Revisiting the Classics: Paul on A Suit to Travel In
It’s often the items we think about the least that we wear the most. Continuing our series on those pieces that belong in every wardrobe, we shine a light on an incredibly useful suit.
Sadly, looking elegant is rarely compatible with travelling long distances. And if you want to look elegant and be comfortable while travelling, then you can more or less forget about it. In the past, people invariably dressed up to travel, which is why old photos of passengers on planes, trains, and automobiles tend to fill us with misty-eyed wonder at how stylish everyone used to be. But were those people comfortable on their journeys? In heavily structured tailoring, felt hats, wool dresses, stiff leather shoes and gabardine raincoats, it’s hard to see how they could be.
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In the modern era, it’s safe to say we have, as a society, swung the other way. Comfort is now the prized quality when it comes to travel dressing, which is entirely understandable: no one wants to feel uncomfortable in what they’re wearing, especially in the age of long-haul flights. We’re not here to declare one approach better than the other, but rather to say that you can, in fact, have it all.
If you’re unfamiliar with our carefully designed travel suit – which we call, unsurprisingly, A Suit to Travel In – then allow us to catch you up. As Paul is both an inveterate suit wearer and a frequent traveller, it would have been remiss of us not to create a suit which looks sharp while standing up to the rigours of the road. A Suit to Travel In comes in a few different versions, but the one we’ve chosen to focus on here is perhaps the quintessential iteration. Cut in our classic Soho style, with a trim fit and narrow lapels, this suit is constructed from a very special fabric, which boasts crease and water resistant properties so it stays crisp and rumple-free. Essentially, you arrive looking as put together as you did when you left the house, something you might have believed impossible.
It's become Paul’s personal travel uniform, and a crucial part of the wardrobes of men all over the world. You can even wear it if you’re staying put. Paul sums up the suit’s appeal in simple terms: ‘It’s really popular because it makes you look great.’ Hard to argue with that.
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Trends may come and go, but there are certain pieces in our wardrobes that will always stand the test of time. At Paul Smith, we call these The Classics and they include everything from cashmere sweaters and navy blazers to smart trainers and timeless bags. Discover The Classics.
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