Tailoring with edge at Bicester Village
With over 80 menswear brands at hand, update your wardrobe for Autumn/Winter at the nation's premier shopping destination
Words: Joe Barnes
In association with:
You want to look smart, but never dull. It’s a challenge many a man has endured when it comes to tailoring.
Whether it’s for a keynote address or that tricky smart casual invite, you want a suit with just the right amount of edge. Not dull, not over the top, simply effortlessly stylish.
With that in mind, Gentleman’s Journal and Bicester Village have assembled an edit – pulling on the 80 menswear brands available at the Oxfordshire shopping haven – of the best tailoring for colder, slightly nipper months ahead.
And, because it would be rude not to, five key style rules for adding a welcome edge to a smarter look.
Think crisp white tee, structured jacket
Pinstripe blue suit by Cerutti at Savoy Tailors Guild, white T-shirt by Acne Studios
They said it wouldn’t work. They were very wrong. A quality white t-shirt makes the perfect foil for a suit jacket – a date night-ready outfit or ideal for a more relaxed office.
Have a pair of go-to smart trainers
Grey suit by Hardy Amies at Savoy Tailors Guild, white T-shirt by Acne Studios
Every man should have a pair of smart trainers. In fact, scrap that, make it two. For a smart-casual tailored look, banish the brogues, ditch the derbys, and sport an impeccably clean pair of pumps.
Bring out the bright colours
Orange suit by Paul Smith, black T-shirt by Acne Studios
Not a look for every gentleman, but if you want to make a statement (namely, that you’re The Man), opt for an elegant, classic suit in a thoroughly modern, head-turning hue.
Make sure it fits like a glove
Petrol blue suit and white shirt by Paul Smith
Neither baggy nor bursting at the seams, for both edge and smartness the fit must be perfect. As always, head in store at one of Bicester Village’s 160 boutiques, and there’ll be expert staff on hand to help.
If in doubt, go long
Beige mac by Sandro, grey suit by Hardy Amies at Savoy Tailors Guild, (shoe stylists own), white T-shirt by Acne Studios
This is an on-trend look we’re right behind. Bring a touch of swagger to your outfit with a longer length unstructured jacket, in a complimentary colour.
Add sunglasses
Light blue suit, white shirt, blue tie by Canali at Savoy Tailors Guild, (sunglasses stylists own)
Light blue suits aren’t just for weddings or the horses – keep the cut contemporary, the tie thin, add the shades, and you’ve got a look you can wear at any big event where you want to be smart and bold.
Your tailoring sorted – when you’re all shopped out and dressed up for a night at the Wolseley, you’ll already be exactly where you need to be. The central London institution has expanded to Bicester Village with the opening of Café Wolseley.
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