Ten tips on style for men from Patrick Hellmann
- POWER DRESS – Whether it’s for a life-changing meeting, job interview or a business trip, the classic combination of a dark, solid or slightly pinstriped suit with a bold-coloured tie is the cornerstone of every man’s power wardrobe. Though teaming a dark suit with a classic white shirt allows you to choose almost any tie pairing short of one with bright yellow polka dots, a traditional yet impeccably cut deep-red tie has been a go-to “power” look since John Kennedy wore the pairing in his first presidential debate.
- FIND THE SMART CASUAL BALANCE – Smart or business casual has become a buzzword that dictates anything from work wear to dinner dates; the balancing act between the smart-casual divide is what can make this particular mode of attire an uphill battle. The trick to nailing smart or business casual is to take your lead from the first word of this dress code. In terms of the finished look, you are ultimately going to be leaning to the smarter side of the spectrum so tuck in that shirt and shine those shoes.
- GET THE PERFECT SUIT FIT – Your flat hand should slip easily into your suit under the lapels when the top (or middle) button is fastened. If you put a fist in, the suit should pull at the button. The top button of a two-button suit (or the middle button of a three-button suit) should not fall below your navel. With your arms at your sides, your knuckles should be even with the bottom of your jacket and your jacket sleeves should fall where the base of your thumb meets your wrist. Between a quarter and a half inch of shirt cuff should be visible. The trousers should have one inch of break at the bottom.
- MATCH SUITS AND TIES – A suit with a solid base of dark colours is the safest way to emphasize solid, bold-coloured ties. Pattern sizes (stripes, etc.) on your suit, shirt and tie need to vary — nothing looks less chic than a man who is wearing the same pattern on every layer.
- MIX AND MATCH SHIRTS AND TIES – Light tan shirts match with brown ties whilst light pink shirts match with burgundy or navy blue ties. Light blue shirts complement red, navy, yellow or burgundy ties. When dealing with striped shirts, determine what its base colour is and coordinate with colours as above. Just make sure the stripes on the shirt do match the stripes or pattern on the tie. If you don’t know what shirt to wear, choose a white one.
- EMBRACE COLOUR AND TEXTURE – My colour is violet, it reminds me of my childhood and the gardens of La Mamounia in Morocco. You’ll find purple mainstays throughout my collections – from cashmere sweaters to vases. I think being bold with colour adds playfulness to an outfit and a room alike. Similarly, experiment with textures and interesting fabrics – you’ll find a mix of mink, beaver fur, leather and tweed in my collections.
- BE WELL HEELED – Great style is about attention to detail, so don’t overlook your shoes! A pair that is classic and well-crafted will finish off an outfit and bring confidence to the wearer through comfort. The Patrick Hellmann Oxford, for example, counts as the most elegant model of all men’s shoes. I reinterpreted the celebrated 1830 English classic with a modern mix of colours and their comfortable fit make these shoes a favourite in my men’s collection.
- ACCESSORISE – A hat or a scarf can really make an outfit. Pocket squares are a great accompaniment to a jacket – or wrap some cashmere scarf around your neck for some smart extravagance. Just remember to remove your hat when you are indoors or in the presence of ladies!
- FIND A DISTINCTIVE SCENT – Try the Patrick Hellmann ‘Signature’ fragrance, which we created in collaboration with Lalique, which comes with a beautifully crafted phoenix head crystal flacon.
- REMEMBER – Life is too short to be dressed badly!
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