According to men's style guru Louis Copeland, summer can be a difficult time for the Irish male and fashion disasters such as neon t-shirts, micro shorts, and short sleeved shirts are among the fashion crimes that should be avoided at all costs. The tailor believes that many Irish men simply don’t know how to dress for the warmer summer months.
“Personally, I think that Irish men never look good in a short sleeved shirt,” he says. “We just don’t have the skin for it, with many of us being quite pale, I prefer a long sleeved shirt with the arms rolled up, as it’s a casual look that’s much smarter.”
When it comes to dressing for the heat, Louis adopts a ruthless approach. T-shirts are out unless you're a slim male, preferably under the age of 30 and unless they're to be worn under a jacket. Sandals with socks are unforgivable and shorts are also a faux pas.
“I’ll have to agree with Tom Ford here,” he says. “Shorts only look good if you have toned, tan legs - but if you don’t - cover them up.” For a weekend look that works, he suggests that guys wear a classic rugby shirt with jeans, but they’ll need to finish their look with a casual shoe or a trainer: “Not a leather brogue,” he shudders.
Colours are important as well, Louis says. The pink-toned Irish complexions means we can't carry off the vivid orange and red hues that our Italian counterparts sport so effortlessly and should opt for greys, blues and creams instead. He thinks Irish men are quite good at casual style but advised that they go for the advice of shop assistants rather than just take anything off the peg.
Louis has noticed that, more recently, Irish men are really dressing up: “Probably as a result of the recession,” he admits. “I’ve noticed a lot more men coming into the store to buy a suit for job interviews,” he tells me. “They really are taking their appearance and grooming very seriously and they want to have the edge on the competition by wearing something that’s fitted properly and looks professional”
But what looks are best for the corporate world? “A classic navy suit works best for the Irish male,” he advises. “They can always inject a bit of personality into their look with a vibrantly coloured shirt and tie." Speaking of vibrant colours and personality, I just had to ask Louis what Jedward will be wearing for the Eurovision next month. “I’ll be dressing the boys in something bright and colourful for their performance,” he revealed. “And because the title of their song is called ‘Lipstick' they may be wearing something red. Be prepared to be surprised on the night...”
