Jeremy Hackett - The Mr Classic Blog

This is often a linen jacket or blazer co-ordinated with cotton trousers in colourful hues and the obligatory Panama hat* and of course a jolly brolly, because it's bound to rain.

Unless you regularly attend formal dinners or dances, there are rarely opportunities to wear black tie. The last bastion of this formal tradition remains, however: weddings. At no other occasion throughout all strata of society, do people go to such lengths to look their absolute best, and rightly so.

There is no need to keep this level of smartness just to the big day itself. Many weddings also have a rehearsal a week or so before, which strikes me as not just a good way to make sure the bride and groom have got the vows right, but also to test drive your dinner jacket.

I like to think that the fathers of the bride and groom, more so than anyone else, should make every effort to look as distinguished as possible, regardless of what others may be wearing. This is just as true for the rehearsal dinner as well as the big day itself. Remember, formal dress is not fancy dress.

Interested as I am in all the current political upheaval I couldn't help but notice the frequent references to rolling up shirt sleeves and getting on with the job voiced by several senior politicians.

I have a feeling that with the predicted austere times ahead this shirt sleeve rolling may just become a bit of a fashion statement. Not since the early 1960s have we seen this particular style, a time when our cricketers went out to bat with a healthy display of forearms.

The Army has always been a strong advocate of short sleeve order; Khaki shirts folded and ironed with military precision and knife edge creases.

There is something distinctly masculine and workmanlike about it, so whether you are toiling on the soil or poring over your computer, now is the time to get down to business and roll up your shirt sleeves before this fashion whim passes you by.

I received a comment on my Bafflement over Men's Blazers post recently that asked:

"Could you tell me whether elbow patches on a jacket are a good thing or an affectation?"

It may well be a question on which many of you have pondered, so here are my thoughts on the subject.  Historically, there was some purpose - when gents wore their clothes until they were threadbare, they had not only elbow patches sewn on but the cuffs of their coats were also trimmed with leather, making their favourite coat serviceable for another ten years or so.

Though these days elbow patches are undoubtedly an affectation, I don’t think it is a bad thing. Today elbow patches have been applied in various ways just to add a touch of fun to what sometimes can be a rather dull jacket.

Elbow patches have also been appearing on pullovers and recently I made one, but rather than putting on patches I had the pullover knitted with holes at the elbows so that the shirt beneath showed through. Affected, yes, but it amused people every time I wore it and I really liked that there was something subversive about it. Speaking of which, have you seen our shirts with elbow patches?

What do you think about elbow patches? I'd welcome your opinion - or even a photograph of you sporting some. Thanks to Antonio for raising the issue and to everyone else who has been asking me style questions here on the blog - do keep them coming in.

When dressing, it is often far too easy to ignore the finer details. You may be wearing a very fine suit, but an entire look can be let down by sloppy attention to detail. Specifically, I’m thinking of socks. They’re such a small detail, but so important.

There are a few things to think about with socks. Should one match them with the colour of the shoes, or of the trousers? Or indeed, neither? Personally, I tend to wear navy blue socks with everything, except for evening clothes when I opt for black. Aside from everything else, it makes them much easier to match once they’ve come out of the wash.

That is of course, purely a personal preference. I think that if you are confident enough, red socks can look fantastic and add an eye catching touch to an outfit. David Hockney is famous for colourful socks as was the late Duke of Devonshire.

To my mind, what I feel is more important is that your socks are long: there is nothing worse than a gap between socks and trousers.

Feeling bold? Or looking for something a bit more restrained? Hackett’s range of socks caters to all tastes and styles.

I am often asked by my young friends what to wear with blazers. This is a more difficult proposition than you would think, as, unlike the suit jacket, the blazer can be worn with many different types of trouser.

When wearing, say, a navy blazer, I generally opt for the khaki (or beige) trouser. However, I understand that there is something of a misconception that the younger gentleman looks somehow too conservative or - well, let’s just say it - too old in light trousers with a dark blazer.

This may be true. Although actually, it doesn’t really matter - it’s not so much the colour of the trousers, but the cut that is important. Perhaps pair a blazer with a more modern fit of the khaki trousers, one which is cut slimmer and neater. This will make the whole outfit younger in appearance.

One of the biggest decisions you can make with formal attire is whether to buy it ‘off the rail’ or take the leap into the world of bespoke tailoring. There are convincing and plentiful arguments for both, so I shan’t get bogged down in the intricacies of the argument at this time.

Instead, look at things from a logical viewpoint: if you rarely wear a tuxedo and you are a regular size then it possibly isn't worth having one made.

On the other hand, having something made is not only going to fit better but it is likely to last longer, and as you would wear a tuxedo for special occasions you might as well look the best you can.