telegraph fashion
As with so much of British life, it is at Marks & Spencer that the true state of the nation can be gauged. “Our customer still expects structure,” says Adam Barton, M&S’s buyer for men’s suits, which quashes the idea of an imminent, half-lined revolution in offices up and down the land. “It’s an interesting dilemma, to try and make a garment that’s as lightweight as possible within the restrictions we have. Our customers want a suit that won’t make them sweat, but, at the same time, they don’t want a suit to collapse.”
Barton’s answer to this is a lightweight suit that still has enough padding and lining to reassure his customers that they are getting perceived value-for-money. “It has a lightweight chest canvas and fusing, as well as a lightweight shoulder pad that really keeps the structure.” Barton says the suit (£149, 0845 302 1234) was introduced to 10 stores this summer and has been such a success that he intends to go big on it come next summer. He is also proud of a fabric called Miracle Linen, which he says is “to a certain extent, crease-resistant. And if you wear it for a prolonged period, it only needs a gentle iron and the creases come out.”
It seems that progress will be made in small steps, but there are other more everyday tips for suit wearers. Don’t treat the lunch hour like it’s a mini-holiday: keep out of the sun and stay in the shade. Wear shirts with a buttoned cuff, so there’s less fabric at the wrist and it’s easier to roll up the sleeves. Whenever possible, take off the jacket to try and keep cool. And, until we all hot-desk from home or trade from our bedrooms, remember that while we Brits think we’ve got summer bad, remember there are businessmen elsewhere who have got it much worse. If we follow their lead, we can deal with it much better.