\u201cAge 32, Owner and Director at Cad & The Dandy.\u00a0I was fortunate to have gotten my elementary education at Stowe School, in a setting that epitomises beauty. Further education was at Leeds University, where I studied History of Art and Classics.\u00a0I live with my wife, who thinks my style is impeccable (of course) and a dog with a penchant for bedding down in my new clothes as soon as I bring them home. Coming from a family whose business has witnessed the decline of British manufacturing, they had a bitter sweet reaction: it\u2019s fantastic that you are trying to bring back the art of tailoring and UK manufacturing but perhaps you should work in an industry that is more secure than high end clothing, given that there is a recession \u201con\u201d.<\/p>\n
My school\u00a0had no\u00a0uniform but it did have a dress code, which was\u00a0basically suited office attire. This allowed individuality \u2013 everyone trying to be the peacock \u2013 and taught us to consider how we dressed and how our clothes were perceived by others. It was never about\u00a0 fashion, it was always about style. Many of my friends are still in the manufacturing industry, making cloth, clothing and\u00a0 the like, which was where my interest started and knowledge grew. Having personal style icons, combined with a great thirst for autobiographies, also helped me to learn about how smart people dress and gave me valuable insights into their thoughts on the subject.<\/p>\n
There are simple rules that everyone should know \u2013 which buttons to do up on a\u00a0jacket, which buttons to leave undone on a waistcoat and what length trousers and sleeves should be. But, fundamentally, it\u2019s the skill, craft and time that goes into making a handmade suit that should be universally appreciated. I like to wear traditional with an edge, mixing old styles with new: fishtail trousers and a\u00a0 modern cut jacket. I also like to play around with colour combinations.\u00a0At Cad &The Dandy, we pride ourselves on offering clients a modern accessible approach, combining classic British fabrics and tailoring with their individual requirements \u2013 giving them the ultimate experience in\u00a0 service and style.<\/p>\n
Ian and I were both bankers in the City of London. After being made redundant in 2008, we got together and decided to start the company. We\u2019ve had to prove ourselves among some of the finest and most established Savile Row tailors, revered the world over for outstanding service, quality and style. It was never going to be easy but I think we\u2019ve been accepted as genuine purveyors of everything that traditional and contemporary British tailoring has to offer (and a little bit more!). Ready to wear is a tough one. Since starting the business I can\u2019t remember the last off the peg item I bought. It\u2019s hard to go back to off the peg\u00a0once you\u2019ve experienced the benefits of hand tailored garments. And, with so many fantastic tailors to choose from, it\u2019s hard to single out individuals, but if it\u2019s a military cut you\u2019re after, Welsh and Jefferies are hard to beat.<\/p>\n
[My hobbies include] riding \u2013 polo, hunting, shooting \u2013 ideally, any pursuit that allows me to leave London at the weekends. Experiment with clothing, colours and combinations\u00a0but remember to keep it simple, no need to\u00a0over dress or over style. Classic will always be classic. If you happen to notice a look put together in a magazine, or on a chap walking down the street, make a note of it. A lot of people use things like Pinterest to build up ideas, references and reminders. Don\u2019t merely ape others but always bring elements of individuality to the clothes you wear -that\u2019s when true style is born.\u201d<\/p>\n