CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

Marking it in your diary, Saturday 27^th May is set to be the most popular wedding date of 2023. Nicola Barker, Head Of Buying at Suit Direct, has shared insight into the biggest groomswear trends of 2023. Style experts at Suit Direct have also provided insight on matching your tailoring to your wedding theme.

Spring has set wedding bells chiming as it marks the start of the early wedding season, with many couples set to get married over the next couple of months. Despite the unpredictable weather, Spring is a perfect time to tie the knot, so for those prepping for a S/S 2023 wedding what are the tailoring trends we can expect to see?

Look no further, as Nicola Barker, Head Of Buying at Suit Direct, has revealed the biggest men’s suiting trends we can expect to see in the S/S 2023 wedding season.

Plus, Suit Direct have investigated the trends pulling in the biggest interest on TikTok over the past 120 days², as well as advice on what to wear according to your wedding theme.

1. Linen suits are in for warmer weather

As warmer weather starts to creep in, grooms are looking for fabrics which are stylish yet practical. Suiting up in linen can be perfect for keeping your cool for a destination wedding, as the fibre’s natural breathability is great in warmer climates.

Mix in other 2023 trends and go for a double breasted or three-piece moment in lighter colours such as beige or cream. Pair with brown penny loafers for a relaxed yet elegant approach.

2. Green is the new black

Green is symbolic of the new beginnings that come with married life. The green suit is formal without being boring and is even more wearable a few shades darker – respectable and regal, but daring. From sage green to darker tones there’s a whole spectrum of greens to try out. Pair with loafers or tan brogues for an attention-grabbing style.

Don’t want to commit to the full green ‘fit? Accessorise with a green tie or pocket handkerchief, or you could even go for a standalone green waistcoat.

3. Double-breasted suits

Seen on celebrities such as Harry Styles and prompting a rise in interest following the release of The Crown season five, ³double-breasted suits have serious staying power. The ‘fit is set to be a favourite for 2023 grooms, whether a classic tailored style, or taking inspiration from the 80s with oversized lapels and strong shoulders.

Choose a double-breasted suit in a trending navy colourway for a look that’ll see you through spring and beyond, or turn heads in a pure wool double-breasted suit in a checked design. You can keep it pared back with little or no accessories, or elevate things with a formal tie, pocket square and a waistcoat.

4. Three’s not a crowd – try a three-piece suit

More and more men are opting for classic silhouettes and waistcoats to complement their suiting. A staple on icons from King Charles to cultural influences such as Peaky Blinders, there is so much versatility within the three-piece suit.

For weddings, a three-piece suit keeps things smart and well-fitted, even when you ditch the suit jacket for the dancefloor. Unlike the trend for oversized tailoring elsewhere in suiting right now, three-piece suits work best in a slim, tailored fit.

5. Cream and beige suits remain classic

If you’re not feeling the green trend, sticking with the classic spring palette of cream and beige suiting is a safer yet stylish option. Other lighter colour palettes to make an impression this wedding season are light greys and pale blues. Pair with a white dress shirt, or jump on the preppy trend with a knitted polo.

If you’re not feeling a full beige suit, try adding a cream waistcoat to the mix, or mix and match a pale blue jacket with cream suit trousers.

What to wear according to your wedding theme

Boho wedding? Keep it light and airy

Rather than overthinking the theme, just opt for a casual lounge suit; think tweeds in a trending colour such as beige or green. As a side note, don’t feel restricted by this season’s colours as with a boho wedding, anything goes! From fun braces to funky socks, paired with brogues or jodhpur boots.

Art Deco? Three is the magic number

With the recent release of movies like Babylon and Amsterdam, ‘old Hollywood’ glam is all the rage, think: roaring 2020’s! Keep it traditional with a three-piece suit and accessories in bold patterns like herringbone and tweed, with a 3 or 4 button closure, wide lapels, and flat front trousers. Grey, brown, and blue suits are ideal colours, and keep the focus on the accessories, from bow ties to trains.

Gothic theme? Keep it dark and romantic

Dark romanticism is all the rage when it comes to wedding trends this year, with gothic subculture having a big influence on high fashion runways and pop culture. A black suit goes without saying, with black tuxedos living up to the drama and elegance of the theme. Three-piece suits in an all-black colourway will keep your outfit moody but stylish.

Commenting on the 2023 trends, Nicola Barker, head of buying at Suit Direct, said: “As many grooms and wedding guests look to plan their tailoring for the Spring and Summer wedding seasons, we wanted to share our predictions for the biggest wedding trends of 2023. This season sees pop-cultural trends from 80s silhouettes to 20s opulence, with subtle modern influences to bring these trends bang up to date.”

Patrick Grant Studio, a new tailoring brand from award-winning fashion designer Patrick Grant, launches in Frasers stores this Spring across the UK. The new brand combines a forward-thinking contemporary aesthetic with an inherent nostalgia for classic British tailoring, as well as a strong commitment to sustainable practices, including sourcing cloths from some of the oldest mills in England, with all of the production centred in Europe.

Licensed by prominent industry player Threadology, Frasers Group’s exclusive tailoring partner, the inaugural Spring/Summer 23 collection is inspired by the flora and fauna of ‘the English Garden’, played out in a collection replete with soft tailored shapes and deconstructed silhouettes. The colour palette is rich with core tones of cream, silt brown, palm green, sky blue and navy, brought to life with vibrant accents of burnt orange, yellow, and pink, while delicate floral motifs are woven throughout the collection in the form of embroidered details and prints.

“I’m pleased to announce the launch of Patrick Grant Studio exclusively at Frasers,” says Patrick Grant.“I’m delighted to have a chance to create a collection of contemporary men’s tailored clothing, away from the structure of Savile Row, and to develop the silhouettes and styling cues from my design work from E. Tautz, working with great English and Italian cloths, but at an accessible price point.”

The Spring/Summer 23 collection, which will be available in Frasers stores from mid-March 2023, with a national windows campaign launching alongside, and forms an eclectic menswear wardrobe, consisting of tailored suits and separates, printed summer shirts, casual jackets and trousers, nostalgic knitwear, jersey, informal shirting, and accessories.

Every year, several books are released exploring the stories and intricacies of football. And perhaps none are more eagerly awaited than titles written by players and managers themselves, both past and present. With Leah Williamson’s You Have the Power: Find Your Strength and Believe You Can set to be released later this year, Seatpick decided to analyse reviews and ratings data to determine – which is the best book written by a football personality in the past 10 years?

To do so, Seatpick collected each book’s ratings data from Amazon and Goodreads, and found an average review score for each out of 5, taking into account how many reviews contributed to both sites’ ratings.

Seatpick can reveal that the best book written by a football personality in the past 10 years is Marcus Rashford’s You Are a Champion: How to Be the Best You Can Be. Written in collaboration with performance psychologist Katie Warriner and journalist Carl Anka, the Manchester United star’s motivational work was published in 2021 to widespread acclaim. Rashford, who is known not only for his footballing abilities but also for his outspoken activism, seeks to inspire the generation of tomorrow to achieve their goals in this feel-good 224-page book aimed at children between the ages of 9 and 12. Currently the second best-selling Children’s Book on Football on Amazon UK, You Are a Champion won Children’s Non-Fiction Book of the Year and the prestigious Book of the Year awards at the 2022 British Book Awards. Based on Amazon and Goodreads ratings, the book finishes with a score of 4.53 out of 5.

In second place is a tie between two books – Thinking Out Loud: Love, Grief and Being Mum and Dad by Rio Ferdinand and Lioness: My Journey to Glory by Beth Mead. Thinking Out Loud, written by Manchester United defensive legend Rio Ferdinand in 2017, is a book that predominantly explores the themes stated in its title: love, grief, and parenting. In 2015, Ferdinand tragically lost his wife Rebecca to cancer – Thinking Out Loud explores this loss, as well as providing advice to any reader who may find themselves in a similar unfortunate position. Lioness, on the other hand, is a more straightforward footballer autobiography, narrating the journey of Arsenal star Beth Mead, from joining a local boys’ team in North Yorkshire to winning the UEFA Women’s Euros for England in 2022. Both books share the same final score of 4.41 out of 5.

In fourth place is The Boy On the Shed: A Remarkable Sporting Memoir by Paul Ferris. Following Ferris’ story from a working-class Northern Irish family during The Troubles to becoming Newcastle United’s youngest-ever first-team player, The Boy On the Shed is described as a moving story of ‘love and fate’, and was named The Telegraph Sports Book Awards’ Autobiography of the Year in 2019. It finishes with a final score of 4.40 out of 5.

The BEST books by football personalities from the past 10 years

*An ‘=’ indicates a joint ranking

New men’s luxury jewellery brand –Noel Fine Jewellery was founded in London by Noel Samra, Noel is inspired by attitude, expression and the unorthodox. In creating unconventional beauty, Noel is able to highlight luxury, modernity and maverick in his jewellery art creations.

Born in a third-generation family of jewellers based in Dubai, Noel’s connection to gemmology was kismet. The mystic world of jewellery inspired him to discover his cosmic purpose- creating fine jewellery for the modern, rebellious man. Noel believes in the healing powers and different energies and elements, such as crystals and stones.

Noel’s collection currently includes two main lines – Revolution and Cosmos.

Revolution is a collection inspired by attitude and the unconventional spirit – discover fine jewellery with uncompromising beauty and start your own personal rebellion! Handcrafted in 18 Karat White and Rose Gold with reversed White and Black Princess Cut Diamonds to signify a wonderfully subversive nature. ​

Go where you feel most alive with Cosmos. An artistic expression of a comet sent down from the universe to present divine light and spread truth. Express your rebellious nature with Cosmos, handcrafted in 18 Karat White and Rose Gold with White and Black Brilliant Cut Diamonds.​

Are you more of a silver or gold necklace guy? This year’s Love Island boys are neither with the pearl necklace bug infecting most of the males in the camp.

Love Island is arguably impacting UK fashion trends again in 2023, with searches for ‘mens pearl necklace’ rising 115% since last month following the start of this year’s series.

Ron, Tom, David, Will, Kai and Jordan have all been sporting pearl necklaces and accessories, variations from simple white pearls to the more rugged double chain look.

Most are convinced Ron is the guy behind the trend due to his pre-villa pics where he can be seen wearing the statement piece before having contact with any of the islanders. Although Harry Styles, Timothée Chalamet and Pharell Williams are a few names to have worn them recently.

The trend has left viewers wondering if there’s any meaning around the trend, that’s why experts at mens accessories and jewellery brand, Trendhim have provided insight into the meaning of pearl necklaces and the best ways to style them.

On men, beaded and pearl necklaces are often associated with the idea of relaxation and freedom and they can add a bohemian and laid-back feel to an outfit. The first beaded necklace was found in the Skhul Cave in Israel over 110,000 years ago.

They are best paired with upper body wear that isn’t restrictive, like loose, subtly patterned short sleeve shirts with a few buttons undone or a simple, slightly oversized crewneck with a neckline that’s not too high.

The good thing about pearl necklaces is they can be luxuriant, minimalist or a big statement piece, but that doesn’t mean they’re not without their don’ts. Pearl necklaces work best with fewer layers, so over layering your outfit with a hoodie and a jacket alongside a pearl necklace can look too much and confuse the look.