Hype For Pinstripe

The term ‘pinstripe’ refers to the very thin, parallel lines that run through a cloth, contrasting with the main colour. Taken at face value, it would seem to be a fairly bland description of a simple fabric pattern. But the history of the pinstripe suit is anything from bland and, indeed, the suit itself has a host of connotations attached to it. From gangsters to bankers, we take a look at the pinstripe suit; why it’s inimitable style has persisted and why it’s having a renaissance in popular culture. 

The (brief) History of the Pinstripe Suit

As with most of fashion history, the history of the pinstripe suit is hotly debated, with people either claiming that it came from the uniforms of boatmen or the day-to-day dress of bankers. In the nineteenth century, bankers would wear formal attire to work. This usually consisted of a morning suit, with pinstriped trousers. Each bank had its own unique stripe, usually achieved through a variation in line thicknesses, which distinguished the bankers from each other. 

The next step in the pinstripe suit’s rise in popularity was when it crossed the pond to America in the early part of the twentieth century. Think Al Capone in a wide-striped three-piece with even wider lapels. This popularity only increased when Hollywood stars started adopting the style. Cary Grant famously wore pinstripe suits in a range of films, from ‘An Affair to Remember’ to Alfred Hitchcock’s ‘Notorious.’

But it was in the 1980s, thanks to one film in particular,  that the suit morphed into the incarnation we know so well today. When ‘Wall Street’s’ Gordon Gekko proclaimed ‘greed is good’ and sported a range of pinstripe suits, it spawned an entire movement in menswear, where a bold wardrobe went with a bold lifestyle.

The pinstripe suit has moved on from the days of gangsters and flashy bankers. Nowadays, it embodies the boldness of its past iterations while also being a stylish way to feel strong and empowered. We loved this look from Blake Lively in ‘A Simple Favour,’ which nods at the storied history of the pattern and also gloriously epitomises the new era for the pinstripe suit.

How to Wear it

Wide Stripe

The Three-Piece Pinstripe Suit

Shades of Grey

New and Bold

If you would like to take a look at some of our pinstripe cloths, you can order a swatch sample here. Alternatively, you can arrange an appointment to see our full range of cloths.