PUBLIC SCHOOL wins 2014/2015 Inaugural men’s International Woolmark Prize

New York based clothing brand PUBLIC SCHOOL was announced the winner of the 2014/2015 International Woolmark Prize during the inaugural men’s award held on schedule at London Collections:Men.

Designers Maxwell Osborne (left) & Dao-Yi Chow (right) with model in centre

Judging panel included designer Paul Smith, Editor-at-Large for Style.com Tim Blanks and British GQ Editor Dylan Jones.

Left to right: Dylan Jones, Paul Smith, designers Maxwell Osborne & Dao-Yi Chow with Woolmark MD Stuart McCullough

PUBLIC SCHOOL ‘s merino wool collection was based on craftsmanship and showcased the natural characteristics of Merino wool. The designers explained:” It feels unbelievable to win the prize. Wea re the first US winners in the competition so we are really proud and it’s incredibly meaningful to us.”

The collection will be available globally from August 2015

http://publicschoolnyc.com

www.woolmark.com

Get the Festive Look in a Plum Velvet Jacket

Plum Velvet: A great warm rich colour for Christmas with thoughts of plum brandy and plum pudding.   

Paul Smith London slim fit two button blazer with peak lapels goes for the bright reddish plum colour with contrasting purple lining, giving a 70s decadence look.. Has four front pocket effects and double vents.

Fabric: 86% cotton, 14% modal, 100% viscose lining. Price £470

Available from www.mrporter.com

To keep the 70s decadence look team with Eton’s multi coloured pixel shirt with moderate cutaway collar from their Exquisite range. In both contemporary and slim fit. Available from Eton shops and www.etonshirts.co.uk Price £155

M&S Autograph pure cotton single button velvet jacket is a more muted purple plum colour. Has peak lapels and 3 button cuff

Fabric: 100% cotton, 52% polyester & 48% viscose lining. Price £99.

Available for M&S stores and www.marksandspencer.com

Team with a shirt in muted colours such as this bold multi stripe washed classic fit shirt from Charles Tyrwhitt.

Fabric: 100% cotton.  Price was £69 now £19.95

All shades of plum jackets look great with grey or dark blue jeans/chinos

The Summer Shirt - Say it with Flowers.

After reading the last article on the Hawaiian shirt ( you did read it didn't you?), then if the Hawaiian shirt doesn’t float your surf board why not try this Paul Smith navy floral shirt from Urban Outfitters.

Paul Smith floral shirt

It will just get you dipping your toes in the water with the bolder patterns.

Was £110 now on sale £70.  100% cotton. www.urbanoutfitters.co.uk

Travelling on from bold and bright Hawaii, dig your Cuban heels in for the more subtle design of Joe Brown’s Havana vintage floral shirt.

Next floral print shirt

Mix floral prints with military epaulettes and double breasted pockets. These are great to draw the eye to the shoulders and away from the tummy area. Price £28 www.next.co.uk

Linen Suits for Glorious Goodwood races.

Alas Royal Ascot is over for another year, but hard on its heels is Glorious Goodwood, providing everyone with another reason to don their glad rags. Dates are 26th - 30th July.

With Ascot, it was all about being ‘dapper’ in your formal morning attire, now it’s the turn of the quintessential summer English gentleman look in a light linen suit and Panama hat.

Unlike the morning suit in Ascot’s Royal Enclosure, the wearing of linen suit is not obligatory to enter in to Goodwood’s Richmond Enclosure. But it is a tradition that caught on ever since the trend setter King Edward VII wore one (and a Panama hat) in 1906. 

M&S Collezione linen blend suit

Linen suits will give you a casual chic look when dressed down with t-shirts, polo shirts, light wool sweaters and open necked shirts. But for Goodwood the dress code for the Richmond Enclosure is a jacket worn with a tie, cravat or polo neck sweater, so you need to wear a shirt and tie with your linen suit.

M&S Collezione collection have a range of pure linen and linen blend suits. The beauty of linen blend is the suit has the appearance of linen but doesn’t crease as easily.

The above image we have M&S Collezione linen blend blazer (£99) and trousers (£49.50) in an almond shade and worn with their Blue Harbour white t-shirt £6. But for Goodwood replace the t shirt with a shirt and tie.

Details of suit: Jacket -2 button fastening, notch lapel, 5 button cuff, front flap pockets. 50% linen, 28% silk and 22% cotton. Trousers- straight leg, on the waist, single pleat, rear pockets with button detail. www.marksandspencer.com

Goodwood's Horse Gallop ties

 

Get really in to the horse racing mood with one of Goodwood’s Horse Gallops tie at £70.  They are pure silk tie with detailed weave of a racing horse at £70. Colour choices are gold, navy, lime,lavender and pink.

www.goodwood.com 

The wearing of light coloured linen suits became popular in the Victorian era when gentlemen travelled abroad and wanted to look well dressed and elegant whilst keeping cool in the sweltering heat.  Linen was ideal as this natural fabric is loosely woven allowing air to circulate freely and the skin to keep cool.  Plus it suits a looser fit style which is more comfortable in hot sticky climates than the more tailored suits and is great for most body shapes.

Karl Jackson at Debenhams

 

The stone colour of Debenham’s Karl Jackson linen 2 button suit £130 is a light shade which won’t show the dirt as much as the creams and whites, plus will look great paired with shirts in most hues.  You could opt for the crisper clean look of a white shirt; an elegant tonal look with creams, ivory and beiges; a cool chic look with pastels or the statement look with bold brights.

Details of suit: Single breasted, notch lapel, 3 button cuff. Left and right straight pockets plus breast pocket, side vents, 100% linen, lining polyester.  www.debenhams.com

If you opt for the white, cream or beige shirt, add a touch of colour with your tie.

The more popular colours for linen suits at Goodwood are the neutral creams, beiges and taupes.

Stvdio Jeffe banks at Debenhams

So stand out from the crowd in your Stvdio Jeff Banks light blue linen suit (£135) from Debenhams. www.debenhams.com .

Pachacuti's Fedora Llano weave Panama hat

Team with Pachacuti’s Fedora Llano weave grade 8 and its luxury teal silk band £139.  The Llano weave is a flexible durable herringbone weave and the teal silk band is made in Devon by UK’s last remaining silk band specialist mill. www.panamas.co.uk

Charles Tyrwhitt Liberty tie

Wear the suit with a white or cream shirt and either a floral or paisley patterned tie to complement the embossed pattern on the silk band of the hat. Charles Tyrwhitt blue and green cotton Liberty ditsy floral handmade tie says ‘English summer’.  100% cotton in a genuine Liberty design fabric. Was £70 now £19.95 www.ctshirts.co.uk

House of Fraser

This Paul Smith cream double breasted linen jacket £550, worn with Kenzo cream linen trousers £170, may not be an actual linen suit, but still looks the part of the English gent.  Unfortunately the Kenzo cream granddad collar t-shirt (£79) won’t pass the dress code for the Richmond Enclosure so go more dapper with a white shirt and coloured flamboyant cravat. The double breasted blazer and cravat are a winning combination.  www.houseoffraser.co.uk 

And don't forget to team with your Panama Hat - see tomorrow's article for more details