Rugby Union, Autumn Internationals 2017.

Unfortunately, summer is coming to an end, however, with the change of season, the Rugby Union calendar steps up a notch and we are expecting great things from the home nations. In this post, we’ll be summarising form, style icons & our star player predictions!

Autumn tests fixtures

England vs. South Africa 12/11/16

England vs. Fiji 19/11/16

England vs. Argentina 26/11/16

England vs. Australia 3/12/16

Wales vs. Australia 5/11/16

Wales vs. Argentina 12/11/16

Wales vs. Japan 19/11/16

Wales vs. South Africa 26/11/16

New Zealand vs. Ireland 5/11/16

Ireland vs. Canada 11/11/16

Ireland vs. New Zealand 19/11/16

Ireland vs. Australia 26/11/16

Scotland vs. Australia 12/11/16

Scotland vs. Argentina 19/11/16

Scotland vs. Georgia 26/11/16

England

In from an enigmatic 3-0 whitewash of the Wallabies “down under” and 2016 Grand slam champions, Eddie Jones and his men are surely cruising into the tests as the ‘team to beat’.

Momentum in sport is everything and the current England squad have that in abundance. Providing they can keep injury and fatigue free in the run-up to the tests, England will welcome the Springboks into Twickenham with an expectant home crowd!

One To Watch

Billy Vunipola was the English talisman last season and has firmly cemented himself in the No.8 slot. We’re expecting big things from the young man again this year.

English Style Icon – Idris Elba

The undisputed King of Cool! For a man with a darker complexion, a light coloured fabric will wear impeccably. Here, he has balanced the ivory checked suit with a patterned tie and pocket square – oozing with class and sophistication. For this look, we suggest the new Loro Piana Abitti collection available in store, a beautiful collection with diverse designs and as the name suggests, able to be worn all year round.

Wales

Runners-up in the RBS Six Nations 2016 and always a physical team, coupled with their fluid running, Wales will want to put the summer tests behind them and look forward to welcoming the Rugby fraternity back to Cardiff to the intimidating Millennium stadium for what will be a true ‘Clash of the Titans’ against the Wallabies.

The Welsh squad will be fired-up in front of the home crowd and ready to show the world they are still a force to be reckoned with – Result, Wales 3 wins 1 loss.

One To Watch

The man, the myth, the LEGEND that is Dr Jamie Roberts. A doctor, a musician, Cambridge masters student and of course a rugby powerhouse! Expect to see ‘Lazarus” demolishing the opposition line reminiscent of the Bulls in Pamplona!!

Welsh Style Icon – Taron Egerton

Gone are the days of a pin strip suit being the reserve of the bank manager or your 75 year-old Grandfather. Taron pulls off this suit with ease. The ultimate British signature of a double-breasted jacket and an Oxford shoe. To get this look – we suggest the Dugdale’s Royal Classic collection to be worn with a pair of Loakes. Come in and ask one our of tailors to get you this look.

Ireland

The boys in green will be looking to their new crop of young talent to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the senior class to get back to dominating the International scene. Transition of a squad is always tough, but nobody can deny Joe Schmitt handled the outgoing stalwarts such as O’Drisscoll and O’Connell with focus and kept the squad motivated throughout.

The Irish will need to bring their aerial game, the power and ruthless aggression they are famous for to combat the Everest that is New Zealand.

Result Ireland – 2 wins 2 defeats.

One To Watch

Sean O’Brien. Providing he recovers from his hamstring injury, the ‘Tullow Tank’ will be front and centre putting the fear of God into anyone who comes near him. The UNIT measurement does not give this man justice!

Irish style icon – Michael Fassbender

Michael pulls off the three piece dinner suit very well. The ideal cloth for this look is Dormeuil Amadeus. With a slight gloss a medium weight, this cloth is perfect for any occasion. Team this cloth with a Horseshoe waistcoat to complete the look.

Scotland

No longer are Scotland an ‘easy win’, with Gregor Townsend set to take over the reigns in 2017 and the infallible Stuart Hogg in the form of his life – the coming test matches will be an explosive mixture of power and a tactical overhaul giving us an insight into the very exciting future of Scottish Rugby.

Result Scotland – 2 Defeats 1 Win

One To Watch

Stuart Hogg. RBS Six Nations player of the tournament by popular vote for a reason – he is a commanding threat; skilful and dangerous with ball in hand. With the 2017 British and Irish Lions tour around the corner he will be looking to demonstrate how good he really is for the very competitive Full-Back slot.

Style Icon – Gerard Butler

He’s certainly on your wife or girlfriend’s “top 3” list. So if you can’t beat him, let’s join him. This ensemble of a casual jacket/jeans will allow you to work and play in both formal and relaxed settings, a staple for any man to look effortlessly classy. Our exciting range of jeans/chinos and casual jackets will get you here… No comment on the ‘Top 3” list.

With the new season quickly approaching, here at McCann Bespoke, we thought it’d be a good idea to talk you through our best dressed footballers. With access to the worlds very best clothing, it’s no surprise footballers have a fashionable reputation; some choose the slick suited look, others opt for a more casual look. We’ve picked our top three suited and booted gentleman and given you some top tips on how to achieve their enviable look…

1. David Beckham

David Beckham is the go-to guy when it comes to fashion inspiration. He attends and endless array of exclusive events, so it’s important for him to ensure his style is consistent, but different every time. Ok, ok, we all remember his fashion faux pas – and maybe we have his fashion maven wife, Victoria, to thank for his slick style nowadays, but either way – we love it!

What we’ve noticed about David Beckham’s suit style is that he likes to keep it simple; and simple, in most people’s books = sophisticated. His suits are mostly made of block colours – he particularly favours navy blue – and he plays it safe with simple pairing colours – like in the image above. The good news is that this look suits pretty much everybody. By opting for a slim fit suit when picking out your initial styling, you’ll ensure that David Beckham’s clean cut look washes off on you! It’s ok to get a bit inventive with your tie options if you’re going for a plain suit. David Beckham is rocking the ever-popular knitted tie in the picture above. Get the look by clicking here.

2. Thierry Henry

Thierry Henry’s fashion credibility is not up for question. He doesn’t play by the rules – his suits are often a little bit out there, and that’s why we like him. The Arsenal striker turned pundit always looks effortlessly sharp on Sky, making him a clear winner for our coveted (yes, coveted) number 2 position.

Where David Beckham gives us a touch of classic British sophistication, Thierry Henry gives us more of a fashionable French masterclass; France is renowned for its fashion the world over for a reason. This slick suit looks effortless – and that’s perhaps why we like it so much – it isn’t too fussy, but it’s still a little different from the standard suits you’ll see everyday. This pattern works best as Thierry has worn it – with a simple shirt, a tie that matches the suit’s primary colour and a nice pocket square to finish the look off.

Pep Guardiola

As the new season approaches, there’s a new manager in town, and he’s looking to steal the title of most fashionable Premier League manager! Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola has got touchline fashion down to a tee, and we’re very grateful!

A smart jumper under a suit is something we’re seeing more and more of lately – and we love it. Ok, it’s not a summer look – but don’t you worry, winter is fast approaching! In the UK, sometimes you just need that extra layer, and if you’re going to pull it off like Pep Guardiola, then why not! The rules of wearing a jumper under a suit are actually really simple:

• Both dark and light jumpers work really well – but dark suits look better with a jumper generally (primarily because light suits are synonymous with summertime!)
• Opt for a slight v-neck on your jumper to highlight the tie. Crew necks do work, but offer you a more casual overall look.
• If you want to really show off, why not contrast your jumper to the inside of your suit jacket. Pep Guardiola is a master at this – we’re thinking dark purple shirt, light purple lining – simple!

So there you have it – our top three most fashionable footballing stars! Want to get their look? We can help! Just click here to book an appointment where we can discuss the perfect suit for you. On top of that, we’re hugely excited about being official suit sponsors for both Leicester City FC & Stoke City FC this coming season – so keep an eye out!

Although the weather might not be playing ball, it is officially Summer now. So, it seemed the fitting time for us to launch our latest offer; a free pair of bespoke casual trousers with every Summer Jacket purchased from the Huddersfield Spring/Summer Portofino Range.

What is Huddersfield Fine Worsteds? 

Based in West Yorkshire, Huddersfield Fine Worsteds is an internationally renowned fabric manufacturer supplying the world’s biggest design houses and most prestigious tailors with superior and selectively-sourced fabrics. Combining innovation in their designs, and tradition in their outlook, HFW is the epitome of British elegance with global appeal.

What’s the Portofino Range? 

Portofino by Huddersfield Fine Worsteds is our flagship made in Italy sportcoat collection for Spring and Summer. Inspired by the colourful, sophisticated lifestyle of this exquisite resort, Portofino is the epitome of Italian styling and creativity.

This season the collections proposed by our mill partners from Biella were so compelling that for the first time we are proud to present two separate Portofino ranges for an unprecedented selection of 144 articles. Portofino V offers 76 styles in super 130s lightweight worsed wool, perfect for warm weather suits and jackets, while Portofino VI features 68 styles in the seasons signature natural fibre blends of wool, silk and linen.

Vivid Colours and rich textures in statement checks, plaids, windowpanes and plains are the major fashion stories of these collections. So please join us to discover the excitement, inspiration and sophistication of the jewel of the Italian Riviera, Portofino.

Portofino Summer Jackets from: £795

Will this style of suit, suit me? 

Absolutely – the great thing about a casual suit is the versatility. With 76 different styles in this particular range, you’re sure to find a look that suits you. Yes, the Portofino range classically compromises of statement pieces, but these can be toned down with the right look, or worn just as they are dependent on your style.

Here’s our top tips on how to dress down without compromising on style;

• Try navy, grey or tan; these are the easiest to dress down. Particularly because black is seen as a classic, formalwear option.
• Keep it simple; don’t sweat the shirt. If  you’re trying a casual look, you don’t have to be wearing a shirt. A well-fitted t-shirt, button down or jumper can work just as nicely in the right setting.
• It’s all in the shoes; believe it or not, shoes play a large part in how dressed up an outfit looks. We suggest opting for Loafers over Oxfords and Wing Tips over Formal Pumps for a more casual look.

If you follow our social media accounts, you would’ve seen our latest news; we’re branching into the realms of golf in a big way. Pairing up with avid golfer & cricketing legend, Ian Botham, we’ve created a range of golf trousers representing each colour of the test nations.

The golfing season is well and truly upon us and the countdown to the launch is on. The golf trousers will be available online and in-store, and you can book an appointment to get fitted from now, we’ll keep you updated via our Twitter & Facebook accounts to let you know when they’ll be available online.

So, what’s so good about our trousers? Firstly, as our name suggests, the whole process is entirely bespoke. You can choose from over 30 colours, a range of fabrics, a choice of trims, buttons and bartacks, contrasting pockets and styles and embroidered initials. You can also pick your fit to be exactly how you want it – slim fit or relaxed fit? Cuffed or non-cuffed trousers? A V split in the hem? We’ll even sew in an optional tee holder! We did say bespoke…

Working with Ian Botham was a natural progression for us – his interest in golf is truly remarkable given his aptitude for cricket. As a keen ambassador for McCann Bespoke, his eye for design has really propelled the look forward. You can see some of the colour options available from our shoot below.

Want to be one of the first people to wear these exclusive trousers? Book an appointment today. The lead time for a truly bespoke fit is 3-4 weeks, but a quicker service is available for an extra cost.

This week saw McCann Bespoke opening its doors to a fantastic array of clients and friends to celebrate Leicester City FC’s success in the Premier League. As many of you will know, we are the Official Suit Sponsors of the Premier League winners, which prompted us to have a McCann Bespoke style party.

If you’d like to find out more about the suits the team and management wore throughout the 15/16 season, please click here. The Leicester-inspired range is also available to buy by clicking here.

Here’s some great pictures from the event…

Our Tailor, Alex Katseph, chatting with Bianca Gascoigne

Leicester coloured balloons on the ceiling of the shop

The party pouring out into the street

Our guests very much enjoyed the Leicester City inspired cookies!

…And some of the cupcakes!

Edward & Kris enjoying the warm night outside the shop.

Some more of the very enjoyable food!

The exterior of the shop, ahead of the party…

Somebody said something funny!

Neil McCann, Alex Katseph & City AM’s Martin Muncaster

More sweets!

Neil McCann being interviewed on the suits

Nick, Sophie & James posing in front of our sponsors board

Head Of McCann Bespoke Golf, Riccardo, singing a fantastic rendition of Andrea Bocelli’s end of season song!

Riccardo & Ed enjoying the drinks!

Cufflinks made for Claudio Ranieri, now on sale for £125 in store!

Cravats are such a versatile neck accessory, but more often than not, even the most fashion-savvy of gentleman shy away from them. Why? Because there’s so many rules to this scarf/tie hybrid. When should you wear it? How is it meant to look? Are there any pattern rulings I need to adhere to? Never fear – we’ve put together an all encompassing guide to help you put your neck on the line.

Breaking Down Barriers

Cravats used to be synonymous with the ‘cultured’ man – perhaps at one point you even had to dress a little quirky to get away with wearing a cravat. Nowadays, things are a little different. Sure, you will undoubtedly have some quirk to your everyday attire, but you don’t have to dress up in a suit for work everyday to make the most out of this accessory.

Lets take baby steps; this image below shows a quite toned down cravat option. We create this look by wearing a cravat similar to the colour of the shirt or the jacket. A nice way to ramp up the style levels a little is by adding a pocket square of a similar or contrasting pattern. Check out the image below for style inspiration.

Showing Off Your Cravat

People have a tendency to think if you’re wearing a cravat it has to be the highlighting point of your outfit – the truth is, it doesn’t. Lets take a look at the image below as an example. The highlight of the gentleman’s outfit is his knitted yellow waistcoat. He has also fitted his cravat in a way that it doesn’t ruffle outside of his collar. This particular look adds another level of style and helps bring an outfit to life. What we’re showing you here is a slightly bolder look than the muted tones of the first style and is perhaps the gateway to a totally different style.

Does It Have To Be Tucked Into A Shirt? 

Not at all – you can miss the tucking into the shirt stage completely and tuck it straight into the waistcoat. We really like this option; it’s very Ascot-esque. This look is best to be worn in a dressier environment – primarily because waistcoats aren’t everyday wear.

The Wedding Cravat

Lets not forget that before the age of wearing cravats as everyday wear, they were very much an accessory reserved for weddings. Even though this particular look is deemed a little too traditional for some, with grooms and groomsmen opting for a tie, the wedding cravat is still popular among many. So, what are the benefits of wedding cravats? Well, as we mentioned, the cravat adds a touch of traditional vintage to your look. It turns your look into something more special than a nice suit and looks great paired with a tailcoat.

Cravats Aren’t Just For Men

Sure, women don’t wear cravats in the same way that men do, but they’re still very cool for female fashionistas. Cravats can be worn as a cool head accessory, or just as a light scarf on a summers day. We’ll leave you to Pinterest scroll through all of the cool cravat looks, but we’ve picked out our favourite, below, for a bit of male/female fashion inspiration!

Leicester City Football Club’s rise to the top has been a popular talking point up and down the country. Nobody could’ve predicted the team’s ability to overhaul the big guns for the number one spot, 31 games into the season! We’ve received so many questions about our suit sponsorship with the club, and in this blog post, McCann Bespoke’s tailor, Alex Katseph, reveals the ins and outs of their chosen suit design – giving you the opportunity to get the look.

The Suit

The outer fabric of the jacket is an Italian Super 100s material in British Blue. This finer wool material undoubtedly feels nicer and fits just a bit better than a lower grade of wool. We’ve embroidered the left breast pocket with the team’s emblem and completed the jacket look with smoked mother of pearl buttons. The team opted for wider notch lapels, Alex explains the benefits of this look; ‘This gives a contemporary look with a nod to traditional suit styling. We’ve opted for something a little wider than a regular width lapel because wide lapels are extremely popular right now – with fashion weeks across Europe further proving that.’

The lining within the jacket has been chosen to represent the team colours, this look has been created by using contrast stitching and piping, completed with a hand-stitched McCann Bespoke label. So, how do each of the players differentiate their suits when they’re in the changing room? Each suit has the name and squad number of each team member embroidered inside the jacket.

The Tie

The completely bespoke tie is made from the finest silk. It was designed in-house to have the club emblem woven into the bottom of the tie, a subtle and personable touch!

Get The Look

So now you know the ins and outs of how we created the suit, here’s some pictures of the team of the moment and how they wear it. If you’d like to get a similar look, free free to contact us for an appointment and we can create a look just for you.

This week, we caught up with one of McCann Bespoke’s tailors, Alex Katseph, who talked us through the key trends for Spring/Summer Weddings in 2016.

As a groom, choosing a suit can be a big decision, there are so many questions to consider; what time of the year will it be? What are the bridesmaids wearing? What are the colour themes of the wedding? What is your usual style? Do you want to divert away from your usual style? The list is endless.

Ultimately, it’s your choice; you can use your special day to make a fashion statement or enhance your current style. This blog post should give you some tips on what is in fashion at the moment – whether you choose to stick to it is up to you! If you’d like to hear more ideas on how best to style your wedding, we’re always available on 020 7186 0320. You can also gain more inspiration from previous weddings we’ve worked on by clicking here.

So, here are Alex’s top tips to look wedding-ready this year.

Light, Bright Blues

We’ve seen a huge increase in people going for lighter, brighter blues. 2015 was a year for the blues – but we were seeing a lot of navy and dark blue suits ordered. This year, we’re seeing a sharp increase in lighter blues. We’re finding that people are more receptive to a contrasting waistcoat (grey looks fantastic!), but more on that later. The contrasting waistcoat goes amazingly with a brighter blue suit. Don’t get us wrong, we’re not talking baby blue, but a slightly brighter blue can be great for summer months.

How do you wear this trend? Brown shoes look great with blue suits – it’s interesting to note that brogues are making a comeback in wedding circles, especially as we approach summer. The brogue is synonymous with a rustic, barn-like wedding and as these weddings are super-popular at the moment, we’re seeing a rise in brogues!

Check out our blue suit inspiration Pinterest board by clicking here.

The Contrasting Waistcoat

We love this trend and we’re really pleased to see it’s increasing in popularity for 2016. We saw a huge rise in waistcoats for weddings in 2014/15, but now, we’re taking wedding fashion to the next level. A contrasting waistcoat can look cool, slick and a little bit alternative without going all-out crazy for your big day. The most popular colour for us is grey, but you can make a lot of colours work for it.

This can fit into your wedding outfit in quite a simple, understated way – it’s also something you can play about with, perhaps you could wear a blue jacket with a grey waistcoat whilst your ushers wear the opposite? This gives you a bit of individuality if you’re not feeling that brave about going off the beaten track.

Check out our Pinterest board with more great contrasting waistcoat ideas by clicking here.

Wide Lapels

Single breasted lapels have been and will continue to be the most popular choice for wedding suits. However, we have seen a bit of a shift in the type of lapel that our grooms are opting for. For a long time, the thin lapel symbolised the modernisation of the wedding suit – the thinner fit suited a thinner lapel. This is starting to change; the slim fit suit looks great with large lapels and the fashion-conscious male is starting to realise that.

We’ve put together a selection of wide lapel inspiration to get you thinking on Pinterest. Take a look by clicking here.

Double Breasted Waistcoat

It’s interesting to note the the SS16 wedding trends are a bit of a throwback to times gone by. As well as the introduction of wide lapels, the double breasted waistcoat is also making a comeback. The double breasted waistcoat is a lesson in history from 1930s tailoring (usually paired with very high-waisted trousers!) – lucky for us, the SS16 trend doesn’t require them.

Again, this is a style that doesn’t require a personal fashion re-brand. You can add it to your current look for a special addition to your wedding day suit.

For some double breasted waistcoat inspiration, visit our Pinterest board by clicking here.

With Spring/Summer 2016 just around the corner, it’s time to start thinking about your Spring wardrobe. Summer clothes are starting to appear in high street shops and we’re seeing an increase in lighter fabrics being chosen for our suits, but what styles should you try, and what styles should you avoid?

White Trousers

The idea of white trousers might not be at the top of everyone’s most wanted lists, but that doesn’t mean they should be avoided. Paired with a dark navy shirt or a pop of colour, white trousers can form a great hybrid between laid-back & formal. The below image shoes some great ways to wear this key trend. Sure, it’s a bold look, but one we’d recommend trying out.

Baggy Trousers

Unlike the white trouser trend, we aren’t so keen on baggy trousers. A few pairs of baggy trousers made it through to the runway last year, but never translated to a mass audience. A number of big players featured baggy trousers as a key part of their runway show, with Craig Green even adding a quilted element to the style. We’re still fans of the well-fitted, tailored suit and this trend doesn’t really allow for clever tailoring.

Grey

This is a trend we can always get on board with. The most popular coloured suits we create are black, blue and grey. If you’re looking for something a little different without completely breaking down the fashion barriers, a grey suit can offer you that in a way that a black suit simply cannot. Warmer months usually bring in a wide range of colours, but this year it, surprisingly, hasn’t. How is this different from any other year? Well, we’re glad you asked; the use of different shades of grey and textures have created a unique SS16 space for this ‘different’ type of grey. Image from GQ.

Greens

Again, we like this. Green has been around on the catwalks for a few seasons, but this season it exploded onto the runway. The reason we like this and we haven’t in previous years is because of the way it has been done. Head-to-toe green is not a good look, but it seems designers have realised that. As a result, what we’ll see this year is hints of green; a green peacoat, a green tie or a green shirt. Remember, accents of colour is a lot more pleasing on the eye that a head-to-toe green look. Another picture from GQ below…

We understand; wearing a patterned suit is quite a bold move; perhaps it’s a little bit outside of your comfort zone? Or completely out of your comfort zone? Don’t worry – we’re on hand to talk you through how to pull-off this highly sought after look, with a little help from some celebrity advocates…

Windowpane Suits

This is probably the boldest of the patterned suit options, but it doesn’t have to be. When thinking about windowpane suits, many people see thick lines drawn onto unflattering fabrics. Enter McCann Bespoke. Toning down the lines of your suit can look fantastic, take Jon Hamm for example…

This laid back look has an air of sophistication to it that a standard suit might not offer – especially in the beige. The thin, simple lines aren’t quite as scary as the first images that come to mind when faced with the thought of a windowpane suit. So, when do you wear a suit like this? We don’t recommend it for everyday work wear, it’s more of a ‘special occasion’ suit. It’s a look suitable for after work drinks or (if you’re planning on wearing beige), a summer cocktails evening. If you’re going dark, wear this with a pair of simple brogues. If you’re thinking beige is for you, try a pain of loafers for a chilled out look.

Striped Suits

This type of suit is fairly tame in the complex world of patterned suits. It’s quite common for the modern, fashionable gentleman to own a striped suit. As Ryan Gosling shows us, below, the striped suit offers a 1920s throwback. A striped suit was the original ‘business suit’ for the flashier man, nowadays, that ‘flashy’ stigma has been dropped and it oozes sophistication. So, how do you go about wearing a striped suit? The rules are fairly simple; just make sure you wear a plain shirt – or more importantly, don’t wear a striped shirt. If you’re instant on taking your style to the next level, why not try a gingham shirt or a statement tie? Polkadot ties can work well!

Plaid Suits

Pulling off a plaid suit can be a difficult feat – but it can be done! The most notable celebrity plaid wearer is Eddie Redmayne – his quirky style pulls it off fantastically well. But, how does he do it? Firstly, this pattern is primarily reserved for winter wear. The fabric is thicker than its striped counterparts, so bear that in mind when selecting your suit fabric. Dependent on where you work, it could be appropriate for the office. Keep everything else simple; try a plain white shirt, and, if you do want to go all out, try wearing coloured socks as Eddie Redmayne has here…

Hopefully this has given you a bit of confidence to try a patterned suit, with some ideas on how to go about it. Of course, we would advise you on how to go about your look and offer some different options to try on, should you wish you come into store. Trying a patterned suit is certainly out of a lot of people’s comfort zones, but give it a go – you may just find your style!

In years gone by, a belt was only seen as a decorative accessory, primarily because most men wore braces in order to hold their trousers up. More recently, braces have benefitted from a revival of sorts. But, when is it acceptable to wear braces nowadays? And, if you do wear them – how should they be worn?

What style should you go for? 

Our selection of designs are all button-on braces. Clip-on braces are really not that practical; they slip off very easily and aren’t as well-made as the button on style. Wherever possible, we’d suggest always opting for the button option. You’ll usually find the button to clip the braces to in the inside waistband of your trousers – if your trousers don’t have suspender buttons, don’t threat, you can come into us to get them added, or, if you’re feeling particularly crafty, you can add a button yourself. There are plenty of DIY brace button addition tutorials online.

We’d suggest only wearing braces with mid-to-long rise trousers. Although braces have come back into fashion lately, it’s important to remember what made them so fashionable in years gone by. Braces don’t work with low-rise trousers, so the placement of the trouser needs to be hanging at or just about your waist.

What not to do

We’ve touched on the importance of never wearing a belt and braces. We should add that a belt shouldn’t be worn with any formalwear; side adjusters and braces are perfectly adequate for formalwear and as a result, the need of a belt becomes obsolete.

On this point, it’s important to remember that braces are considered as underwear. Unlike a tie clip or a pocket square, braces look better under a jacket, waistcoat or jumper. A subtle hint of the brace is perfectly acceptable, and so is taking your jacket off after a long night to reveal the braces. However, planning your outfit around having your braces showing is not recommended.

Tailoring tips

When you come in for an appointment, these are things we’ll discuss with you. But, nevertheless, it’s always good to know these tailoring tips in general, should you ever find yourself needing them. Firstly, the trousers you wear with your braces should be loose. It eradicates the importance of the braces, which primary use (over the fashionable aspect) is to hold your trousers up. When buying trousers off the rack, keep this in mind if you’re planning to wear braces with them.

Never buy braces that aren’t adjustable; they will need tweaking on your height and weight and they may also need tweaking in between wearing them. If you’re taller than 6″3, we’d recommend buying long braces. Braces that are too small for you can be very uncomfortable on the shoulders.

Hopefully this covers all areas of brace wearing. Should you have any specific questions or requirements, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

There’s more to a suit than meets the eye and at McCann Bespoke we’re very precise when it comes to the smaller details. We thought we’d share with you some top tie tips you should consider when picking out your perfect tie. To ‘tie’ in with this blog post, we’re also offering 3 for 2 on all ties on our website using the code MCB3FOR2.

Your tie should be the same width as your lapel

This is something you may not consciously look for in a suit, but something you’d certainly notice if it was askew. Thin ties and thin lapels are having their moment in the limelight at the moment, but of course, taste and style play a big part in this. The width of a tie is measured at the widest point just before the tip. You’ll find the industry standard size is 9cm, but some people will go down as far as 6cm. The width also depends on the style of the tie. Knitted ties are typically between 6-8cm whilst printed ties, such as our Polka Dot range, benefit from a little extra width.

Your tie should be darker than your shirt

This is a general rule, but there are exceptions. We recommend picking out the primary colour of your shirt and then choosing a tie with a similar colour somewhere on it. For example, if you’re wearing a thin striped blue and white shirt, why not try a tie similar to this one. Mixing polkadot with stripes is a winning combination.

Remember, not all ties work. So if you’ve picked a tie that’s darker than your shirt, it doesn’t automatically mean it’ll look good. Try to avoid the following fashion faux pas:

• Avoid two bold, clashing patterns. An example of this is a large polkadot black & white shirt with a blue plaid tie.
• Don’t pair two large patterns or two small patterns. Your patterns should complement each other.
• Generally, stripe on stripe doesn’t work. This is particularly true of stripes that go in different directions, for example, a vertical striped shirt with a horizontal striped tie is a no-no.

Avoid over-accessorising 

The male fashion industry is flourishing at the moment. As a result, there are more choices than ever when it comes to ways to accessorise your suit. Tie pins and pocket squares are available in a wide array of colours and styles and can make or break a suit. With this in mind, it’s important not to over accessorise. We suggest using 1 or 2 of the three major accessories options around the chest area. These options are; a pocket square, a tie pin or a lapel pin. It’s usually not recommended to wear a lapel pin and pocket square at the same time as it can look a bit fussy. Of course, as always, there are exceptions to this rule.

On this note, make sure your pocket square doesn’t match your tie in its pattern or fabric. It’s meant to add a level of sophistication without looking too ‘matchy’.

The length of your tie

The length of your tie is a minefield. Many 1990s schoolboys would probably disagree, but your tie should just reach the waistband of your trousers or be slightly shorter. This is the general rule when it comes to British tailoring but can differ from country to country. For example, Italian tailoring tends to favour an even longer tie, which is why you may see the likes of George Clooney wearing a tie past the waistband of his trousers, but the most common style just touches the waistband.

We hope this has been helpful to you – after you’ve got the basis of wearing a tie down to a tee, we’ll be offering more ‘advanced’ tips on how to style your tie to perfection!

Last week you may’ve seen us tweeting about Neil McCann (McCann Bespoke) meets Neil McCann (Footballer & Sky Sports Pundit). Now, we’ve got some more pictures to share with you from the day.

In the next couple of weeks we’ll also be sharing a video with you from the day. Hopefully, this will give you a bit of a behind the scenes look at how we conduct a fitting & what to expect from yours.

Earlier this year, McCann Bespoke supported Cricket United Day by providing bespoke blue suits to a number of the commentators. Take a look at some of the highlights in our first ever YouTube video below.

If you’re interested in seeing more from us, make sure you’re subscribed to our channel.

Last week we welcomed Welsh International Rugby Union Outer-half, Dan Biggar, to McCann Bespoke. We wanted to share some fantastic pictures we took whilst he was in store. Want to see the finished article? Click here.

McCann Bespoke is proud to support Leicester City Football Club for the 2015/16-football season. Placed 3rd in the Premier League standings, the club has enjoyed an excellent start to the season and continue to consistently perform week in, week out.

McCann Bespoke has been working alongside the Premier League football club to provide support, including providing bespoke, fitted suits for the team.

All players, coaching and support staff were individually fitted with a suit, tie and shirt, handcrafted by McCann Bespoke.

The suits were expertly made from Italian Super 120s material with an Italian horsehair and linen canvas, which gives a clean shaped look through the waist and chest. The pocket was embroidered with a fox’s head with the lining being carefully selected to replicate Leicester City Football Club’s colours. The shirts are made from Egyptian Cotton with Mother of Pearl buttons and contrast stitching, with each of the players initials embroidered into the back of the collar

Leicester City Commercial Director Ian Flanagan said: “McCann’s professional, knowledgeable and creative tailors provided exactly the kind of bespoke service we were looking for. From design consultation, through to a thorough fitting schedule, to finishing touches and delivery, they catered to the individual needs of every player and staff member, resulting in a look a Premier League football club can be extremely proud of.”

Director of McCann Bespoke, Neil McCann said: “We’ve enjoyed working with the team and the staff behind the scenes to create an understated suit that encapsulates what Leicester City Football Club are all about. I’m very excited about this partnership and looking forward to a successful season all year round.”

Please take a look at the suits below, we’d love to know what you think!