When it comes to buying men’s clothes – formal or casual – it’s easy to think there’s not much scope for change, especially for business wear. But there’s some cool – and I mean cool – mens fashion stuff out there. You can choose to get something custom made, shop online or shop from a line of menswear stores with a difference!
Keep a freshly-ironed “uppercrust” look by using certain fabrics; and get some fresh colours into your wardrobe, too. To show you that menswear in Singapore can still look crisp and smart even in the heat, here are some great options.
Meiko Tailor – Men’s clothes for the boardroom and beyond
Plenty of care and artistry goes into each suit. Founder Mr Chung has been honing his tailoring craft for over 50 years, and he is still the only draftsman and cutter behind all the custom made mens clothes created at Meiko Tailor.
Now in his mid-70s, he is working to hand over the reins – and his golden scissors! – to his daughter Adele. Together, the duo will be fusing traditional methods with modern sensibilities to come up with bespoke suits made from luxurious wool, from cashmere to merino wool, from premium mills like Loro Piana, Ermenegildo Zegna, Holland & Sherry, and Standeven. Amongst our favourites are the linen cotton from Loro Piana and Solbiati which are perfect for Singapore’s tropical weather.
For mens fashion the more affordable fabrics from Italian and English mills are also available. They include shirting fabrics from Alumo, Liberty London, Thomas Mason and Tessitura Monti. Ladies, if you’re looking for floral and vibrant prints for your blouses, shirts or dresses, you’ll be spoilt for choice with their Liberty London Tana Lawn Cotton collection, which is superbly breathable, comfy and easy to iron.
Meiko Tailor is among the few menswear tailors in Singapore that has exclusivity to the S.I.C. Tess collection, a historic brand of Italian excellence in luxury shirts since 1924. S.I.C. Tess offers a unique collection of textures including cashmere-silk blend, linen-voile blend and ultra-fine 240/2 ply and 300/2 ply poplin. These swatch books are for clients who want the finest quality of classic shirting. If you’d like to start with something more basic for day-to-day work wear, consider the house collection of 100 percent Egyptian cotton, from $199.
To get a glimpse of Master Tailor Chung in action, be sure to drop by their main atelier at Pan Pacific Singapore. For added convenience, the pair are also happy to do house calls or pop into your office on a Friday (11am to 3pm -prior appointment required).
The store has also created quite a few blazers, drawstring shorts and lounge pants in seersucker – another fabric that doesn’t crease. It’s perfect for travelling; you can just roll it up in your case – no pressing required! It’s also good for Zoom calls as something to have nearby that looks smart but isn’t too hot or uncomfortable.
Smart casual men’s clothes include long-sleeve polo shirts in jersey cotton. Mandarin-collared short- and long-sleeved shirts are also cooler options. As is their popular “untuck” shirt that comes just below the belt. It’s cooler, of course, because the heat doesn’t get kept in!
Meiko only makes clothes to demand. They’ll order just enough fabric to make what’s needed, and that ensures there’s very little waste. They also only deal in natural fabrics. You can either adjust any mens clothes that you already have, or get new clothes custom-made. Have a look through your wardrobe and see what needs to be thrown out or adjusted. Then, pop in and have a look at the fabrics, get measured up, and get sorted for a new, cool you!
Pan Pacific Singapore, 7 Raffles Boulevard, #02-01
6334 6911 | WhatsApp 8180 6418 (for appointments)
meikotailor.com
The Shirt Bar – From classic formals to quirky casual menswear
This mens fashion store has a huge selection of casual and workwear in their menswear collection. The Eco-ol Bamboo Collection is one that the “non-ironers”, in particular, will love! Among the key benefits of this collection is that it’s intrinsically wrinkle-free, and remains that way even after many washes. It also has a soft and silky feel and is antibacterial, anti-UV and odour-resistant. These men’s clothes are very comfortable and cool – a perfect fit for the Singapore heat – and they’re available in short and long sleeves.
Another option for men’s clothes – if you don’t have to wear a suit and tie to work – is a blazer. It transitions from casual to smart really easily and you can be a bit more adventurous with the colours. The Shirt Bar has some super-cool tailored-fit blazers. They’re knitted (instead of woven) for stretchability, plus single-breasted and half-lined for better air flow. The right inner-chest pocket is lined with advanced RFID-blocking fabric to keep your digital information from your cards safe. Not to mention, underarm sweat guards help with excessive sweating when you’re active in your jacket.
With this more casual look and the right dress pants, you can also get more creative with shoes. Men’s shoes have evolved, and with the right combination you can find something cooler, in both meanings of the term!
6 locations in Singapore | the-shirt-bar.com
Fancies Menswear – It’s what’s underneath that counts!
Underwear retailer Fancies uses supersoft, silky and thin micromodal fabric for its snazzy boxers. The plant-based fabric is moisture-wicking yet highly breathable (no need to say more …).
New in store are trunks that are even shorter than the brand’s standard boxer briefs. The latest mens fashion collection features cool natural earth tones: think sand, tan and tiger prints. There are new messages on the prints, too, which the Fancies team says are designed to “reflect the fact that 2020 was tough on us all”. So, you can get a pair of boxers that say “Rule The Day”, “Dominate” or “You Got This”!
Micromodal turns out to be a great fabric choice for reusable facemasks, too. That’s why Fancies’ masks are so comfortable. Plenty of the brand’s customers say that these are the only masks out there that can be worn for prolonged periods of time without causing them rashes or other issues.
420 Joo Chiat Road
3159 2728 | shopfancies.com
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