What are your future plans for Pins &
Stripes? I want to be a part of Pins & Stripes
success and I can already see the fruits of our
labours. We have recently become official
suppliers to Wasps Rugby Club after dressing
their players and management and are going
to provide a full ready to wear range of Wasps
merchandise to their supporters through our
websites and on match days at the ground. We
are also in talks with several other major names
in football and other organisations so watch
this space! We want to bring the Pins & Stripes
brand to the forefront, not just with bespoke
tailoring but by launching our own ready to wear
range which we are currently working on. We
Please provide our readers with your top tips
want to offer cutting edge, quality garments to
for dressing like a gentleman?
our customers that covers all age ranges and
Always dress appropriately for the occasion.
requirements.
Let’s go from the bottom upwards.
Shoes should always be polished and not
As the Director of Tailoring, what do you
scuffed or have run down heels, they say that
think is the key to success?
I am part of the team that is driving the business you can judge a man by his shoes and to some
degree this is true. Trousers on a suit should be
forward. In my opinion the key to success is to
pressed with a nice sharp crease front and back.
continue to provide impeccable customer service, premium quality merchandise and continu- The length has to be right, too long with too
many folds over the shoe makes them look
ing with our policy of genuinely caring about
scruffy and too short, showing ankles just looks
our customers be they a large corporate organlike a poorly tailored trouser. If you have belt
isation or the guy in Amersham who wants a
couple of suits a year. Consistent high standards loops always wear a belt! Nothing worse than
breed consistent success and we pride ourselves seeing unbelted trousers with loops and the
waistband folding over. The jacket should fit first
on our ability to provide the highest standards.
and foremost on the shoulder, this will deterWhat would you say is your greatest achieve- mine the drape of the jacket overall. Too tight
will be uncomfortable and will stretch the fabric
ment?
across the back and at the shoulder points, too
My highest achievement on a personal level is
loose will make the jacket hang like a tent and
seeing my children blossom into fully grown,
responsible adults who have the same standards will look like Joan Collins. Top tip. Never wear a
suit twice in a row. It should be given at least 24
and outlook on life that my wife and I do, I am
hours to rest and recover. (If you are in a hotel
very proud of them. On a professional level my
or travelling and have no choice, hang the suit
highest achievement has to be joining Pins &
in the bathroom over night to allow the steam
Stripes as I can see the potential and the ethos
to penetrate the fabric and most of the creasing
of the company and I am proud that they
should fall out) Always wear a freshly laundered
approached me with an offer to join them. Toshirt with collar stiffeners to keep the shape and
gether we are