Style Advice You Can Steal From Your Suit
Create a look of confidence that's been tailor-made to suit your style by following these seven key tips
When my clients ask me what I mean by ‘the tailored look’, I often refer to a beautifully-tailored suit. Much like a fine suit, a tailored decorating scheme must be custom fit to its body shape perfectly; paying close attention to function as well as comfort. As Leo, my local tailor summed up, “Sophie, it’s quite simple: tailor-made is made to measure. It works with you and your body, it is structured, it is in proportion; the lining is as important as the button hole; and the drape of the fabric is as important as the stitching.”
We can take Leo’s suit tailoring points into our homes by creating a balanced style that has strong lines, a harmonious colour palette, and a scheme where every fine detail is as important as the next. Here’s how to get a tailored look your home will love to wear forever.
We can take Leo’s suit tailoring points into our homes by creating a balanced style that has strong lines, a harmonious colour palette, and a scheme where every fine detail is as important as the next. Here’s how to get a tailored look your home will love to wear forever.
Put function first
Where do you plan to wear your tailor-made suit? Is your suit appropriate for the function you are attending? Like your suit, forms does follow function in a tailored room. Look at your room and decide what it will specifically be used for. How should it function? For instance, you might want to splash out on custom-built storage for your paper-filled home office, or bespoke modular seating that fits all members of the family in the living room. Once you know how you want it to work, gather designs to put in an Ideabook that you can further brainstorm with your designer.
Where do you plan to wear your tailor-made suit? Is your suit appropriate for the function you are attending? Like your suit, forms does follow function in a tailored room. Look at your room and decide what it will specifically be used for. How should it function? For instance, you might want to splash out on custom-built storage for your paper-filled home office, or bespoke modular seating that fits all members of the family in the living room. Once you know how you want it to work, gather designs to put in an Ideabook that you can further brainstorm with your designer.
Don’t forget comfort
There’s no point in wearing a perfectly cut suit that does not allow you to bend at the elbows or knees – comfort is important.
Source sofas to suit the proportions of the room – you don’t want the buttons to be bigger than the pocket, so for a large room, opt for large sofas.
The sofa can be soft and generous, but to make it look tailored, team it with a large scale and structured coffee table with a clean finish in marble or metal.
TIP: Like your suit’s stitching, the perfection lies in the detailing, so edit your coffee table accessories to a minimum – it might just be a pile of large coffee table books.
Guide to creating a beautifully styled coffee table
There’s no point in wearing a perfectly cut suit that does not allow you to bend at the elbows or knees – comfort is important.
Source sofas to suit the proportions of the room – you don’t want the buttons to be bigger than the pocket, so for a large room, opt for large sofas.
The sofa can be soft and generous, but to make it look tailored, team it with a large scale and structured coffee table with a clean finish in marble or metal.
TIP: Like your suit’s stitching, the perfection lies in the detailing, so edit your coffee table accessories to a minimum – it might just be a pile of large coffee table books.
Guide to creating a beautifully styled coffee table
Use strong lines
Like your well-defined suit, strong lines and shapes help create a structured look. You can create ‘structure’ with your furniture or rug selection by choosing obviously defined shapes: rectangles, squares…
Like your well-defined suit, strong lines and shapes help create a structured look. You can create ‘structure’ with your furniture or rug selection by choosing obviously defined shapes: rectangles, squares…
Find your colour balance
You probably wouldn’t wear a skirt in mustard with a jacket in maroon (or come to think of it, you just might). For elegance, colour harmony is vital.
Choose a paint colour that you respond to and don’t be shy about it. Paint the walls in that colour, and for extra effect, continue over the joinery ad architectural mouldings; and slip that paint swatch out of your jacket pocket when choosing your upholstered sofa, cushions and throw.
5 fool-proof steps to a spot on colour scheme
You probably wouldn’t wear a skirt in mustard with a jacket in maroon (or come to think of it, you just might). For elegance, colour harmony is vital.
Choose a paint colour that you respond to and don’t be shy about it. Paint the walls in that colour, and for extra effect, continue over the joinery ad architectural mouldings; and slip that paint swatch out of your jacket pocket when choosing your upholstered sofa, cushions and throw.
5 fool-proof steps to a spot on colour scheme
Consider subtle but luxurious fabrics
There’s a reason why the pinstripe is still popular: the herringbone is considered dapper, and velvet is, well, the velvet suit isn’t going anywhere. They are all subtle; and cut from a tailor’s cloth and they are timeless.
For your tailored look, choose textiles with a plain weave, or a subtle pattern or stripe – remember, quality and luxury are key.
TIP: Although man-made fibres are easier to keep clean, hunt down linen, cotton, leather, velvet or wool for your tailored space, and like the pinstripe, your room won’t date.
There’s a reason why the pinstripe is still popular: the herringbone is considered dapper, and velvet is, well, the velvet suit isn’t going anywhere. They are all subtle; and cut from a tailor’s cloth and they are timeless.
For your tailored look, choose textiles with a plain weave, or a subtle pattern or stripe – remember, quality and luxury are key.
TIP: Although man-made fibres are easier to keep clean, hunt down linen, cotton, leather, velvet or wool for your tailored space, and like the pinstripe, your room won’t date.
Play with textures
For the sculpted woollen jacket that carries faux fur around the trim, the range of textures is what keeps this suit sexy and intriguing.
Experiment with different textures for your chic effect – it might be a metallic grass cloth wallpaper with a silver mirror in front of it; it might be a high gloss console with gold decorative edges and drawer handles; or it might be a lacquered chair with a velvet chair cover. It is the range of textures that is visually exciting.
Tailor-made, like Leo said, is ‘made to measure’. One size or style does not suit all … but, like a well-cut suit makes the most of your body shape, a tailored interior will make the most of your home.
MORE
Book Review: ‘The Tailored Interior’ by Greg Natale
Forget Resale Value: Try These Tricks to Tailor Your Home to Suit You
For the sculpted woollen jacket that carries faux fur around the trim, the range of textures is what keeps this suit sexy and intriguing.
Experiment with different textures for your chic effect – it might be a metallic grass cloth wallpaper with a silver mirror in front of it; it might be a high gloss console with gold decorative edges and drawer handles; or it might be a lacquered chair with a velvet chair cover. It is the range of textures that is visually exciting.
Tailor-made, like Leo said, is ‘made to measure’. One size or style does not suit all … but, like a well-cut suit makes the most of your body shape, a tailored interior will make the most of your home.
MORE
Book Review: ‘The Tailored Interior’ by Greg Natale
Forget Resale Value: Try These Tricks to Tailor Your Home to Suit You
What’s the focal point of a great suit? It’s not usually the tie or the pocket square; often it’s the large block of material from the shirt, the structure of the lapel or the shape of the shoulders.
When creating a tailored scheme, employ this theory and create a focal point using large artworks, a block of wall colour or a tonal wallpaper feature wall. These will draw your eye into the scheme while not jarring with the room’s mood – and the beautiful thing is, you can always change your shirt.
TIP: It seems obvious, but when choosing a focal point, keep in mind that it will most likely be the first thing you see upon entering a room, so it’s important that it’s appealing to you. Great ideas for focal points include fireplaces, artwork, mirrors, a chandelier or large piece of furniture.