weddings -

Summer Weddings at Dashing!

It’s going to be a glorious summer for weddings so the forecasters say, so now is the time to make sure you are prepared.

You’d be surprised at the number of men who walk into our shop saying they are getting married next week and need something special to wear. Due to the culture of immediate deliveries and ready to wear some people forget that tailoring at its best takes time. Our made to measure takes 6 weeks so it’s best to think two months ahead at least, although we do offer an emergency 2 week express service at a premium for those reading this with a sudden sense of alarm.

Whilst the bride is the traditional focus of a wedding appearing just in time to sashay down the aisle, on many occasions the groom takes centre stage. Designer Henry Holland is a great fan of Dashing and we collaborated in the early days, weaving a flamboyant check for his catwalk collection modelled by Agyness Deyn. It was an honour that his husband, designer David Hodgson, sported Dashing for the wedding and as you can see they both look like the cat that’s got the cream.

(Photograph by Joanna Nicole)

As a man, one of the joys of dressing for a wedding be it groom, guest or the honourable position of father of the bride is that convention is now not so important. The days of donning a classic morning coat before a jaunt to the church and a wedding breakfast have been surpassed by all sorts of personal fantasies, and so it should be. Individuality is to be encouraged in these homogeneous times; without flights of fancy we would still be grounded in bear skins. For his idyllic country wedding Philip choose our Whitbread Roxy cloth and accessorised it beautifully with an orange flower to match his bride’s head dress, photographed by the wonderful, Joanna Nicole. Defying convention with a relaxed open necked shirt Philip looks at ease and joyful, starting married life as he means to carry on.

With over a hundred cloth designs to choose from there should be somethingDashing for everyone. We use light weight Merino wool for the summer and heavier British wools in our winter fabrics. Using our made to measure service could not be easier, after selecting cloth, linings and buttons we guide you through all the possible styling options and then 5-6 weeks later your tailored suit is ready. Minor alterations such as turning up trousers and nipping in the waist take no more than a couple of days after the final fitting. Then as Stanley Holloway sings; Spruced up and looking’ in me prime, girls come and kiss me, show how you’ll miss me. But get me to the Church on time!

(Photograph by Joanna Nicole)

Ways to Wear Waistcoats this Summer

Footballers and fashion often go hand in hand, highlighting all sorts of dubious looks but this season a classic has proved to be the winner. Anyone watching England during the World Cup could not have failed to notice Gareth Southgate supporting his team from the side lines with a sangfroid. Only a confident well respected leader can muster.

Composure is as much a state of mind as a state of dress and throughout history the English have lead the way. With his crisp shirt, tie and the all important waistcoat Gareth has at least bought some style home. Waistcoat sales at M&S have risen by 100% and a ‘Waistcoat Wednesday’ trend has been spurned on through social media.

In a way the waistcoat is the an item of clothing of the people. First seen in it’s modern form as part of a simple wool suit worn by King Charles II. Following the previous decapitated king, Charles II showed his humble side to the people through simplicity of dress. The waistcoat is not only elegant but very practical, a place to traditionally keep a watch, safe keep a wedding ring and cover up crumpled shirts and bulging waistbands.

There are only a few rules when it come to wearing a waistcoat, they can be worn in matching or complementary fabrics, they can be made with or without lapels, and can be double or single breasted. The one thing that is a must is for the waistcoat to cover the trouser waistband, nothing looks worse than a piece of shirt poking out like an errant finger puppet.

At Dashing we offer made to measure waistcoats in any style using our unique fabrics. From the quiet simplicity of navy night vibe to the raver designs in our Lumatwill reflective tweed. In fact many customers have ordered waistcoats with cloth backs in this fabric as elegant, safety cycle wear.

Drop an email to: Holly@Dashingtweeds.co.uk to book an appointment or visit us at 47 Dorset Street, Marylebone.

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Tie the knot in Dashing

The wedding season is approaching and if you are the groom, best men or just a friend of the bride then now is the time to start thinking about your outfit. I wrote a while ago about the changing trends towards less formal attire, grey morning tails are moving aside as colourful clothes, sometimes with a theme, are becoming increasingly popular for weddings. Luckily however, a tailored look is still the aspiration and as men throughout generations have discovered a well fitting suit makes you more look masculine, more elegant and more desirable should you be intending to hitch with a bridesmaid.

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We have found that country weddings with a tweed take have been popular, but if you are a guest for such an occasion then your old shooting suit simply won’t cut the mustard, even the game old birds will not be impressed. Tweed fulfils many functions from camouflage through to urban cycling but one of the main characteristics of the fabric is a sense of enjoyment. We have some takes on classic Glen Urquhart and Glen Coigach inspired designs such as our Chattanooga and Charleston Checks as well as our Dashing Explorer range that transcend this country wedding brief.

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The other trend we have observed is young grooms coming to us for their first made to measure suit. They are looking for an investment piece that they will enjoy for many of their married years. Tailored garments are often sparse in their wardrobe and so ideally the jacket can be worn after the wedding with other trousers or jeans for a smart dress down look. For this brief we have a whole range of creative yet subtle fabrics mainly in our fine Merino worsted quality. Our navy Seti design has proved very popular so we have rewoven this. The subtle hints of colour in the dip dyed Japanese cotton stripe provide both the sophisticated originality required for a wedding as well as the freshness for a night out in town. We also have a whole range of lighter weight Merinos in stripes and checks that when tailored well will elevate you from possibly dreary to dashingly dreamy.

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You may well be reading this with the anticipation of welcoming a new son or daughter in law to the family, the father of the bride or groom plays a pivotal role and whilst you do not wish to steal lime light from the central players, it is desirable to show the youth how to dress with a nonchalant aplomb that befits a man of wisdom.

We have a new cloth in a navy and black peak design which looks artfully interesting without seeking attention and fits the brief well. Of course, if you are renowned as a colourful bon viveur, and your audience would feel cheated if you did not excel yourself with a creation so joyous and exuberant that earth worms sing open harmonies at your arrival we would also be delighted to help make the special day superlative.

If you have any questions regarding cloth for your wedding or would like to book a Made to Measure appointment, please drop us an email on holly@dashingtweeds.co.uk