The commuter is a breed endemic to London. It is a species most commonly observed between the hours of 07.00 to 08.45 and 18.00 to 19.30 when it leaves its nest to socialize, work in groups, and feed. It can be distinguished by the populations’ sharpened elbows, its call – a collection of sighs and grunts, and its inclination to move at an alarmingly rapid speed when situated to the left of its pack.
If you too are a member of the commuter cult, you will be familiar with Shortlist Media, the publisher behind Wednesday morning’s Stylist Magazine and Thursday’s Shortlist. Having been weaned on to free media by the Metro and more latterly the Evening Standard, I have gladly become a part of Shortlist’s and Stylists’ circulation of circa 500,000. When the fluro-wearing army of distributers abandoned my tube station over the festive period and the mumbles of’ ‘free stylist, free stylist’ were nowhere to be heard I was devastated – but Hooray the magazines are back again! And Hurrah, if I should venture over the Channel, I am informed that Stylist has launched in France!
This morning’s Shortlist was cover-wrapped with a promotion for a series appearing on Dave called ‘Suits’. Now, I am not a Dave enthusiast, I’m more of a BBC girl myself, but apparently ‘Suits’ is an ‘education on how to dress and talk awesomely’, and well that does appeal.
I’ve worn a fair few suits in my time, it’s a rite of passage that a newly graduated twenty-something should trawl the aisles of M&S and TM Lewin in search of an oversized, shapeless two-piece, but these days I try to channel a more CoCo, Victoria Beckham and Anne Catherine Frey look (I do not share their shape, nor their style but one can dream). SO if this girl could indeed look banging in a masculine thread where would I look and what would I get?
I have a bit of a crush on Reiss’ tailoring, it’s hardly Saville Rowe, but I’ve known a lot of tall, slim gents to rock a crafted suit from their collection. Their 3pc check 1 button suit entitled NAPLES is my favourite – all-over subtle check, A fitted waistcoat and turned up hems on a classic fit trouser.
This site is just so beautiful to browse, it makes me long to be a cappuccino sipping, cigarette smoking, beard baring pillar of masculinity. The models are aspirational, the user journey is seamless and the stock is purse friendly – and free return pick-up is available just in case your suit doesn’t suit you. I particularly like the styling on the LA SPALLA in pure wool, perhaps one for my man-in-menswear.
If it’s good enough for the First Lady, it’s certainly good enough for me. Beyonce may be dominating the tabloids for faking her inauguration day performance, but it was nothing but class from Mrs Obama who wore a beautiful coat-dress by Thom Browne. Thom Browne’s signature look is the meticulously tailored, three-button, short suit and is available to purchase on the continent’s premium online fashion retailer Luisaviaroma.com
I love all things Scandi so it was inevitable that my ears would prick when I first heard of Tiger of Sweden, a brand from a small town on the west coast of Sweden who practices what they call ‘A Different Cut’. They have a store on Floral Street in Covent Garden selling minimalist ‘affordable luxury’ for both men and women. Their strategy with keeping the suit on trend has been to take ‘the suit out of the bank (and) into the street’ and their contemporary collection will make you want to do so too.
Mr Porter, Net-a-porter’s partner in crime, is the go-to website for men’s prestige brands and great tailoring. With an impressive collection of luxurious suits at hefty prices, the site offers a perfect choice of designer wear, of which I particularly like the Paul Smith (slim foot wool in red), for a more outlandish and achingly hip approach to the uniform.
