Linen suit makes time travel easy

It will come as no surprise to anyone who knows me, but I love men’s style from the 1930s. That’s almost a given, a cliché even, in the #menswear world, but it also happens to be true. The 1930s witnessed a flourishing of men’s fashion unparalleled until today. Men were more daring with shapes and colours and between the horrors of WWI and the drab conformity that came after WWII, felt freer to express themselves.

After a particularly miserable time sweating in a wool suit during a sweltering summer wedding a couple of years ago, I committed myself to getting a linen suit. That day came this summer when I ordered a two piece – admittedly very late in the season – from Walter Beauchamp Tailors. Since I had been thinking about a linen suit for so long, I had it well planned out. I had seen this illustration on the fantastic blog Gentleman’s Gazette some time ago and had put it aside.

The only change I made was to go 3 button instead of 2. As a taller man, I can pull it off, plus I also think the 3 buttons gives the suit a slightly more formal, even old-timey feel. I can also press it to roll to the 2nd button, if the fancy strikes me.

But it isn’t just the look that pleases me. As usual, Beauchamp hit this one out of the park like my first bespoke suit last year. The fit is remarkably comfortable while also flattering. The jacket sits perfectly across my neck and back and you could set your watch to the shoulders. I also look forward to the suit eventually giving in to the natural shlumpiness of linen, imparting, I hope, a more relaxed, summer feel.