Gareth Southgate’s Waistcoat

Forget football fever, the real frenzy sweeping the nation is Gareth Southgate’s penchant for a stylish, dark blue waistcoat. Marks and Spencer’s have reported a 35% increase in their sales of waistcoats since a certain England manager started sporting his at the World Cup.

Indeed, a quick search on Twitter shows the absolute love and adoration for Gareth Southgate’s waistcoat addiction. And we can definitely get you kick started with your own fashion goals.

1. Laid-back Formality

One of the many things we love about the three-piece suit is the possibility for multiple looks with one suit. This is something that Southgate pulls off with stunning aplomb. You can wear the full suit, for a formal look that sets you apart. Then, if you get too hot or fancy a change, you can take off the jacket and still look sleek, sharp and cool. Perfect for when things reach fever pitch!

2. The Blues

The whole England team have been decked out in dark blue suits. We are big fans of this colour as it is an adaptable shade that looks classic and timeless. We love pairing it with either a light blue or white shirt, just like the England manager. This contrast helps the waistcoat stand out and frames the body in an elegant silhouette. For some added colour, you could add a splash here and there with contrasting buttons or even change the shade of the stitching on your button holes.

3. Button Up

Tradtionally, the bottom button of the waistcoat is left undone. This is due to the somewhat dubious stories about the corpulent Edward VII being unable to sit down on his horse with his bottom button done up. The rest of his royal entourage undid there’s in a show of solidarity. Nowadays, it’s mostly recommended so that you don’t have to undo the bottom button every time you sit down.

But the fearless England manager isn’t one for sitting on the sidelines and his button choices reflect his stalwart, upstanding nature. So what do you think? To button or not to button?