Winter suits: tweed, flannel or wool? How to dress for mild weather – menswear tips on what to wear and how to wear it
Let the city’s best tailors WW Chan & Sons, The Armoury and Prologue offer advice on the best fabrics and fits to stay fashionable this season
Winters in Hong Kong are often mild, with temperatures rarely reaching single digits. Without the threat of snow, the city offers its citizens ample opportunity to experiment with seasonal fabrics. These chilly months are when you can demonstrate your sartorial prowess, and we are here to provide some tips on how to look your winter best – with the aid of trusted experts.
Fabric selection
Selecting the right fabric is the first hurdle, and one that often make or break the final result. Put away the summer-ready linens, and opt for fabrics that provide extra heft and body. Woollen flannels are the de facto choice when it comes to winter cloth, and one could do much worse than opting for a classic grey chalk stripe which is appropriate for both the office and weekend celebrations. Messrs Patrick Chu and Arnold Wong of the storied WW Chan & Sons are fans of the material but only recommend heavier variations. “Anything below 10/11oz we would not advise as it doesn’t have the same beautiful drape and trousers tend to bags in the knees”, Chu advises. “Heavy, substantial-feeling worsted wools also make for splendid winter suits that won’t raise eyebrows in an office setting”. On that endorsement, I chose a textured charcoal from the Oyster collection by Harrison’s.
For a more casual spin, take inspiration from Jan Tong from The Armoury who can often be spotted in the Central area in interesting tweeds, most of which upon closer inspection carry rainbow-coloured flecks which add a playful element to an otherwise sombre outfit. “Tweed is a fabric that is often misunderstood. Most people assume that the cloth is dense when in fact many are spongy and porous meaning they breathe very well”, Tong explains. A full tweed suit may lean too far into the countryside aesthetic for some so a stand-alone jacket may be the optimal way to get acquainted as they pair fantastically with denims and earth tones.
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