OK! - Middle East
DUBAI WORLD CUP STYLE FOR HIM
BESPOKE TIPS FROM MASTER TAILOR RAY STOWERS
Why Should Men be opting for bespoke as opposed to ready-to-wear for the horse racing?
Although bespoke clothing is expensive for some people, it’s a good investment. With our bespoke suits, you are paying for an exceptional garment, a first-class service and a suit that has a life expectancy of anywhere between five and twenty years depending on how it’s worn and maintained.
Why don’t you like ready-to-wear suits?
If you have the money, I don’t understand why you would buy a mass-produced ready-made suit. They do not adequately fit the vast majority of people, have a very limited lifespan and come with little or no after service. They’re a bad investment!
Would you say cut is more important than fabric or vice versa?
With bespoke, both are equally important. The cut is personal and the correct fabric critical. If I had to choose without considering value for money, I would say the fit is most important. The correct sleeve, trouser length and body-shape have to be correct, whether it’s a £500 or £5,000 suit.
Which Celebrities have worn your suits?
My clients have included HRH Princess Diana, HM King Abdullah of Jordan and Royalty from Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and The UAE. Celebrities include Robbie Williams, Michael Jackson, Hugh Grant and Josh Hartnett.
Which Celebrity do you think is always impeccably dressed and why?
Tamer Hassan, and not just because he wears my clothing. He is the perfect example of someone who has a great relationship with his tailor. He wears and carries a suit very well, which I suppose is important as an actor. It does help that he is a tall, good-looking guy.
What is the modern way to wear a suit?
The modern ‘designer’ way to wear a suit seems to be so they look too small! With short jackets, slim sleeves, chest and armholes, high buttoning and low-rise slim trousers. Obviously this cut does not work for the vast majority of people and will only look good on the male equivalent of a size 0 model. However we do produce this look for some of our younger more fashionable customers.
What colours would you recommend for the Dubai World Cup?
This is a great excuse to dress up and I suggest light colours like browns or pastels – something that you would not wear to the office and that works well in this climate, such as lightweight high twist wools or mohair. Avoid linens and cottons that are not particularly light in weight and will crease very badly after a few hours wear – by the end of a long day they look very untidy.
Why do you think women are crazy about men in suits?
My experience with my customer’s wives, girlfriends and mothers and an educated guess, would tell me it’s a bit of a fantasy; especially for somebody who rarely wears a suit, because suddenly they take on a new persona and women see them in a different light. With a dinner suit suddenly you can look like James Bond, sophisticated and well groomed. I also think that for some women, who are attracted to professional success, a suit holds the connotation that a man is a high-flyer, earning lots of money. There are of course other women who literally just love the look of a well-fitted suit on a man. It accentuates the lines of the body creating a masculine silhouette, showing off a mans best features with a good shape over his chest, shoulders and waist.