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].
Customer question: what’s the difference between a suit jacket and a blazer/sports jacket?
The origins of the sports jacket were, as you would imagine, forged in upper class outdoor pursuits. The ‘sporting’ gent required a jacket that could survive the rough and tumble of excessive hunting, fishing and swigging from hip flasks. It often had a belt and buckle around the middle as well as elbow patches for comfort and hardiness respectively. Over time, those styles have evolved into hacking and hunting jackets, with the sports jacket now interpreted as an informal garment worn with casual trousers (rather than suit trousers).
Style Tips & Advice
Discussion: The ‘Slobification’ of society
In an impassioned rant in the New York Post last week, writer Elisabeth Vincentelli berated the ‘slobification’ of modern society.
Style Tips & Advice
Icon of the Month – Shia Laboeuf
Never far from controversy, the volatile but hugely talented Hollywood actor was in the papers again this month – accused (again) of plagiarism. Regardless of his bizarre antics, no one can deny that Shia LaBeouf has great style.
Celebrity Style
The K&A Guide to Bespoke Shirts
As with suits, there are a number of choices you’ll need to make when ordering a bespoke shirt – which is, of course, part of the fun!
Style Tips & AdviceIcon of the Month – Roger Federer
Roger Federer played in his 10th Wimbledon final on Sunday – more than any player (he won 7 of them) – so it seems highly appropriate that he should be King & Allen’s Icon Of the Month for July 2015…
Celebrity Style
Summer Separates
Summer events (especially weddings abroad) are becoming increasingly casual. This is actually quite a challenge for the male guests – how to respect the formality of the occasion without looking too business-like and/or getting too hot.
Style Tips & Advice
King & Allen celebrate: Linen
Linen is one of the first products known to civilised man, dating back 30,000 years. As well as clothing, it was used for sails, rope, fishing nets, linseed oil and even currency. Indeed, the Latin for flax (the plant from which it is extracted) is linen usitatissimum (extremely useful!).
Style Tips & Advice Style History
Summer Suit Style Inspiration
Whilst the winter months lend themselves better to the darker hues of blue, grey and black, the summer allows the opportunity to try something a little different. Get inspired with these bold, colourful ideas to improve your summer style:
Style Tips & AdviceIcon of the Month – Tom Hardy
As the star of Mad Max: Fury Road , Tom Hardy is Hollywood’s man of the moment. What makes him so beguiling as an actor is his volatility, and if the rumours are true his wild man persona on film is merely an extension of his real world self. But in a movie world brimming with polite, charming English actors, it’s this sense of danger that surrounds him that sets him apart.
Celebrity Style
3 Peas in a Pod
With everything else about them under such close scrutiny over the last few weeks, it seems appropriate to take a look at the ‘style’ of the three opponents as well. In an election which was heavily criticised for its middle-of-the-road policies and lack of hard-line opinion, one could easily argue that the sartorial decisions of Cameron, Clegg and Miliband were a visible analogy.
Celebrity Style
Innovative ways to tie a tie
To celebrate the fact that we now sell bespoke ties (in the same colour as your lining if you wish), it seemed the perfect opportunity to offer some tie advice. The four-over-hand and half-windsor are probably the only two knots in your tie tying armoury, so why not impress your friends (and yourself!) by learning one of these more innovative methods:
Style Tips & Advice
Icon of the Month VE Day 70th Anniversary special – Winston Churchill
As well as Prime Minister, Winston Churchill lead an extremely eclectic life. He was a painter, a historian, a bricklayer, a prisoner of war, and a nobel prize laureate. He was also a champagne connoisseur and fashion icon – conceiving and popularising the ‘Siren Suit’ – a zip-up ‘onesie’, to be worn when seeking shelter during the blitz. But it is for his bold 3 piece chalk striped suits, polka dot bow ties, pocket watches and John Bull hats that he will be most fondly remembered. Whether he was visiting the trenches or meeting with world leaders, he was always impeccably dressed – even down to his underwear which was made from very finely woven silk.
Celebrity Style
The K&A Guide to Dressing for work
Would you like to look great at work? Do you want to rise through the ranks like the proverbial phoenix? Of course, you do!
Style Tips & Advice
Shirt Collars explained
There are a huge variety of shirt collar styles to choose from – especially if you’re buying bespoke.
Style Tips & Advice
King & Allen celebrate – The Suits of Mad Men
As the TV phenomenon that is Mad Men airs it’s final episode this spring, it seems appropriate that K&A takes a moment to honour the show that has brought us a host of style icons – from the Prince of Wales checked, double breasted Roger Stirling to the royal blue two-pieces of young upstart Pete Campbell, Mad Men inspired a raising of the sartorial bar never seen before by a TV show.
Celebrity StyleIcon of the Month – Eddie Redmayne
Like previous King & Allen icons Benedict Cumberbach or Idris Elba, Eddie Redmayne is one of those talented young British actors who it’s impossible not to like. He shot to super-stardom in Les Miserables and hasn’t put a foot wrong since, showing his real acting meat playing Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything – for which he won the Oscar this week for best actor. As if the accolades weren’t coming thick and fast enough – he was also recently voted GQ’s best dressed man. From bold checked rakish to slick understated cool, he’s not afraid to vary his wardrobe.
Celebrity Style
King & Allen Style Predictions 2015
London. Paris. Milan. The three main men’s fashions weeks of the year all took place in January, and we’ve kept an extra close eye on the catwalks in order to provide you with the most relevant Style Predictions a King & Allen customer could wish for. But as well as looking to the catwalks for inspiration, we also analyse the buying habits of hundreds of K&A customers – and see what trends we should expect in the suiting world based on our own customer’s requests.
Style Tips & Advice