off the cuff! bespoke suits

Designers in focus: Paul Smith

2008-09-09T15:39:00.004Z

In order to stay ahead of the pack and get the look for your bespoke suit that makes you stand out from the crowd, I will be profiling designers over the next few weeks, so you can get a feel for what styles are out there and which you prefer. Knowing what look you’re aiming for always helps when choosing a bespoke suit and with so many variations abound, having a good sense of the overall

Designers in focus: Tom Ford

2008-09-09T15:23:00.006Z

As promised I'm continuing to delve into the world of the men's suit designers who are turning heads worldwide, and this week I've been looking at the work of Tom Ford.As an American designer famous for injecting a renewed sense of creativity at the Gucci fashion house in the 1990's, Tom Ford has worked his way up to the top of the fashion tree working for Gucci and Yves Saint Laurent to become

Fabric

2008-07-11T15:23:00.004Z

Having previously discussed seasonal fabrics, this week I'd like to look at the importance of fabric in any men's suit no matter what the season. We all know that the cut of a bespoke suit makes the difference between standing out in the crowd and having a standardised version of the suit you'd like, but let's not forget how important the right kind of fabric is in the equation.Your choice of

7 tips to make sure your suit always looks its finest

2008-07-03T14:14:00.004Z

1. The defining feature as to whether any men's suit looks its best is the fit. Bespoke suits are of course a perfect choice for the man who wants to look as stylish as possible with as little effort as possible.One aspect of the fit, which defines the overall impression your suit will make, is the shape of the shoulders. Shoulder pads are used in most modern suits these days to accentuate the

Wedding Suits

2008-06-06T09:38:00.004Z

This week I've been thinking about the summer and how the season can affect your choice of suits. With summer being wedding season it's a sensible idea to consider a distinguished style of suit that will be adaptable enough to wear to work and for formal occasions. Attending a wedding doesn't have to mean the usual morning suit look; you can choose a formal 3-piece suit as a suitable

Style Icon – Mark Ronson

2008-06-06T09:31:00.002Z

This week I'd like to turn my attention to upcoming style icon Mark Ronson. With a Brit award for Best British Male Artist for his stylised ‘Versions’ album and a 2008 Grammy Award for Producer of the Year for his work with Amy Winehouse on the multi-award winning album ‘Back To Black’ behind him, you'd think that this man had enough strings to his bow already. Increasingly however, his

Seasonal material

2008-06-02T08:40:00.004Z

Summer is officially on its way and so as a result I've been investigating the best materials for this season’s suits so you can stay cool whilst looking hot. There are many materials and fabric mixes on the market to choose from in the warmer months than ever before. With choices of combed cottons, linens and even virgin wool suit mixes there are also Coolmax polyesters on the market. The

The right trousers

2008-05-15T11:32:00.003Z

Having focused on lapel styles and accessories in the last few weeks, I'd like to turn my attention to the most important part of any man's suit: the trouser. The well-fitted trouser is the most essential factor to get right as, no matter what the situation (whether in an informal meeting or just walking home), you may take your jacket off but your trousers are always in evidence. One of the

Accessories

2008-04-29T09:19:00.005Z

This week I want to talk about the importance of making your bespoke suit reflect who you are. Of course a tailor-made men’s suit works wonders for your figure and can improve your confidence, but whether you’ve got a strong personality or like being a wallflower there are accessories you can employ to show off your flair for individuality. Belts are a good way to complete your image. There are

How to Tie a Bow Tie With Three-Piece Suits

2008-04-16T13:44:00.016Z

Since my last posting was all about waistcoats and how best to wear them, I thought I'd run through a quick guide on how to tie a bow tie. For the more formal occasions and in league with a three-piece suit, the bow tie is one of the greatest accessories to offset a distinguished, or even colourfully eccentric, look. Whether you're attending a black or white tie event

Two piece or not two piece? That is the question…

2008-04-14T09:56:00.004Z

Bespoke two-piece suits should be a staple in the modern man's wardrobe and, whether worn as in a professional or distinguished, the style can say a lot about you. This week I have been looking into where the three-piece suit fits into the equation and I have come up with some interesting musings on the subject along the way. It's been observed that Daniel Craig has been sporting a gilet by

How to tie a Windsor knot

2008-04-04T14:31:00.006Z

Men's formal suits have hit the catwalks in a big way this season, with every menswear fashion show of any note featuring our favourite fashion statement boldly and proudly. Proving that custom suits really can cut it in this age we were shown a fantastic display of male grooming at its best, with bold statements made by designers such as Ann Demeulemeester in her Fall/Winter collection, on

Suits on the Street 2008

2008-02-25T16:31:00.008Z

At A Suit That Fits we pay close attention to suit trends – we often ask ourselves, what will the suits on the streets be in 2008? Will the three-buttoned suit succumb to the two-button as the contemporary gent’s suit of choice; will formal wear continue its resurgence in popularity and will classic fabrics be superceded by lightweight, quality fabrics with the right balance of classic fit and

The Rochester: A Suit Review

2007-01-27T00:56:00.000Z

“England – alas, my country! – has degenerated very much, and is degenerating every day. She has not many gentlemen left. We are few. I see nothing to succeed us but a race of weavers.” So said dear Mr. Turveydrop in Dickens' 'Bleak House'.Which brings us to the word ‘deportment’. ‘Deportment’, you will learn, is a very special word, which touches on every aspect of what it means to be, not only

'The Grenadier': A Suit Review

2007-01-11T11:53:00.000Z

Grenadine was traditionally made from the juice of crushed pomegranates. It was thus a deep blood-red. The term ‘grenadier’ might not have anything to do with ‘red’ (it comes from the French ‘grenade-man’ or ‘soldier who threw grenades’, which were, in fact, named after pomegranates due to their being a similar size - confused yet?) but to the simple folk here in Great Britain, the Grenadier

The Beauty of Light and Black Satin

2007-01-05T14:44:00.000Z

No self-respecting gentleman can expect to survive long without a dinner-suit. Whether you’re going to your end-of-year ball or some fancy do with your prestigious law-firm, our dinner-suit will make you stand out in style. More than anything, however, it’s the satin that speaks to me – one of those strange instances when the aesthetic impression becomes as powerful as a drug, exerting the same

'The Oyster': a suit

2006-12-22T12:43:00.000Z

This is the ultimate in luxury from A Suit That Fits. Smoky, palpably-soft cashmere shot through with a delicate stripe. The softness of touch is complimented by an equally soft aesthetic in the powder-pink lining, which shimmers like mother of pearl.This is not a suit to wear lightly. It's not a suit to overuse. It’s a piece of art, carefully crafted like a pot or a painting or a box inlaid with

'The Accused': A Suit Review

2006-12-15T13:11:00.000Z

When a man stands accused, he might as well look his best. This dark blue suit with its ultra-thin pinstripe - reminiscent of a convict's PJs - is perfect for the accused man who wants to retain some dignity in his life. It’s the suit to be caught in whilst brawling with pool-sticks after a night on the town. It’s the suit to be seen in in a court of law, just before being sent down. It’s the

'The Jewelled Gecko': A Suit Review

2006-12-13T13:08:00.000Z

Grey means serious. Grey means elegant. Grey means powerfully conservative. Grey, in fact, means all of these things, but by no means is it a stranger to fun.For those who take their style seriously but like to wear something bright, this is exactly what the doctor ordered - one of those combinations that work wonders on the eye. Here 'green' and 'grey' are put to stunning use, with the soft,

'The Scholar': A Suit in Pictures

2006-12-11T12:30:00.000Z

An eccentric English gentlemen asked us to create the perfect suit. This is what we came up with: a 21st century look with an edge of scholarly seriousness. Here we see the two-piece suit matched with a gorgeous satin-backed waistcoat for the complete look of bespoke elegance. Browse the photos below for a close-up of each immaculate finish; we’re sure you’ll agree it’s a work of stunning

'The Urban Grey': A Suit Review

2006-11-30T10:09:00.000Z

A youthful modish grey, this single-breasted double-buttoned suit is perfect for those who want to inject a bit of style into the office environment. With no trouser pleats and flapless pockets, the extras have been kept to an absolute minimum for a streamlined, ultra-chic effect. Brightened by a blood-red tie and a cut-away shirt-collar, this suit combines the formality of our standard model

'The Baroque': A Suit Review

2006-11-29T09:29:00.000Z

With its opulent lining and elegantly tapered waist, this unusual suit - fresh from the garment house A Suit That Fits - has a definite touch of the baroque. Brilliantly fitted with a gorgeous lining, it clings like a lover to the sides of your chest, heightening every sensation. One touch of the pure wool fabric, liberally padded and lined with satin, and we guarantee you’ll never want to wear

The Cinema and a Pale Yellow Jumper

2006-11-27T14:39:00.000Z

What a cool evening I had last night. After ten minutes of waiting outside the wrong Odeon on Leicester Square (did you know there were two?) Sean rang me to see where I was. When we finally met he was wearing a lemon jumper and his hair looked blacker than before, as black as soot in fact. We shared coffee/toffee ice-cream in the Odeon and then watched The Prestige. Sitting in the cinema with

Tockington Manor

2006-11-24T10:52:00.000Z

I went to a Chroma reading last night at Waterstones on Oxford Street (Chroma is a literary journal in which my poems have appeared) to watch my writer-pal Brynn read his winning story, Spawn of the Regime. While he was chatting to Louise Hercules, this month's Chroma cover-girl, I sat down with a mince-pie and a glass of water and looked around at the crowd. Straight away, I found my eyes drawn

The Blackened Caryatids of St. Pancras Church

2006-11-21T09:36:00.000Z

The other day I wrote the following lines:Below the vast November sky the heat-cracked surface lieshalf an inch up, baking and changed,the roots are fruitlessly unearthed.The blackened caryatids of St. Pancras Church stand like sentinels,themselves unobserved – potential reminders of a cancerous London.Something moves lugubriously in the earth. The armoured octopi have stirred;their feelers snake