouettes. A soft cashmere knit shirt is a relaxed underpinning to a blazer with raised, tactile stripes.
Cotton blazer ($1,220) by Canali; cashmere shirt ($1,310) by Burberry.
Wearing a double-breasted suit? Try doubling up on shirts, too. The layering and mix of patterns adds visual interest in an unexpected way.
Cashmere-linen-silk blend suit ($9,995) and cotton button downs ($995 each) by Kiton.
Pair like with like by wearing stripes on stripes — the trick is to keep the patterns distinct by wearing both horizontal and vertical versions of varying weights.
Polyester-nylon blend trench coat ($395) and cotton button down ($100) by Tommy Hilfiger; cotton suit ($1,350) by BOSS.
Go all-in on the ‘70s look with big lapels and an in-your-face, prominently-collared patterned shirt.
Cotton suit ($3,635) and silk button down ($1,590) by Versace; leather shoes ($270) by Johnston & Murphy.
If you don’t want to give up on the tried and true shirt-and-tie combo, try to mix it up by going monochromatic with a white jacket and shirt, to give your patterned neckwear even more pop.
Cotton blazer ($395) by Tommy Hilfiger; cotton-linen button down ($300) by Aquascutum; silk tie ($215) by Ermenegildo Zegna.
A new take on the three-piece suit ditches the vest in favour of a denim button-up worn over a classic white dress shirt.
Wool blazer ($3,995) by Ermenegildo Zegna; cotton shirt (price upon request) and cotton jeans ($650) by Louis Vuitton; cotton button down ($205) by BOSS; leather shoes ($270) by Johnston & Murphy.
Let the suit do the talking by donning one that subscribes to the old adage “more is more” — a colourful check finished off with a complimentary crochet trim.
Cotton blazer ($3,015) by Gucci.
Turn the tuxedo on its head with a relaxed cut, brightly patterned silk shirt, and rakishly disheveled styling.
Wool jacket (price upon request) and wool pants (price upon request) by Versace; silk button down ($1,600) by Louis Vuitton; leather shoes ($270) by Johnston & Murphy.
Photographer: Peter Ash Lee
Stylist: Julian Jesus at See Management
Grooming by: Liz Olivier
Stylist Assistant: Nick Cohen
