Sartorial Sages 1: Patrick Grant's Style Advice

In this new series, I've invited a number of sartorial sages, well-known men and women who've inspired me, to distill their sartorial experience and expertise into a few words of guidance for those of us looking for style. 

I'm very grateful to Patrick Grant for being the first to step forward. Patrick is if course the man behind Savile Row's Norton & Sons and E. Tautz. He also founded Community Clothing Co. which seeks to revive British manufacture (all links below). He's also known as a television presenter, in particular on The Great British Sewing Bee, a series that I, who can hardly sew on a button, found endlessly fascinating. 

Patrick Grant

Here are Patrick Grant's five brief tips:

• Tie knots should occupy no more than half the space between your collars

• Only one colour of leather should be worn or carried: shoes, belt, watch strap, bag, gloves (black, dark brown, mid tan, light tan)

• Ditto metals – belt buckle, watch buckle, cuff links, shoe buckle, bag hardware

• Always fasten the middle button on a three button jacket and the top button on a two. This button should be roughly at your navel. As should your waistband.

• Trousers and shirts are simple to press at home. So do this, fastidiously.

I'd like to thank Patrick Grant for his contribution to Sartorial Sages. He always looks immaculate, whether dressed casually or formally, and it's clearly his eye for detail which contributes to this.

Norton & Sons

E. Tautz

Community Clothing Co. (who are updating and relaunching their website at the end of March 2018)