When prepping for my day I remind myself of one thing before making my way out the door: "Always dress like you're going to see your worst enemy!" When it comes to traveling - there is just no difference. I will never understand when I see people dressed as if they're going out for the morning paper - do people actually still do that?! - styled in their best sweats with matching house slippers. I just don't get it!
It doesn't take too much effort getting dressed even for the earliest of flights... especially when you have a great suit like this Richard James Prince of Wales Check suit pictured here! When a well-made suit is tailored to fit, there just isn't anything more comfortable.
Want to get into your own made-to-measure Richard James suit?! Well no need to travel all the way to Savile Row in London to have one of the best bespoke suits tailored to your body. Langham Place, a five-star hotel based on New York City's own Savile Row - 5th Avenue - has partnered with the brand to bring you a one of a kind experience. All next week [May 12th - 16th] guests will have access to a Richard James tailor in one of the immaculate Residence Suites to get a custom made suit or shirt. Packages also offered including accommodations, a 60-minute Executive Indulge Treatment in the Spa, and, of course some made-to-measure pieces by a Richard James tailor. Contact Langham Place soon - appointments book out fast!
I had the pleasure to speak with Richard James himself to get the inside scoop of just why we should all invest in our own bespoke suit this summer. Here's exactly what the super charismatic man had to say:
TS: What are the biggest trends you are seeing in men’s suiting today?
Richard James: Less structure and lighter fabrics. Appearance is as important as ever, but so too nowadays is comfort. Some tailors feel otherwise, but I love the challenge of producing clinically cut yet largely unstructured, light suits.
TS: What differences do you see in men’s style in the US compared to the UK?
Richard James:So far as tailoring is concerned, the US prefers something a touch more classic. That said, we sell through Barney’s and Richard James Online in the States, so you’re not buying anything too different from our UK customers!
TS: What influences/inspires design within the Richard James brand?
Richard James:We’ve always been about producing classic, refined clothing of impeccable quality and pushing the barriers through design, colour and cut. The theme of our current, SS14 collection is Sundown: that cool, colour drenched hour when the spent summer sun slips away from another long day and the dark of night steals in, bringing with it fresh energy and a delicious sense of expectation.
TS: What separates a Richard James suit from the rest?
Richard James:We’re known for the clean, slim lines of our tailoring, but with the bespoke process what separates our suits from others is a bit of you. When we make a bespoke suit, the client is the focal point of the design process. We advise, but the decisions regarding fine detail rest with him. That’s how we ensure he really makes the suit his own.
TS: What’s the difference between ‘bespoke’ and ‘made to measure’?
Richard James:Basically, a bespoke suit is completely hand made – we produce a pattern specifically for the client and piece the suit together in-house by hand. Made-to-measure is more streamlined – a pattern is selected that will fit the client perfectly and the suit is made to the exact specifications it stipulates. Bespoke is the ultimate in tailoring.
TS: Why should a guy invest in a bespoke or made to measure over just buying off the rack and tailoring?
Richard James:Why should a guy drive an Aston Martin Vanquish over a Honda Civic? Bespoke is simply the best there is. And made-to-measure isn’t half bad either.
Richard James:Why should a guy drive an Aston Martin Vanquish over a Honda Civic? Bespoke is simply the best there is. And made-to-measure isn’t half bad either.
TS: Navy, black, grey, or other – where should a guy invest their money when buying their summer suit?
Richard James:Here, maybe, is the difference you asked about between men’s style in the UK and US. If I was thinking of a summer suit I’d think ivory, cream, pale blue or the pink Prince of Wales check that we have in our current collection.
Richard James:Here, maybe, is the difference you asked about between men’s style in the UK and US. If I was thinking of a summer suit I’d think ivory, cream, pale blue or the pink Prince of Wales check that we have in our current collection.
My proper travel style [pictured above]: Richard James Prince of Wales Check Suit | Paul Smith Journal | Garrett Leight Brooks Shades | Go-Smile Teeth Whitening Pens | Ernest Supplies Matte Face Moisturizer | Eastern Collective iPhone Charger | Richard James Abstract Harlequin Pocket Square | J. Crew Ludlow Penny Loafers | Muji Hard Cover Suitcase
*Brought to you by our friends at Langham Place Hotel*