This Sunday evening, my wife and I soaked up the last of the Summer sun in our recently revamped garden, myself a man utterly content with his lot, a Cohiba Siglo VI in one hand, a glass of Blanton’s bourbon in the other.
Contentedly blowing plumes of smoke over my new pride and joy, a Parker & Coop fire pit, I savoured the soft lilac colours of our Verbenas and Asters, and reflected on what has been a marvellous summer.
Highlights for me have included a beach fire with friends in Runswick Bay and – a lover of surfing – one of the best waves of my life at Saunton Sands.
After a week of chilling in board shorts and T-shirts in Devon, it felt odd and yet highly enjoyable putting on my ‘work overalls’ for my first Saturday back in action – a Neapolitan inspired double-breasted suit with unstructured shoulders, doppio impuntura stitching and E. Marinella tie.
Like a Samurai adorning his chest armour, shoulder plates, thigh guards, mask and helmet, it is the ritualistic, almost meditative state of dressing that focuses my mind for the day ahead.
A crisply ironed shirt held in place with ten mother-of-pearl buttons; trousers secured at the waist with French-bearer and strap and buckle side fasteners; shoes highly polished and tightly laced; a silk-tie, knotted just so; the jacket gently squeezing my waist – a final glance in the mirror confirming this is a tailor who is poised and ready for battle.
Walking back to my car after the day’s graft, I was stopped by a teenager, out with his mates all clad in the ubiquitous athleisurewear.
Tightly clutching my leather briefcase, I warily enquired, “How can I help?”
He replied, “I just wanted to say I really like your suit.”
And that, made my day.
There are still young people out there with an appreciation for formal wear.
My eldest daughter, Avy, has today joined the sixth form at Prince Henry’s Grammar School and we recently received an email re dress code, asking students to “follow a business wear dress code”
Verboten garments included: “No denim, tracksuit bottoms, shorts or cargo pants, sweatshirts, fleeces, sports-tops, hoodies, trainers”
Basically, anything in Dominic Cummings wardrobe.
I can say with absolute certainty that none of the above will ever be on my Christmas list, but they are of course now totally acceptable in many places of business.
All of the above are for me, best worn by children (as the poor lambs don’t know any better) but dressing down can of course be done with a considerable degree of elegance and aplomb.
Many of my customers have embraced my unstructured jackets, knitwear, and chinos in a “business casual” climate, and whilst I love that vibe for the weekend, I think it’s terribly sad that formality in the work place has been dumbed-down so significantly.
Like that poor JD Sports clad lad in the street who stopped me – who perhaps loves the idea of one day wearing a suit and tie to work – how many of our children’s sartorial dreams have we shattered?
Indeed, I wonder how many of you are out there right now, wearing an open collared shirt under a half-zip knit, padded gilet over the back of your chair, secretly yearning to swagger into the office like Don Draper from “Mad Men,” or, Harvey Specter from Suits,” even Michael Douglas from “Wall Street?”
Perhaps not many!
Maybe it’s just me – your decorous, slightly eccentric and often sentimental tailor.
I’m getting all misty eyed and on the verge of a rant, so should probably wind things up.
It’s back to school (hurrah!), back to work (good for my liver) and may the joys and pleasures that Autumn bring, bestow you all.
Here’s to bright, crisp mornings, long unctuous lunches with a glass of red, snuggling down in front of a log fire, planning ski trips with friends and, of course, your new winter wardrobe!
Cheers!
James