From Rigid to Relaxed: The Shift in Men’s Tailoring in Australia
Over the past few years, there’s been a slow but steady shift occurring in men’s suits in Australia. And if it’s marked by one thing, it’s fit. From the 2010s, when razor sharp, eye-wateringly tight styles were de rigeur, we’ve now entered a much more relaxed period in modern men’s suits (and we here at Oscar Hunt couldn’t be more pleased about it).
But how do you take relaxed tailoring and make it your own? This week, we’re diving into the key points that you should consider when crafting your next suit. Let’s dive in!
The cut
The image that instantly springs into many client’s minds when they hear the word ‘relaxed’ is a boxy, oversized suit that probably only looks good on a runway model. However, the reality is that there are many different styles of relaxed suiting that vary depending on occasion, style and most importantly you and your body.
To take one example, in the context of a linen suit that’s going to be worn for a wedding, relaxed would mean a classic cut of jacket that still has some shape but that also doesn’t cling to the body. It would likely be paired with a wider, straight legged pair of trousers. The intention is never for the suit to look too big - instead it’s intended to make you feel comfortable and look at ease.
The fabric
When it comes to tailored suits in Australia, fabric is particularly important, not only as a key element of the overall style but also in terms of comfort. Speaking about relaxed suiting more specifically, the other element that comes into play is the drape. This refers to the way that the fabric falls.
Given relaxed tailoring ‘hangs’ more than slim cut styles, this becomes all the more important as it has a big impact on the way that the garment sits on your body. While this is something that our team of experts are all too happy to guide you on, our top picks are fabrics like mohair, silk-linen blends and wool.
The styling
The final piece of the puzzle is how you style relaxed tailoring. And, generally speaking, there are two approaches.
The first is to play with contrast. For example, in a casual setting you might choose to pair a more relaxed style of suit with a more slim fitting tee or tank.
The second approach is to go all in on the relaxed look, experimenting with volume. The trick in this instance is to ensure that everything is actually a relaxed fit vs. oversized. The risk otherwise is that you can start to look like you’re drowning in your own clothes.
To learn more about the latest custom suit trends (in Melbourne and beyond), we invite you to swing by your local showroom today.