Spring Racing Style Guide

The #AquilaStyleGuide for wearing a suit this Spring Racing Carnival.

There are rules, known and unknown, to looking good in a suit. Use these 11 #AquilaStyleGuide suit tips put together by our stylists to suit up properly this Spring Racing Carnival.

Whether you are familiar with them or not, there are guidelines every gent should abide by when wearing a suit. Our stylists have shared their top 11 suit tips to guide you this Spring Racing Carnival:

1. Your suit jacket should always be long enough to cover your pant zip and bottom. 

2. There should never be a ‘collar gap’ - the gap between your jacket’s lapels and your shirt’s collar. Be sure the line of your coat's neck follows the line of your shirt collar around your neck.

In shot, Rollins Shirt 

3. Make sure you can slip your hand between your chest and buttoned jacket enough so that there's room to move.

4. Don’t be afraid to mix and match your pieces and colour combinations to add life to your look. 

In shot (left to right), [Hudson Pink and Hughes Pale Blue Blazer 

5. Don’t underestimate the elegance of sleek details. Keep things simple and streamlined. A grey two button suit is a man’s version of a little black dress, perfect for any occasion.

In shot, The Hoffman blazer and pant in flecked grey. They're slim fitting and made of pure lightweight Italian wool with coloured flecks. 

6. A good fresh silk tie is essential. That old tie that you last wore a year ago, throw it away.

In shot, Flemming Jacket.

7. Your tie should usually be darker than your dress shirt. If it isn’t, be sure it’s one solid colour and not patterned. Your pocket square fabric however, shouldn’t match your tie. 

8. You can always go with a classic windsor knot for your tie but the size of your knot should complement your face – if your face is wider, pick a knot broader at the top, like the plattsburgh. If it’s longer, pick a narrower knot that doesn’t sacrifice size, like the cavendish. Worn by http://www.thetailoredman.com.au

9. A new shoe polishe completes your entire suit. You can’t get more stylish than an Italian crafted pair of metallic Monk straps.  In shot, 58143 Bronze worn by thehttp://www.thetailoredman.com.au

In shot, 58143 Bronze worn by the http://www.thetailoredman.com.au/

10. Your pant break should be at least an inch deep, making sure the front of the hem hits the top of your toes, no more and no less.

11. When it comes to sock game, the less rules the better. Embrace contrast and colour, or dare to go without. If you do wear socks, make sure they cover your shins so when seated, no skin is exposed. 

Spring Racing Grooming

Guide to looking dapper: 5 Spring Racing Grooming tips from Shop Manager and Senior Cutter France Khamees from Kings Domain Barber Barber Shop, South Yarra. Never underestimate the power of a great haircut.

“Hair should play a big part in every man’s outfit at the races,” explains Shop Manager and Senior Cutter from Kings Domain Barber Shop South Yarra, France Khamees. 

With two years experience at Kings Domain Barber Shop South Yarra, Khamees knows the importance of a well-suited cut. The Kings Domain Barber Shop was inspired by owner Aaron Chan’s travels through Argentina, the classic old-school barbershop steps back in time to the origins of a 1950s barber. Services begin with a beverage (alcoholic or caffeinated), and can include a vintage shave and cut.

Khamees predicts the most popular look this spring will be “very European, with a bit of length. Think Johanne Huebl and David Gandy. We will be doing more short to medium length haircuts.”

On the whole, clean hair, a groomed face, and the right hair product is a must.

To ensure you’re on top of your hair game this spring racing season, Khamees shares his top five grooming tips;

1. Cut your hair frequently
Have your hair cut every four – six weeks, not just prior to the races or a big event. This encourages stronger hair growth, as it avoids hair breakage. The more frequently you have it cut, the longer it will grow back.

2. Use product
Always use product to avoid your hair looking flat or fluffy. Khamees recommends using sea salt spray if you have curly hair or clay if you have thin hair. Do not be afraid of the hairdryer to help add volume.

3. Be inspired
Have a go-to source of style inspiration. “My style inspiration is very David Gandy, David Beckham, & Johanne Huebl. These guys are always on top of their grooming game and style,” explains Khamees.

4. Know what suits
Understand your face shape and hair texture to help guide what haircut is best for you. In general terms, men with longer faces should opt for short haircuts, wide faces for longer styles, and angular faces a softer finished cut.

5. Steer clear of washed-out trends
Dare to be a little different this spring. “Avoid a manbun, topknot and long beard. These are unacceptable looks this spring,” explains Khamees.

Trending: Mankles

Product Featured: Chase Navy & Hudson Cement Chino

As the weather heats up, men ceremoniously begin shedding their socks to reveal flashes of bare ankle. From Tom Ford and Jude Law to Pharrell Williams and Ryan Gosling, men on the sartorial pulse are extolling the virtues of ‘ankling’.

The look used to be known as wearing your trousers at ‘half-mast’ – indicating a level of carelessness. As a result, tailors took great care to measure pants, ensuring the hem skilfully kissed the front of the shoe, and hanging down gracefully. Today, however, guys are purposely readjusting their hems to maximise ankle exposure. The look has taken the men’s fashion world by storm. Even Nick Wooster, exemplar of modern masculine style (and fashion blog fodder), has jumped aboard the bandwagon.

The turn-up of one’s pants expresses many things. The man who shows his mankles beneath a pair of stylish chinos has a thoughtful approach to getting dressed in the morning. His expertly done cuff yet another thoughtful detail to sit alongside his silk pocket square, cufflinks, watch, and fancy pen.

There are only a handful of opportunities to diversify and make a statement in the sober world of men’s tailoring, and this is one. This summer – which promises to be face-meltingly hot – we’re wearing loafers, boat shoes and every sort of slip-on sole the way nature intended them – sockless. Let your ankles feel the breeze with unsheathed feet and hiked-up hemlines.

The New Office Dress Code

Deciding what you’re going to wear in the morning shouldn’t be hard work.

Corporate

Look perfectly put together while maintaining your cool in a classic grey suit. This head-to-toe number will turn heads, attract compliments and send a powerful message whether you’re pitching your product in a meeting or sealing the deal over lunch. Tread with confidence in a pair of elegantly shaped brogues and opt for a classic white shirt teamed with a bright printed tie for a pop of unexpected colour.

Products Featured: Jensen Grey Blazer, Jensen Grey Pant & Murdoch Tan Shoe

Creative

Just because you’re dressing for work doesn’t mean you can’t bring out your sartorial quirks. If you work in a creative field such as media, design, art or music, try mixing and matching smart separates. The key is making sure everything balances. If you go for a slim-fit jacket and patterned pocket square, for example, lose the tie and opt for chinos instead of suit trousers. You want to appear serious and mature without being stuffy.

Product Featured: Newton Crew, Hudson Cement Chino & Leon Tan Loafer

Freelancer

When you’re a freelancer, no two days are the same. Work tends to fleet from client meetings to quiet afternoons at the studio, so there’s no such thing as a standard office uniform. If in doubt, opt for a soft structured blazer, chambray button-up and neat bottoms. This look is sophisticated, yet casual, best complemented with a pair of street style-savvy slip-on loafers.

Products Featured: Hudson Cement Blazer, Hudson Cement Chino, Banks Grey Shirt & Durant Navy Loafer

Sneakers With Suits

Guys about town are sporting a rather unexpected look this season. Though previously considered sartorial sacrilege, suits worn with sneakers are definitely having a moment in the style spotlight. Want to give trainers and tailoring a go? There are just a few rules to stick by.

Products Featured: Sol White Sneaker & Hudson Buff Chino

Choose classic sneakers Yes, you could always wear your sharp two-piece suit with some classic monk-straps, brogues or Oxfords, but sneakers add that certain edge. Avoid performance-focused styles and choose a pair of classic kicks. They look good with fitted trousers and a strong, structured suit.

Don’t just limit to the weekend Sneakers with suits are a perfectly acceptable Monday to Friday uniform if you happen to work in a creative workplace. If you want to retain some of the finesse of a formal shoe, choose patent leather sneakers, which appear refined and contemporary when worn with an understated shirt and tie. On weekends, freshen it up by pairing slip-ons with a suit jacket and striped linen T-shirt underneath.

Flying business Structured suits and sneakers travel well, especially when paired with a crisp collared shirt. The combo will have you looking luxe during layover and dressed the part as you rush from airport to client appointment without a moment to check into your hotel.

Don’t just stick to black A deep navy, burgundy or camouflage print can work just as well, peeping out from under a simple dark suit. Wear to a gallery opening or dinner date to show you’re comfortable in a sleek suit, but still up for a bit of fun.

Wear with confidence You can thank dapper dressers Mark Ronson, Aziz Ansari and Kanye West and their luxe sneaker collections for the growing popularity of this style. Taking cues from Yeezy, tread with confidence and you can get away with anything.

AW16 Season Launch

EVERYLOOK

This season, styles veer from urban formal to weekend casual, providing options for every look. We employ time-honoured techniques in the production of our footwear and clothing, creating shoes from the softest Tuscan calf, washed deer skins and dip dyed cow hides and sourcing our fabrics from one of Italy’s oldest textile mills.

For Autumn Winter 2016, we’ve revamped renditions of the classics. Think vintage leather chelsea boots, loafers rendered in embossed calf skin, crocodile printed hides, velour suede monk straps and washed kangaroo skin boots.

Trade your corporate uniform for beautifully cut tailoring in rich autumnal colours. Then perfect your off-duty look with stripe knits, cotton chinos, leather sneakers and our lightweight shell coat in tonal camo. Authenticity is our express aim in creating easy and elegant essentials for the every man.

This season’s collection is for every occasion, detail and style, it’s your every look.

Featured Products: Hamilton Navy Coat (coming soon), Flacco Burgundy Sweater, Hudson Plum Chino (coming soon) & Kurtz Shoe 

Featured Products: Flacco Burgundy Sweater, Hudson Plum Chino (coming soon) & Kurtz Shoe 

Featured Products: Tate Navy Jacket (coming soon), Hudson Midnight Chino & Chambers Tan Boot (coming soon) 

Featured Products: Jensen Grey Blazer, Jensen Grey Pant, Weaver White Shirt & Grey Tie (coming soon) 

Featured Products: Franklin Navy Trench (coming soon), Flacco Grey Sweater, Hudson Cement Chino & Sol Sneaker 

Featured Products: Freeman Blazer (coming soon), Levine Grey Rollneck (coming soon), Bishop Black Pant (coming soon) & Chambers Boot (coming soon) 

Featured Products: Lincoln Slate Blazer (coming soon), Newton Navy Stripe Sweater, Hudson Midnight Chino & Durant Shoe

Featured Products: Hamilton Charcoal Coat (coming soon), Levine Grey Rollneck (coming soon), Bishop Black Pant (coming soon) & Chambers Boot (coming soon) 

Don’t Sweat It: Our Guide To Summer Shirting

Dedicated to looking sharp every season? When the sun is beaming, turn to summer-ready shirts to take you from work to play. What materials are best for staying cool as the temperatures rise? Our picks are fit for every occasion – from beach holidays to city breaks – with breathable shoes and stylish bottoms to match.

Featured Products: Banks Grey Shirt, Hudson Cement Chino & Durant Navy Loafer

START SHORT

Are short-sleeves too casual for the office? Well, not if you invest in one of these classically constructed numbers. From pastel to preppy poplin, it’s time to show them some love. They’re an essential part of any man’s wardrobe, rather than just something to be worn on holiday, and work just as well as their longer-armed counterparts, as long as you follow a few rules. First, avoid wearing with a tie or any sort of neckwear. Secondly, ensure yours is tailored to a tee, with well-cut sleeves that stop at least a few centimetres short of the elbows.

MADRAS TOUCH

The melting heat is no match for a stylish madras check, which transitions easily from work to weekends. A truly versatile piece, in summer-weight, breathable cotton fabric is best paired with trusty denim, cotton chinos or twill shorts. During balmy evenings, throw on a tailored blazer for a sharp, fashion-forward look. Wear it neat and buttoned up or loose and undone.

THE CLASSIC

When talking understatedly stylish staples, nothing beats a plain cotton shirt. They give an effortlessly cool and crisp appearance, especially when paired with pin-sharp chinos and loafers.

PRINT HAPPY

Summer calls for a light-hearted approach to dressing! Why not choose a fun, colourful shirt to suit your sunny mood? Make a bold statement while working the laidback look.

FEATURED SHIRTS (top left clockwise to bottom left):
Banks Grey, Harwell Black/White Dot (coming soon), Lawson Navy (coming soon), Calvin Navy,Orlando Blue, Brady Navy/White Check & Richer Grey Stripe (coming soon)
FEATURED SHOES (top left clockwise to bottom left):
Kurtz Black, Bates Black & Sol White
FEATURED BELTS: Bane Black & Mayne Grey