I recently worked with Alexandra Wood, a tailor based in London and Bishops Stortford, to make a made to measure corduroy suit (described here) and was delighted when she then invited me to collaborate with her to design her Spring/Summer Collection 2018 which will be launched next month (for tickets to the launch see below).
Over six years as a blogger I’ve learned something of what it takes to help men look their best and it’s was exciting for me to be offered the opportunity to blend these creative instincts with the Alexandra’s skills as a tailor. I wanted to include items that could be worn alone or with others in the collection and which offered classic shapes and colours for business and formal wear but also allowed a more individual style when needed for casual and holiday use.
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| Selecting cloths for the collection |
Naturally any collection of this sort needs to be commercial, so I was keen to add touches of style, colour and quality that would be welcomed by men looking for something giving scope for creativity without being challenging.
The Collection offers great flexibility to the selection: as Alex explains:
"The concept of slow fashion is being adopted more than ever before, and men are willing to take the time to make their wardrobe perfect. Our new collection offers a unique ready to wear buying experience: customers choose a ready to wear item that they love, but have a consultation where they spend time making it their own by choosing details, just as they would as for a made to measure suit. The collection will have a price option to buy ready to wear and to upgrade to made to measure."
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| Choice is a key to the Collection |
The collection also reflects the need for customers to have more diverse and flexible wardrobes, so we've designed a range of smart suits, smart and casual sports jackets, smart and casual trousers, and a mix of shirts that add colour and contrast to all of the pieces created. There is a new wave of ‘blended dressing’ which combines smart and casual wear. Men are allowed to be far more relaxed in the workplace now so there’s a need to mix and match items and to wear clothing that’s comfortable without lookng sloppy.
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| Summery stripes are a feature |
To fit with this idea, the collection includes a lightweight travel suit. Alex says:
"We have created a super lightweight 7.5oz travel suit that can simply be folded, or worn, and won’t crease by the time you’ve reached the other end. As you’d expect with any of our suits, the fabric is smart, durable and high quality; but the construction is super light and comfortable."
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Putting together a mood board for the collaboration
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The Launch Event 8th March 2018
Our Summer 2018 collection will be launched at an event in London on 8h March from 6-8pm. Tickets are very limited, but those who come will meet tailors, stylists and fabric merchants to help them create the best look for their lifestyle. Please email info@alexandrawoodbespoke.co.uk for a personal invitation. It would be a pleasure to see some of you there.
Alexandra Wood began as a Savile row men’s tailor in 2007 and has created suits for the some of Britain’s best-dressed men including GQ columnist and author Tony Parsons, Comedian Rory Bremner, Wimbledon tennis player Marcus Willis and MP Chuka Umunna. She now has stores in three locations; Savile Row, Bishop’s Stortford and Shoreditch, where she offers bespoke tailoring, made to measure suits and limited edition ready to wear items. The Collection will appear on her website in the Spring.
