Doesn’t seem right does it.
Those slick creative colleagues are sussed when it comes to dressing for work: the blokes just have to put a smudge of beard oil on their whiskers and buff up the tattoos whilst the gals pop on shades, reattach the nose-ring and hey presto they’re ready for the commute.
However….you, Account Director peeps, have got briefs to take and presentations to give, so sartorially you’ve got to meet your suited and booted clients somewhere in the middle.
Oh to wear a pair of Adidas Raf Simons in the boardroom…..the thought of those beauties sometimes makes your shoulders slope with longing. So how can you look professional and still feel like you’re showing your personality at work?
We asked tailoring expert Tom Wharton, MD of Barrington Ayre, with clients including Radio 1 DJ Greg James, sharp suited Ant & Dec and sports presenter Dan Walker, what his top tips are to make suits speak for themselves whether you’re a boy or girl.
1. Get fitted
Above all, wearing a great quality suit is a must. ‘It’s about the cut and fabric’ says Tom. ‘Try impressive materials like Prince of Wales check that can come in a variety of sizes and make sure that the suit is very fitted with trousers and skirts that are well tapered’.
Invest in a suit that you can also wear with plain bottom half, something with style but not so outlandish that everyone rolls their eyes when you wear it for the fourth time in a week.
Of course you can get great off-the-peg suits but the three reasons bespoke is a sensible way to spend your hard earned cash are:
a) it will fit you perfectly, with lumps and bumps concealed and you can go to your tailor to have it taken in or out if you’ve been dieting or indulging;
b) it will last a long time (average of 15 years), because the material is of excellent quality;
c) you’ll feel ridiculously confident.
There are small details that make all the difference to your own style – such as lapels, cuffs, buttonholes and even nifty little secret pockets so that you can whip out the USB stick in front of the client with the grace of Dynamo.
2. Find the ultimate fabric
Make sure with everything you’re wearing – be it suit, jacket, overcoat – has a fabric that mirrors your personality and all you’re trying to convey.
Red Trousers look fab on Robbie Savage and Jessie J rocked those catsuits but they’re a tad questionable in a client briefing.
All is not lost however. A good tailor will have a ton of exciting materials to choose from (Barrington Ayre has over 3,000) and it’s not just the way they look that matters.
‘Make sure you get the right weight’ says Tom. ‘For a classic English look you could get something like a 13 or 14 ounce. For something lighter but still wearable all year round you could opt for a 12 ounce fabric because it holds its shape well’.
Think about how fancy you want to be – three piece suits are making a comeback in a big way – all hail the waistcoat.
3. Don’t be afraid of quirks
Linings are a great way of showing the world who you are when you feel the moment is right.
‘Nowadays you can do anything’ says Tom ‘from something punchy like painted skulls or favourite pieces of art…we even had one customer have their own DNA printed. That was a stunning piece’.
4. Befriend some fine items
Knitwear is your friend. Not a chunky cardy but rather a merino wool to fit snugly under your jacket, so soft in fact you’ll whinge at the thought of having to take it off.
Brands like John Smedley are perfect – classic, elegant and they keep the line of your suit. Nothing patterned is probably best or your lining will be fighting for attention.
5. Get thoroughly stitched up
A subtle but dapper way of adding flair to your fabulous suit is with stitching. You can match it exactly to your bright lining or add different colour around all or one of your favourite buttons. Yes you will have a favourite button….
Whatever your style, be sure to wear that suit with pride and whilst you’re making a quick cuppa between meetings you can guarantee that your creative colleagues will be sidling over to get your tailor’s number.