Country Meets City Style

Here at FashionBeans we always keep an eye out for looks that are both practical and stylish. This is why we were excited to see the pieces British heritage brand Gieves & Hawkes showcased at London Collections: MEN, which perfectly mixed the idea of country and city dressing together.

Inspired by the company’s archive, which spans back 300 years, Gieves & Hawkes’ Creative Director Jason Basmajian focused both on a love of heritage design and quality craftsmanship in the impressive AW14 collection. And, to support the traditional Savile Row label reaching new global heights, Basmajian has turned his attention to making country clothing feel city-appropriate – his (and our) favourite look being a Donegal tweed suit worn with a cashmere tie.

With this in mind, we highlight the benefits of bringing a country spin to your city wardrobe, as well as ways to nail the look yourself…

The Look: City Slicker Meets Country Gent

When asked about the Gieves & Hawkes collection at LC:M, Basmajian explained how he loves the “country colour palette worn in the city”, as to him it’s “quite urban”. He went on to say that this aesthetic also helps guys who enjoy tailoring appear sophisticated without coming across pompous.

Of course, this wouldn’t be the first time we’ve seen the contrasting combination of city slicker and country gent come together in fashion. Heritage style in general has stamped its mark on menswear in recent years, leading to professionals up and down the country trading their signature monochrome suits for tweed and autumnal hues.

There’s something about the warmth, texture and earthiness of country style that is so often missing amidst the steely grey and blue hues of tailoring in the city. This is why we would encourage every man to incorporate a touch of the country aesthetic to their weekday work wardrobe, not just reserving it for weekend breaks from their nine-to-five.