AR Red Nick Hart

Like some brands, Austin Reed carry's a preconception which for them is that they are just a suit company for the, well, more established gentleman. They carry two Royal Warrents and have been established since 1900 so the reaching out to Savile Row tailor Nick Hart - of Spencer Hart - was a strategic move which has injected a little jazz-inspired aesthetic. The collection, entitled AR Red Nick Hart, aims to bring Hart closer to the core consumer, whilst retaining his invigorating sense of style that he has injected into The Row.

 

The collection includes Nick Hart’s design hallmarks including his signature shawl lapels, peak lapels and dresswear all cut with a very tailored fit - such as with this shirt Austin Reed very kindly sent me (buy it here). A great 100% cotton piece, the hue of the navy is very decadent, boardering on the aubergine but still retains a deep sense of understated style. Teaming it with some Acne chinos, a black Zara jacket and some grey New Balance, it is the ideal piece to find the dress casual look for the office. Plus, as we saw from the menswear shows, the shade is bang on trend for AW13 so it will last all year through as a style statement. As we see more and more collaborations with high-end labels for more accessable ones, I can only see that menswear and men's style will grow massivly on a shared love for tailoring, crafting and some really great pieces...