5 Signature Looks That Defined The King's Style
What sartorial lessons we can learn from one of history's most stylish kings — Charles III.
With much pomp and ceremony around the corner for the long-awaited coronation of Charles III, it would be treason not to look back and celebrate the legendary style of The King over the years at the same time.
Monarchs have rarely dared to be an exception to eccentricity, flair, and what might be called in the modern vernacular, ‘hipsterism’. Even for the most modest and proper British gentleman, looking excellent is non-negotiable, and Charles III has certainly made his mark over the past seven decades as a man with excellent taste in fine clothing.
We will look at five of his signature looks and style choices that have stayed beautifully consistent and well-executed over the course of his royal apprenticeship and discover what sartorial lessons we can learn from one of history’s most stylish kings.
Never neglect the Navy Blazer
No one has epitomised the obligation to possess a great navy blazer for life more than The King. The Navy Blazer is a timeless jacket that remains one of the most elegant and essential to own above all others. It will never look boring or unsuitable in most social or professional situations.
A navy blazer is perfect for building a capsule wardrobe as it can be paired with an array of colours and cloth that make even the most ungallantly dressed man behave like a gentleman.
The King has often sported a double-breasted navy blazer with the venerated gold buttons, which really encapsulates the true meaning of a ‘blazer’ as a kind of club coat seen most throughout British history.
Don’t be tie shy
It can be hard for many men to strike a balance between the painfully dull and the alarmingly bright when it comes to their choice of tie. The King has never shied away from a bolder tie in his lifetime, either in colour or pattern.
The King often wears regimental ties with a block stripe that accords with other accents and details of his outfit, such as the pocket square, the check in the jacket, or indeed the jacket buttons.
You can’t go overboard with overcoats
It’s no surprise that being able to brave all weathers, particularly the bitter-blue cold and frost we see in Britain, is a reality that forces your hand when making critical style choices.
The King’s inspiring work through The Prince’s Trust as well as his other royal duties as Prince of Wales has seen him travel up and down the United Kingdom in all weathers, and so the overcoat has been a staple piece in His Majesty’s wardrobe for maintaining a proper British aesthetic regardless of any harsh weather forecasts.
The King’s overcoats are often traditional in length (covering the knee) and are always double-breasted to add that little extra layer of warmth not afforded to you by single-breasted alone. No doubt the heft of such overcoats will weigh in at a minimum of 600gsm, far superior to the 400gsm of modern top coats that are only slighter heavier than regular winter sportscoats.
There are royal bonus points on offer should you manage to get the cloth of your overcoat in a herringbone weave.
Be on the hunt for your next Safari Jacket
Rooted in British military history of the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, the safari jacket has become one of the most utilitarian and stylish pieces any British gentleman can possess in his wardrobe. The King is no exception.
While the cream safari jacket brings to mind scenes of gallivanting British officers, writers, and journalists in a vintage 1950s film in Africa, it is hard to rival the form and function of this single garment.
The King has rightly regarded his own safari jacket as one to keep handy when travelling for any of his commonwealth duties abroad.
Buy bespoke suits to last a lifetime
Despite the various and decorated clothing available to the King, one item that remains an unbending constant throughout his life is a well-cut bespoke suit.
The King has been the ambassador of world-class tailors such as Anderson & Sheppard over the years and continues to dress with sufficient drape in jacket and trousers alike. Contrary to changing fashions that may dictate excessively baggy trousers or tight jackets, His Majesty makes sure all of his suits age well by maintaining balance, proportion, and drape in each piece. He is particularly partial to a grey or navy double-breasted suit.
If you learn anything from The King, let it be that a bespoke suit can be one of the best investments you will ever make, not only for the quality of the fabric, but the timeless fit and construction that was stylish fifty years ago, is stylish today, and will be stylish fifty years from now.
