Our Modern Working Wardrobes: The Restauranteurs

If, like much of London, you’re planning a trip to West African-inspired, locally sourced restaurant Ikoyi, you should expect the unexpected – not least because they offer a seasonal 17-course blind tasting menu that isn’t revealed until you’ve got your foot in the door. The restaurant has made a name for itself with its unusual combinations, harmoniously blending flavours that don’t traditionally belong together. And in that way, it’s an echo of the ethos Paul Smith has been espousing for over 50 years.

Attention to detail, is yet another similarity. “Ikoyi is about an original experience, and so we aim to express ideas that are as new to us as they will be to a guest,” Jeremy Chan, the co-founder who serves as Ikoyi’s head chef, explains. “We might share a sensibility with Paul Smith in terms of making things look very simple, which are extremely detailed and thought about, while adding a little wink.”

His business partner and Ikoyi’s co-founder, Iré Hassan-Odukale, who takes on duties as managing director, says that much of this ‘sensibility’ comes from a real passion for what they’re serving – and creating at the restaurant, which earned itself a second prized Michelin star in early 2022. “Whether it’s sourcing the best ingredients available, welcoming guests with warmth or little details in the design, we try to make sure everything has been considered,” he explains.

Iré, on the other hand, says his front-of-house wardrobe has evolved in a smarter direction recently. “[It] used to be determined by what mood I was in when I woke up, but I try to wear less sweats these days and stick to a shirt, trousers and a pair of Common Projects,” he says. “[I’ve] been toying with the idea of wearing a suit… Let’s see.”

Flexibility and versatility, though, are at the core of what they’re both after, something Paul Smith’s Modern Working Wardrobe boasts in abundance. As Jeremy puts it: “[Your] wardrobe has to stand the test of time, be comfortable and be able to weather the elements. You should be able to get up, put it on, go to work and come back again without changing.” We couldn’t have put it better ourselves.