Journal
King & Allen bring you all the very best style advice, news and ‘tailored’ articles. If you have a question that you’d like to see answered on our blog, send us an email to [email protected].
I Just Called to Say I Suit You
With Valentine’s day coming up, we thought we’d treat you to the very best romantic tailoring terms (and we promise we’ve kept it clean!)
Style History King & Allen News
Back to Work Blues
January can be a difficult time of year for some; going back to work after the Christmas break, finding you’ve put on a few festive pounds and the grey, cold days that seem to stretch on forever. We at King & Allen, however, are eternal optimists and this year, we’ve decided to lean into the ‘blues.’ Read on to find out why we have such a zeal for teal!
Style Tips & Advice Weddings Style History Business Style
Suits that Shocked
Halloween may be just around the corner but dressing to shock doesn’t have to be confined to fright night. Indeed, nothing leaves a lasting impression like an outfit that courts controversy, which got us thinking about our favourite ‘suits’ that sparked outrage. Here are our six all-star sartorial shockers.
Celebrity Style Style History
The History of the Button
In our fast-paced, modern lives, where trends come and go overnight, we can often take for granted the most fundamental of things. At King & Allen, we are huge fans of tiny details and believe that we should pay them the homage they deserve. With that in mind, we thought we’d delve into the history of the unsung hero of any bespoke suit: the button.
Style History
What is Sprezzatura?
As John Galliano once said: ‘The joy of dressing is an art.’ Here at King & Allen, we believe that the perfect suit is an art form and one that can keep inspiring the wearer for many years. The classic suit will never go out of style but what if you wanted to change things up? What if you wanted to start your own dapper rebellion? Allow us to introduce you to…
Style Tips & Advice Style History Business Style
The History of the Necktie
As with so many fashions across the centuries, the necktie has its roots in military history. Evidence of the tie as military uniform dates back as far as 210BC and China’s first emperor – Qin Shih Huang
Style History
How To Wear A Suit Like A Peaky Blinder
As any fan of the BAFTA-award-winning BBC series Peaky Blinders knows, the Shelby brothers can always be relied upon to look sharp while going about their business – illicit or otherwise. The look is a larger-than-life interpretation of a typical 1920s working man’s dress and in the Shelby world what you wear says as much about your place in the local pecking order as your actions.
Style Tips & Advice Celebrity Style Style History
The Pink Suit
La Vie En Rose… 4 Reasons Why You Should Be Tickled Pink This Summer
Style Tips & Advice Style History
A Brief History of the Wedding Suit
Tradition is a funny thing. Adhere to it too strictly and you’re branded as fusty and boring. Go too far the other way and people will say you’re foolishly modish and, even worse, an insufferable hipster (perish the thought).
Style History
The History of the Sports Jacket
At King & Allen, we love exceptional tailoring in all its forms. Even the laid-back, casual elegance of the sports jacket. But what exactly is a sports jacket and how can you add it to your sartorial retinue?
Style History
The politics of clothing. Suffragettes, suits and solidarity.
On 6 February 1918, more than eight million women won the right to vote, thanks to the introduction of the Representation of the People Act. It would be another decade before all women and men could have their say (another five million men were given the vote under the 1918 act), but it was a significant step forward, not least for the suffragette movement, who had campaigned for more than a decade.
Style History
Paddington Bear. An Unlikely Style Icon
Our favourite gentlemanly bear is back and framed for theft in the new sequel to the 2014 film, Paddington. Inspired by the stories written by Michael Bond, this film has been well received by critics and looks set to be a success.
Style Tips & Advice Celebrity Style Style History
The History of the Overcoat: From the Military to 20th Century Subculture
The clocks went back this weekend, marking the official end of British summertime. It’s a time of year that many style enthusiasts eagerly anticipate, not just because of that extra hour in bed, but because of the endless sartorial opportunities that cooler weather presents.
Style History
The History of the Ticket Pocket
Have you ever spotted someone with an extra pocket above the right hip pocket on their suit jacket and wondered what it is for?
Style History
The History of Herringbone
Herringbone is probably a cloth design that you are very familiar with. In fact, you may own a few pieces in this historical fabric in your own wardrobe!
Style History
A Short History of the Dinner Suit
It is an intriguing reflection of our times that the dinner suit, currently the most formal of all two-piece suits, was originally the least formal form of attire in a man’s evening wear wardrobe.
Style History
A Brief History of Trousers
Trousers have been worn in the Western world since ancient times. They are now the most common form of lower-body clothing for men. Practical and comfortable, there’s no wonder that they’ve been adopted by both sexes as part of their everyday dress. Trousers were first invented because robes are uncomfortable to wear on horseback. In fact, those who wore trousers in battle had the upper hand over those who wore robes. For this reason, civilisations all over the world adopted this form of dress to survive battle.
Style History
The History of the Cufflink
Although historians have observed the presence of cufflinks in ancient Egyptian paintings, the cufflink as we know it dates back to the 17th century, before which time sleeves were buttoned or tied at the wrist in bows. When they first emerged they were exclusively worn by the aristocracy and were predominantly made from gold and adorned by gem stones. Interestingly, they were often gifted – just as they are today.
Style History