Ask Louis

 

 

 

Ask Louis

Ask Louis
Communion
Communion

My son is making his First Holy Communion this year, and I would like to get him something special to wear for it. So you sell suits for children aged 8-10?

While we do not stock 'off the rail' suits for children, we do offer bespoke tailoring for boys of this age. It is a popular choice for Communions as well as Confirmations because it allows you to have a fully made-to-measure suit with an endless choice of options for every aspect of the suit. Please call into our Capel St. branch to explore the full breadth of the fabrics, linings and styles available to you for your son's Communion to make the day truly special.

Formalwear
Formalwear

I was invited to a black tie event, is it appropriate for me to wear my black business suit?

Although black tie events are becoming rare, they still require a gentleman to wear dinner clothes. Dinner clothes feature a black or midnight blue tuxedo jacket, usually with silk faced peak lapels or a shawl collar, a white dress shirt with French cuffs, and black or midnight blue trousers with a silk stripe (braid) on the side. A Black bow tie is also necessary, you should wear a cummerbund and finish off the look with a pocket square in your top pocket.

Matching Shoes
Matching Shoes

How do I match a pair of shoes with my new suit?

Take the colour of the suit as a starting point. Black shoes are the most formal choice and work well with black, blue and grey fabrics. Traditionally, a black suit demands black shoes, and wearing brown shoes with a black suit is considered a faux pas. Blue or navy fabrics work well with both black and brown shoes. Remember also to match the colour of your belt with your shoes.

Dressing in the Heat
Dressing in the Heat

What material works best for hotter climates?

Many different fabrics suit hotter climes, with lightweight woolen fabrics being regarded as the ideal for summer. Cashmere, silk, mohair and cotton are also used, but a tropical weight of pure wool is the most suited for the office in the summer. Cotton and linen are comfortable to wear in high heat, but their light weight means that the fabric will not drape as elegantly as wool. Another factor to take into consideration with linen is that is creases very easily, although many regard the creases as a favorable feature of the material.

Wash out
Wash out

Why are suits dry clean only? Are there any machine washable suits?

Almost all of our suits are made of pure wool or a wool and silk blend. These materials may shrink, change colour or lose their shape if washed in water. The dry cleaning process uses solvents to remove dirt and grease from garments and this prevents the fabrics from becoming misshapen and discoloured. We reccommend that depending on how often you wear your suit you only dry clean once or twice a year.

 

The idea of a machine washable suit began in the 1950s with the introduction of polyester, but gained a bad reputation for being uncomfortable and cheap. There are some machine washable suits on the market, but we do not stock these as currently they fail to meet the high sartorial standards we strive to maintain.

Overcoats for Suits
Overcoats for Suits

What kind of overcoat should I wear with my suit?

You should choose an overcoat that both coordinates with your own personal style and fits the occasion. Is it to be worn to the office or for a night at the opera? We stock a wide range of overcoats instore where we can assist you in finding the perfect match for your needs and personal style.