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MEN’S BUSINESS
the point of view of encouraging the grooms in
early to get their suits sorted.”
Once in stores, however, men have been
slightly bolder in their choices this year with
brighter colours stepping to the fore.
“There’s a new bright blue, which has been
huge this year,” says Andy. “We’ve had it for
three or four years but this year it has just
gone bananas. It has been
phenomenal, so much so that
we are struggling to keep the
stock in.”
Peter Posh’s Westbury, a
Royal blue, lightweight Mohair
suit with matching trousers,
has also been highlighted by
menswear hire shops as one
of the labels really hitting the
mark.
Navy is still a strong seller
but grey has given up a strong
fi ght for 2014’s colour crown,
with its array of light dove grey tones to dark
charcoal grey shades a popular choice for many.
Keith Graham of Debonair Formal Hire in
both Cheltenham and Gloucester, says grey
is the number one choice in his stores at the
moment. “It’s a very neutral colour to tie in with
all the different bridesmaid dress colours that
are around,” he says.
Several menswear brands and retailers also
highlight the popularity of waistcoats that come
as part of a three-piece suit matching the colourThis is aAfter a tough year for the industry in 2013 wedding retailers and brands have
been hoping for a stronger year. Menswear fi rms talk to Victoria Gallagher
about the strong signs for the year ahead and highlight the budding bestsellers.worldman’sRight: xxxxxxxxxxWilvorstWilvorstPeter PoshS
LIM-FITTING STYLES AND
shades of bright blue are both top
of the agenda for menswear this
year with retailers and brands
each reporting an upturn in sales
as grooms search for fresh looks.
It appears the men’s formalwear
market has been enjoying a much-appreciated
bounce back this year after
some suggested that 2013 left
superstitious brides eager to
postpone their weddings.
“I am told by retailers all
over the UK that weddings are
being booked later and later
this year,” says Tony Rowland,
UK director of menswear label
Jean Yves. “2013 turned out
to be a diffi cult year for the
wedding industry for a number
of different reasons - it is hoped
2014 will be much better.”
The men’s formalwear market is still bringing
in the big bucks and in the six months to
16 March generated £635m worth of sales
according to data specialist Kantar Worldpanel.
Kantar states that special occasions and
weddings are the main reasons for men buying
a new suit and, interestingly, the average price of
a suit for a wedding is £100.77.
Andy Roberts of Wilvorst agrees this year
has been much better than last year in terms of
sales, but adds: “It has been getting harder from“[Grey] is a very
neutral colour
to tie in with
all the different
bridesmaid dress
colours that are
around”84-85.BB.163.Menswear.indd 84 04/06/2014 15:15