Suitsupply Spring 2017

A supermodel once told me that, “it takes charm to open the door and charm to keep the doors open.” While those words of wisdom can be applied to any industry, those pearls of wisdom are more aptly true in fashion.

As a brand, Suitsupply does not recreate the proverbial fashion envelope or even re-establish men’s suiting. What the brand does, however, is bring consistent charm to a classic male silhouette, making menswear consumers rethink men’s suiting and continue their love affair with jackets and slacks.

And for spring 2017, the charm started with male models bicycling down Broome Street, looking like elegant English gentlemen on their way to classes at Oxford minus the once-mandatory student gowns. (Imagine Peter O’Toole in the cult classic “Goodbye Mr. Chips”.)

Inspired by the midcentury Bauhaus art movement whose focus was on functional beauty or more aptly penned “Art into industry,” Suitsupply applied this beautiful functionality into spring/summer essentials that have strong focus on good design that is streamlined into everyday life. Suitsupply demonstrated this design concept by employing lightweight fabrics—linens blended with cashmere, silk, and cotton—and a restrained tonal palette of off whites, burnt orange, grass, and dark navy.

By using lightweight fabrics and a restrained tonal palette, Suitsupply facilitates appropriate seasonal layering which correlates to brand’s secondary theme of international travel.  Remember, contemporary menswear fashion is global and spring/summer travel requires garments that can easily be mixed and matched, layered and stripped down.

That said; Suitsupply’s current dissertation on spring/summer suiting, though grounded in traditional masculine silhouettes, expands consumers’ choices around suiting.  And Suitsupply’s streamlined approach to suiting, shirts and vests is in line with what the dapper well-dressed gent wants!!

—William S. Gooch