A DISTINCTIVE style guide

The Winter trends for men explore the richest of colors like burgandy, maroon, and plum. To introduce the burst of color blocking, the royal blues, mustard yellows and grass greens make it approachable for introverted men.

One of the design trends include structured and masculine cuts. With the trends available, we as DISTINCTIVE Man have drawn from the international trends and made it relevant to the African market. We draw all our inspiration from Africa while making it modern for the current generation.

In Every Suit there is a KING

An Eloquent King, renowned for
his extreme Simplicity conquered
the upper crust society in an Elegant
two-piece affair that was
"carefully crafted to fit" his
Sophisticated stature.

He is a Prestigious gentleman who
Prides himself in a Tailor made
Corporate Armor.

We SALUTE Shaka as he goes to London

DISTINCTIVEman

Creative facilitators

DISTINCTIVE wear provides immaculate bespoke tailoring according to your specifications. The process begins with you and the creative facilitator, where you as the quality savvy client describe your 'distinctive' character and the facilitator translates that into a design.

You choose the fabrication, style, detail and finishes that will represent you and define your 'distinctive' character. Your measurements will be taken and translated into a flawless tailored suit, by our in house Malawian tailors who have over 15 years of experience in suits.


How we work

Step 1:Measurements

It's just a tape measure away! Make an appointment with a DISTINCTIVE Style consultant to have your measurements taken. We are available at our studio or we can visit you at home/your office. Make an Appointment

Step 2: Crafting your suit

Our style consultants will guide you through the process of selecting fabrics from our large selection of imported fabrics, as well as the style, cut and details for your custom-made garment.

Step 3:Carefully crafted to fit

7 working days later, your bespoke attire will be ready for you to sample. Because at DISTICTIVE, we guarantee that the fit of all our garments are fitted at this point. Should there be any need for alterations to your attire, our team of DISTINCTIVE tailors will add the final touches to your garments. Once you are satisfied with the perfect fit, your DISTINCTIVE garments will be ready for collection. We keep a record of all your measurements

The Latest and Greatest in Italian Suits

Business suits today are a form of corporate armor. But modern day men's suits are sometimes seen as too stuffy, especially after the dotcom boom. A somewhat relaxed work fashion is now acceptable, but this trend has not been able to displace the suit from its place in a man's work wardrobe.


Why wear a suit?

A successful investment-banker in a sharp Italian suit, a lawyer about town in an elegant two-piece affair, a politician on television in a formal suit-and-tie: all these members of the upper crust depend on their attire to gain them an instant acceptance in public life. Donning an impeccably tailored suit is already a statement of affluence and impeccable taste. It says a lot about the wearer even before a single word is spoken.

Not just the smart set, but also those who lead prosaic lives need to wear a suit at some point in their career. For instance, those candidates who would not be required to wear a suit on their jobs are advised to wear one for the interview. An accused on trial wears a suit. A suit is still seen as a way to gain respectability: a man wearing a suit means business.



The Men’s Suit in Italy



The better-cut the suit, the better business the wearer is likely to be in. And if the suit is cut well, chances are that it is an Italian suit. Italian suits have today come to represent some of the best quality work in men's tailoring, and bring prestige to the wearer. But they were not always the most renowned. The history of the Italian suit goes back a long time, and its evolution makes for an interesting story.

The suit as a form of business clothing evolved in Europe, and reached its acme in Britain at the famous Savile Row, frequented by all true gentlemen of impeccable pedigree. But slowly, the skills of suit-making began to filter to other parts of Europe, but notably, to Italy. Some of the best suits in the world of fashion began to be produced in this country.

writteb by: Damyanti Ghosh

Dress Your Body Type: Tall

Although added inches generally confer advantages in the wardrobe department, men with tall body types nevertheless face certain challenges in dressing their best. Here we review how clothes should fit and which colors and patterns tall men should include in their wardrobes to really make the most of their appearance. And so that you know exactly what to buy on your next shopping trip, we’re also supplying you with a checklist of wardrobe must-haves for tall guys.

A tall body type defined

In the West, men whose height is 6'3" or taller are considered to be tall, whereas in other parts of the world, anything beyond 5'11" is perceived as tall. This body type might also be large (as in "big and tall") or it might be very lean.

Pros and cons of dressing a tall body

For men who have a lean build or an average amount of muscle mass, being tall is a huge pro as clothing hangs better on taller individuals, which means you can wear just about anything and look great. Additionally, most societies tend to view extra inches as an advantage for males and women often find tall men extremely attractive, so if you know how to dress yourself stylishly, your professional and interpersonal success will skyrocket. In fact, the only real downside to being tall is that if you’re on the extreme end of the spectrum, it can be difficult to find clothes that are long enough for your body.

dress your body type: the guide
Fit

Two general rules apply to fit when dressing a tall body. First, avoid clothing that is oversize as it will hang off your body strangely. Also, skip anything that is extremely fitted as it will make you appear awkward if you have a large build or like a beanpole if you’re slender.

When specifically considering the top half of the body, there are a few supplementary guidelines men with tall bodies can follow to enhance their appearance. Dress shirts must absolutely be long enough to tuck into your pants, even if you’re not in the habit of wearing your shirts that way. It can be tricky to find longer shirts, but failure to do so will mean you risk looking like a big kid.

Cropped jackets will have a similar effect on you as they will make your body appear disproportionate by emphasizing the length of your legs. Instead, opt for jackets and blazers that end just below the hip as this length adds neither height nor width to your frame. You should also know that blazers with two buttons are a better choice for you as three-button blazers will further elongate your body. For tall dudes with an average-to-lean build, double-breasted jackets are extremely flattering. As well, coats that fall just below the knee, particularly belted models, will really command respect on a tall frame.

Straight-leg trousers and jeans rather than tapered or boot-cut bottoms look best on tall bodies, though when you’re tall bottoms should always be tried on prior to purchasing in order to ensure that their inseam is long enough to cover the top part of your shoe (try labels like Rock and Republic to find 36” inseams). Go with mid-rise jeans if you’re heavier and low-rise jeans if you’re slim, but steer clear of high-waisted jeans (tall hipsters, take note).

A final point with regard to fit concerns tailoring: When you’re tall, having your formal wear adjusted to suit your height is nonnegotiable.

Colors and patterns

Fortunately, when you’re tall, there are not nearly as many rules to adhere to in terms of color and pattern compared with other body types. In other words, you can wear virtually whatever you please. Do, however, mix up colors in your ensembles. For example, don’t wear black head to toe as it will create the illusion of extra height -- and that's not something you need.

Contrasting colors will break you up visually, so pair pants and shirts of different colors together and contrast your footwear with your pants too. To balance out your shape in terms of height and breadth, vertical stripes will help as research has now shown that vertical stripes can make objects appear wider than their actual size (contrary to popular belief). Lastly, men with large statures should feel free to experiment with prints, although big patterns will look better on you than smaller ones.

Generally speaking, tall men of average weight look best in wide accessories. That means, for example, that thicker belts and ties are more visually pleasing on your body than skinny accessories. When it comes to other accessories, such as hats, don't be afraid to try them out. Even though it will make you appear slightly taller, a hat adds a personal touch to an outfit -- just remember to ask your barber for a hairstyle that’s not too voluminous. On your feet, thin-soled shoes are the optimal choice for tall men as you obviously don’t need a heel. What’s more, square- or round-toe shoes will help balance out the length of your legs. Finally, as much as possible, you should dress in layers if you’re tall and of average or slim build. The most fashionable men dress this way -- and women appreciate men who are dress well, especially if they’re tall.

checklist: your wardrobe staples

Double-breasted blazers and jackets
Turtleneck shirts and sweaters
Wider ties and belts
Custom-tailored suit
Just-below-the-knee coats with belts
Straight-leg trousers and jeans
Hip-length two-button blazers
Thin-soled shoes

Article by: Farah Averill

How To Wear A White Suit

There comes a time in every man’s life when he wants to conquer the white suit. When it comes down to how to wear a white suit, however, there a few rules that you have to follow; knowing how to wear a white suit isn’t as cut and dry as throwing on a black or blue suit and going about your day.

The white suit has an appropriate time and place for wear, so before you start slipping into that stark blazer for your board meeting, follow our advice on how to wear a white suit so that you look as slick as your blanched slacks.

When to wear a white suit?
Unless you live very close to the equator, it must officially be summer and above 72 degrees Fahrenheit to don the white suit.

Where to wear a white suit?
Outdoor venues are the most appropriate places to strut your stylish stuff in a white suit. And, don’t fear; the “no white” rule at weddings applies only to women, so sport your white suit at any outdoor wedding this summer.

Also, unless you’re Tom Wolfe, you shouldn’t be wearing a white suit in the city -- which also means you never wear one to the office.

How should a white suit fit?
You are not wearing a business-style suit here, fella. The white suit is a fashion suit, so look for one that's a slim fit with two buttons, and also tailored to your shoulders and tapered at the waist.

What colors pair best with a white suit?
Dress shirts: Some men make the mistake of seeing the white suit as a blank canvas with which to adorn themselves in multicolor, multi-stripe clown shirts. This, however, couldn’t be more wrong. To prove you know how to wear a white suit, opt for dress shirts in soft pastels (light blues, lilacs) or white with a pinpoint collar. A button-down collar is too conservative and a broad or cutaway collar is much too formal. Also, forget about any embroidery or patterns on the shirt. Keep it extremely simple.

Shoes: Experiment with a brown or black oxford or loafer. If you opt for a black loafer, by all means stay away from anything adorned with a piece of metal. That fashion ship has sailed and we all hope it remains lost at sea. Also, feel free to go sock-less.

Ties: Much like the dress shirt, you must keep your tie as simple as possible. A solid black tie will always work.

How else can I wear a white suit?
Dress down your white suit by pairing the jacket with a distressed pair of jeans, black loafers and a black or white dress shirt. This look is best suited for the evening and can be pulled off into early fall.

By Michael A. Lubarsky

Suit truth: Fit is everything - DISTINCTIVEboss

Something as classic as a gray three-button suit can make you look anonymous or make you stand out like a beacon of style. Your sense of style, degree of personal swagger and your accessories will make a difference, but the most important aspect of the look is the fit. The biggest difference between a bespoke suit and an off-the-rack suit is that the former will envelope your body more closely. This is a strange sensation at first when you graduate from ready-mades to made-to-measure or full bespoke.

The clue to all of this is that ready-made suits have larger arm holes than custom-made garments. Off-the-rack jackets need to accommodate guys with big arms and guys with smaller arms -- the easiest solution is to make a big armhole. However, that means that there is more fabric at the side of the jacket below the armhole, so the fit is more relaxed, or comfortable, or full (select your own word, but it still doesn’t fit as well as a tailor-made suit).