Looks like a suit, feels like leisurewear – meet the casual new take on tailoring.

Ever wished you could wear what you lounge about at home in for work? With the slouch suit, we’ve brought that dream as close as you’re ever going to get it (without turning up to a meeting in your Sunday casuals).

Made from jersey fabric with a modern, informal silhouette, it’s a new easygoing approach to formalwear. But despite its relaxed look, it’s actually taken careful craftsmanship to hit the sweet spot between comfort and style. Here’s how it’s done.

The biggest changes from your usual suit are stretch jersey fabric and an all-over looser cut, resulting in a fresh new silhouette and the most comfortable suit we’ve ever made.

The jacket’s deliberately unstructured with no shoulder pads and only taping on the seams, instead of a more structured lining, which enhances its slouchy fit. We’ve also cut it a little shorter than other jackets and made the facing (the front) more swept away – both subtle details but add to the casual feel.

The real magic? A pair of trousers that feel like wearing sweats but will easily pass semi-formal dress codes. A lower crotch and drawstring waist cover the casual corner, but on-trend pleating and tapered legs tip the scale back to just the right side of smart.

Available as separates, the jacket and trousers are designed to wear easily as a suit, but each will put hard hours in for you individually too. Slouch trousers and a knitted polo or t-shirt are an easy way to upgrade your weekend jeans or chinos. And you know that invitation you’ve got for a smart-casual afternoon do? A slouch jacket worn over a casual shirt will look like you’ve made the effort but will feel like no effort at all. Find us another suit jacket that can do that – we’ll wait.

Power dressing that puts comfort first.

For a long time tailoring’s had a stereotype that’s come straight out of boardrooms. And there’s nothing wrong with that look. It’s crisp, pulled-together, assertive… formal. But it’s time for a new take on formal that makes room for something else important: comfort.

When you’re comfortable, you’re confident and you put your best self forward to the world. The New Formal is about relaxing the rules around tailoring so there’s space for a more personal approach that suits individual tastes and lifestyles. Like many tailoring trends, this one found traction in the business world. It was the big City firms that were the first to relax their dress codes beyond dress-down Fridays. Yes, high-hitters still pull out their finest for an important presentation or entertaining clients, but there’s been a definite move to versatile separates that can be dressed up or down depending on what’s in the diary. Of men making use of clever layering to go from a relaxed breakfast meeting through to the afternoon’s big pitch to unwinding with dinner and drinks after work. And as even the most formal work environments have loosened their ties, so to speak, the trend’s trickled down to offices across the country.

Fabrics are key with tactile wools like bouclé and flannel making traditionally formal tailoring feel all the more casual, while mix-and-match styling is rebuilding menswear to suit how men dress now. You’re still making an effort, but you’re achieving that much-wanted balance between smart and casual, between looking put together and feeling comfortable. Because a man who’s comfortable – who’s dressed to be taken seriously but feels like himself, who’s able to do what needs to get done – he’s the one we’re putting our money on to make his mark.

A story of heritage, craftsmanship and really, really good colours.

We’re proud to work with some of Europe’s finest mills and suppliers to bring the very best cloth and craftsmanship to the British high street. Case in point? Our premium Moss ties that are made in England by master silk weaver Vanners, which has been creating luxurious accessories in Sudbury, Suffolk, since 1740.

A finely made accessory has the power to lift your outfit beyond the norm and these beautiful ties are a prime example. Crafted from pure silk, they’ve got a slightly wider than average blade measuring 8 cm, which nods to traditional English style and makes a strong focal point for formal outfits. But really, the statement here is all about the pattern and colour – classic patterns like paisley and florals brought to life with the beautifully bright colours that are Vanners’ hallmark.

The esteemed mill began weaving silk fabrics for neckwear over 100 years ago when ties were still relatively new for men (who until then had mostly worn cravats). It remained one of Europe’s most prestigious silk weavers throughout the twentieth century, specialising in state-of-the-art jacquard and dobby weaving. Today, the world’s leading design houses call on Vanners for its rare ability to create double layers of single-toned thread, creating the distinctly vivid colours that set these ties apart.

Sourcing only the best mulberry silk, Vanners uses luxurious 7-ply silk for weft, which is loftier and richer than most other weavers use. Its rich jacquard weaves are achieved with exclusive 350 ends-per-inch warp counts that give incredible texture and detail. Not only this, but Vanners has its own dyehouse and is able to create an unparalleled range and depth of shades with over 360 weft and 20 warp colours prepared, dyed and woven in-house.

SHOP MADE IN ENGLAND TIES

Making men look their finest since 1906.

MAKING MEN LOOK THEIR FINEST SINCE 1906

• WORDS: C. STEWART

SHOP SAVOY TAYLORS GUILD

Summer to autumn solutions at pocket-friendly prices.

Summer might be coming to a close, but it’s not quite time for full-on coat season yet. Instead, we’ve reached the slice of the year that’s ideal jacket weather.

A tailored jacket is a useful piece to have in your between-seasons line-up: lightweight enough to take last bursts of sunshine in its stride, but a crucial extra layer when the air turns a bit cooler.

And if you pick one up in the sale, you’re getting all of that wardrobe mileage at a great price too. What’s not to like? Here’s our pick of five jackets in our end-of-season sale that’ll see you smartly into autumn.

Blue goes with just about anything so, along with simple notch lapels, flap pockets and a single vent at the back, you’ll get lots of wear out of this versatile Moss jacket. Its textured cloth will transition from summer to autumn nicely too. Pair with tailored trousers for an easy weekday office look or pull out its hidden pocket square to dress it up for any last summer weddings.

Made from an open-weave cloth in an all-natural blend of wool, silk and linen, this half-lined Moss jacket is a breathable option for the last of this year’s sunny weekends. Its warm-grey tone and patch pockets lend a casual feel that’ll work well with chinos and a fine knit, while its tailored fit means it’ll also scrub up nicely with a shirt and textured tie.

The sale’s a great time to invest in more premium pieces, like this Hardy Amies windowpane jacket. The Savile Row brand’s well-known for its luxurious fabrics and this comes in a smooth wool-rich cloth that’s woven with a touch of silk and linen. Windowpane checks have had a resurgence in the last few years that are set to continue for a good while yet, so you can wear this well into 2019 too.

You’ll never go wrong with a tailored navy blazer, but the sale’s a great opportunity to upgrade yours to this Moss travel version. It’s cut from 100% wool performance cloth that’s tightly woven to bounce back from creases. Buy now and you’ll find it fast becomes a trusted staple for busy weeks and keep it on hand for business trips or adding a smarter layer to your suitcase for weekends away.

This Moss jacket’s light green shade will keep the warm-weather feeling going as long as possible if you’re not quite ready to retreat into autumn just yet. Better yet, soft shades of green are on-trend for SS19, so once autumn truly kicks in you can pack it away and have it ready to whip out as soon as the warm weather reappears next year.

Less work, more play.

LESS WORK, MORE PLAY

• WORDS: C. STEWART

What you wear should never hold you back.

Designed for motion with flexible elastane woven right into the fabric, our stretch suits are taking tailoring out of the office and into new territories.

To prove it, we took to the streets with three men that are making moves on wheels, boards and, well, any surface available and asked them to put our stretch suits through their paces.

Meet Daniel, Galih and Liam – and keep your eyes on our social channels next week to see the guys in action.

When did you discover parkour and what made you get into it?

I’ve always been an active person and can’t remember a moment in my life where it actually all started for me… though I would say it was 17 years ago I discovered the name ‘parkour’ for something I feel I’ve done all my life.

Who do you admire in the world of parkour and why?

I admire the connectivity that takes place in the community… being surrounded by people who are constantly looking for ways to paint the streets!

Tell us about a time you’ve stretched yourself and what you thought you were capable of – in your sport or in life?

There’s never been a moment where I feel like I’ve stretched myself because I’m a firm believer that if you have a good enough reason to overcome the obstacle in front of you, nothing can stop you! So until such a reason comes by, I just play in the space I’m in!

The suit we’ve dressed you in might not be your usual parkour gear, so what’s essential in your normal kit to make sure you’re free to move?

Having the right pair of shoes!! Haha, but no, having clothing that has stretch is essential. Hence why I was so eager to get involved with Moss. I was really curious how much it would enable me to move and I came away impressed and surprised by how much give the suit actually has!

Tell us what got you into skateboarding?

Started as a kid, skipping school to go to the skatepark in Kemang in Jakarta, Indonesia when I was 15/16. I got into it ’cause I wanted to impress this one girl Dalia that hung out at the skatepark. And I thought Rodney Mullen was amazing!

What is it you love about it?

Freedom. I was never a good skater, but I liked stairs and vert a lot. I liked to find equilibrium with the board, where the movement was fluid and there was a symbiosis between me and the board.

We think feeling comfortable is a big part of feeling confident – that’s why we’ve reworked our tailoring to have comfort at its core. What helps you feel confident and able to get on with the task at hand?

I feel like when I work for myself, I’m in control of all the variables and the success and failure of the task is down to me. I am most comfortable and confident at these times. However, the workplace is wrought with people riding on your ideas and creativity and that can often be challenging. In a world where everyone has the capability to seem ‘creative’ at their fingertips, you need to stand out. Part of that is going outside of your comfort zone and doing things you’re not used to. Breaking boundaries to gain confidence, never being too comfortable to stop challenging yourself.

When and how did you get into BMX?

When I was about 12 or 13 and a new skatepark got built in my village. Hooked ever since.

What is it you love about it?

Travel, meeting people and the experiences, that’s just without being on the bike. Riding-wise, it’s the freedom and creativity.

Tell us about a time you’ve stretched yourself and what you thought you were capable of – on your bike or in life?

Most times when filming a video part you need to push yourself. Seeing things that you know are possible but will only do in that sort of situation when the camera is out and the videographer says GO. This has happened numerous times, and the reward generally is worth it!

What helps you feel confident when you’re faced with a challenge?

I always liked the saying ‘looking good, feeling good, riding good’. That can come from anything – a new bike, a fresh haircut, anything which makes you stoked and feeling good.

We rounded up the most sports-obsessed cities in the UK and their most-stylish athletes.

Welcome to a new era in menswear.

Perhaps it’s a response to everything that’s going on in the world. Perhaps we just all need a bit of reassurance that everything is, in fact, going to be alright. Or maybe we’ve all realised that life is just that bit easier when you’re comfortable.

The fact is menswear is changing, and tailoring in particular is heading in a new direction with comfort at its core.

As with most trends, it’s to do with where we are and what’s happening around us. Every man and his dog is probably aware of athleisure and its rapid rise to influence just about every other trend in menswear and beyond.

It’s been so influential that, where once there was a distinct difference, now the lines have blurred between formality and comfort. But does that mean we’re going to reach a stage where it’s acceptable to wear your gym kit to an interview? Probably not, so menswear designers have tapped into this need for clothes that offer comfort – both physically and psychologically – but are still smart or professional or suitable for life outside your HIIT session.

There’s also the fact that less of us have to wear a suit as much now. Sure, there’ll always be a wedding, a black tie do or a funeral to dress formally for, but very few offices will still insist we wear a suit to work. Now, we can now choose to wear a suit. We can choose to look smart, to feel pulled-together, to make an effort.

But that also means we can be more choosy about how what we wear fits with our needs and our tastes. We, quite rightly, demand clothes that fit our busy and complex lifestyles.

As with everything else going on in our lives, what we want is flexibility. The freedom to wear what we want, when we want.

And for what we wear to feel as good as it looks.

Keep it cool at this year’s sporting summer occasions.

Diary jam-packed with summer sporting events and not sure what to wear? Well, worry not ­– fashion blogger Sam Gray’s on hand with his take on a head-to-toe look that’ll tick off any dress code and also have heads turning. Check out Sam’s styling tips below.

“Summer is one of the best times of the year for getting dressed up and heading to events. The summer months see a lot of races, polo matches and garden parties – and for us gents it’s the perfect time to add an injection of personality with our suiting choices compared to the darker winter months. I recently attended Polo in the Park and partnered up with Moss Bros. and Adrian Stanley to share with you my ultimate summer event look, and a few of my top picks to keep you looking sophisticated this event season.

“The summer means brighter colours and lighter fabrics, so I went for this tailored fit linen suit jacket and thought I’d mix and match the jacket and trouser. For the bottom half I went for a navy pinstripe skinny fit trouser – quite a classic item. In the summer season, choosing separates is a great way to stand out and to give you that classic sophisticated appearance, without looking too corporate. It also gives a slight nod to traditional style icons and the ‘Gatsby’ era.”

“It’s always nice to add a pop of pattern or colour too when it comes to the tie and pocket square. This is where you can get your personality across and really make a statement. You have two options – either complimentary or standout. I prefer quite classic and timeless styles so I opted for a navy and white polka dot pocket square and knitted tie combo. It’s the perfect item to stand out against the blue shirt and ties in with the trouser, pulling the outfit together. Something Moss Bros. do very well, is the range of sizes and fits they have on offer. I found the extra slim fit shirt to be one of the best I’ve found on the high street and with a huge range of colours and fabrics, they’ll be sure to get you looking your best for your big event.”

“Some events do have dress codes, so this will have an impact on what you can and can’t wear. If you’re attending Royal Ascot or one of the more prestigious events, there will be quite strict rules in place. Always check beforehand so that you’re not the odd one out and so you don’t stick out for the wrong reasons. When it comes to weddings or sports games, think traditional British chic and make sure you’re not upstaging the groom or wedding party. Polo matches don’t always call for a tie, so think about how your outfit will look with these changes. If you’re still unsure, the team at Moss Bros. are there to help, whether you’re looking to buy, hire or get your suit tailor-made.

“In order to look your best, make sure you get the fit right and the right style. Do you prefer one or two buttons? And would you wear a double-breasted jacket? I think these are all factors to take into consideration when choosing your outfit and deciding what to wear. For me the summer is all about looking sophisticated, classic and timeless ­– all qualities that define the ultimate gentlemen’s style. Use small touches like a tie and pocket square to help add your own flair and to have a bit of fun. This is when you can show off your personality and complete your summer look. Of course, you want to look suitably smart, so check out the full range or head into one of their stores to be fitted for your big day.”

SHOP SAM GRAY’S SUMMER LOOK