Simon Spurr Double-Breasted Suit

  

© Bergdorf Goodman

The Basics

• Company: Simon Spurr
• Price: Jacket: $1,975; Pants $625
• Official Site: Spurr.tv

83 The AskMen Take

For Spring 2010, Simon Spurr resurrects the double-breasted suit from the grave and into the spotlight. His concept is made from a combination of wool and silk, and is perfectly tailored to fit any man’s body. The outlines of the jacket are sleek and trim and the fit in the legs are loose and wide. This is an interesting shape for a modern suit because many of today’s trends lean toward a slimmer look.

The best way to visualize Spurr’s vision this season is to picture James Bond sipping a cocktail on the Amalfi coast combined with the flamboyance of Miami Vice.

80 Uniqueness

Despite a hefty price tag, Spurr’s double-breasted suit stands out for its sharp cut. One of the biggest challenges to purchasing tailored-fit menswear is nailing the size, but Spurr’s eye for precision -- sharpened over many years as the design director for Ralph Lauren’s Purple Label and Men’s Black Label -- takes the guesswork out of finding the perfect-fitting, all-purpose suit.

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85 Durability

Considering most of us are still penny -pinching, the demand for value and durability is stronger than ever. Spending your hard-earned cash on true quality is a smart investment right now. Spurr’s double-breasted suit will last you for ages because it’s made from an excellent wool and silk. More importantly, its true test for durability lies in its classic design, proving once and for all that it will never slip out of men's fashion.

Timeless garments should always measure high on your style barometer because premium clothing -- like prime real estate -- will always be in demand.

BOSS Black Slim-Fit Three-Piece Suit

 

 

The Basics

• Company: Hugo Boss
• Price: $1,045
• Official Site: HugoBoss.com

78 The AskMen Take

On a recent trip to Hugo Boss’ website, we were surprised to see that it spruced up the joint. We never expect much from fashion houses -- especially European ones -- in the way of online shopping. It seems to be eternally allergic to the idea that some people may prefer to be hermits, or perhaps more likely, have a hankering for finely tailored clothing yet live in Wyoming where there isn’t even a Gap (sad, but true).

The e-tailing section of the site opened for business earlier this year -- a vast improvement to a homepage that once teased with a glittery marketing campaign but didn’t offer squat. Now, it's worked out some of the kinks and managed to create a navigable website just in time for the holidays. How convenient -- especially for snagging a seasonably sensible three-piece suit.

82 Uniqueness

We remember trying on a Hugo Boss suit years ago and wondering why the hell it was so big. After all, wasn’t this the backbone brand for young up-and-comers? Then, we thought about how many guys in the under-35 Wall Street set actually wear a suit well. Very few.

Fortunately, Hugo Boss seems to have caught on to this gaping gap between perception and reality by introducing a slim-fit silhouette to its bread-and-butter black label line. The higher armholes, trimmer torso and slightly shorter jacket length combine to create a suit that, well, should probably just replace its regular fit.

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74 Durability

You pay a premium for a three-piece suit, but it offers options. Each piece works on its own or in combination with the others. Ditch the vest one day, pair it with dark jeans the next, or wear only the flat-front trouser with your usual blue button-down -- a complement to the fabric’s barely-there, sky-colored stripe. And speaking of fabric, Hugo Boss uses a virgin Italian wool for a feel that actually warrants the pretty price.

men hot

Although seemingly innocuous with its name deriving from a New Zealand heritage story, the Eden Park brand and company is actually French with a decidedly anglophile stance, conveyed most recently from its latest range for SS11.
In an interesting twist, the company, upon first impression, immediately smacks of recently devised concept-brands like Hollister or Jack Wills, but with pricing and aspirations more akin to the likes of Hackett; an esteemed fashion house with traditional roots.  This is with particular reference to its almost faux-history, although 80′s and 90′s French Rugby Union legend, Franck Mesnel, is at the heart of the company and has been attributed to the common use of rugby shirts as leisure-wear – a good or bad association, depending on your particular inclination.
However, mis-transliterations aside (probably more of our own than anyone else’s), it is Eden Park who has secured the formalwear deal with the RFU – for the next 6 years, no less – and moves this particular niche forward with a fusion of the very best in English and French styles and tailoring.
The continuation of bold colours – often contrasting, but somehow and somewhat understated, still, is clever combined with an educated use of seersucker for practical purpose during the upcoming season.  Shorts are certainly order of the day – or season – accessorised with scarves and boating jackets.
It appears that the collegiate and jock aspired themes of recent trend has no hope of going anywhere other than forwards, and Eden Park are certainly well placed to lead the way for their peers.
Pricing

• Jackets and blazers range from £155 to £320
  
• Trousers range from £108 to £148
  
• Shorts range from £75 – £130
  
• Shirts from £75 – £115

Eden Park stores

Richmond: 3-5 Golden Court
Tel: 0203 166 4031

Belfast: 613 Lisburn Road
Tel: 028 9068 7622
Cardiff: Capitol Shopping Centre (Ground Floor), Queen Street
Tel: 02920 345 478

How to Dress Like Don Draper

Tips for achieving a classic style without looking dated

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As ad exec Don Draper, John Hamm is a modern day style icon — even though the show is set in the 1960s. To help you rock the best of his classic vibe, award-winning costume designer Janie Bryant shares tips on how to dress like Draper without looking as if you just stepped out of your father's closet.

Don't Be a Slob
Men in the '60s didn't wear their clothing baggy. Always opt for shirts and pants with flattering lines that contour the body, Bryant says. "In Don Draper's world, a man should always look put together."

Get a Custom Fit
Find a good tailor and bring an armload of stuff from your closet. "Most men buy their suits and shirts too big," says Bryant. "Have what you're not wearing taken in to give it a new life." Then, when you're trying new items on, go for a smaller size than you normally would. You'll end up looking leaner, and the suit will feel as if it was made especially for you.

Get Your Swagger On
Once you've got Draper's duds, you then need the attitude. "Use clothes to help you exude confidence," says Bryant. When you own your look, everyone around you knows it.

Embrace Color
"The '60s were all about rich browns, grays, and blues," says Bryant. "Mixing those colors into your wardrobe doesn't have to be difficult. You probably already have them in your closet now. You just need to bring them out." Teal and mustard yellow also capture the feel of that era. A good move: buy a skinny tie (about 2¼ inches wide) in one of those classic shades.

Pay Attention to the Details
Accessories are key to pulling off the Mad Men aesthetic. Hats, tie bars, pocket squares, and watches provide a way for men who wear suits everyday to show originality. The must-have accessory: a slick pair of cuff links.