The London Lounge

I’m looking for some advice.

My working life (some 30 years) has been in Northern Europe so cold winters and summers in the low 20s with the odd week of summer in the high 20s centigrade.

Therefore I have an extensive bespoke wardrobe for this climate.

I’m now moving to cover Singapore, Hong Kong and Shanghai so need a suitable wardrobe.

Hence two questions (by the way I’m in the finance sector) -

1 what is considered as appropriate business wear ?

2 what cloths (wights, colours) do I need for such climates ?

I’m thinking I’ll need to replace shoes, shirts, trousers, jackets and suits (assuming suits jackets are appropriate).

Thanks

Linen shirts and socks will be essential. (See Mes Chausettes Rouges for the socks.) Whether you need new shoes is a different question. As long as you have something besides shell cordovan brogues you should be fine there. Maybe loafers if you want a little more breeze on your ankles.

I don't know about dress codes as such (suit/jacket/tie?). But take a look at the Fresco book and some of the better linens for suits or separates. Wool that isn't tightly woven, and comes in at less than 9oz is the key. Linen will be heavier but will handle your personal humidity better.

If you're lucky, you will have an air-conditioned office, flat, and car to take you between the two. Otherwise, you'll have to do a certain amount of calibration for your own metabolism. My suspicion is that you'll never love the heat and humidity, but you'll tolerate it better in a year than you will now.

The weather in HK, Singapore, etc. can be hot, humid and miserable.
I have worked there.

Put your existing European wardrobe in mothballs until you return home to retire.

All the countries you will be covering have a very high level of dress, talented tailors and style, largely exceeding Europe.

Ofcourse, take your cue from your new work environment and colleagues there.

Find a local tailor, go local, and select cloth the locals choose.

Throw out European ideas about the rectitude of heavy flannels, tightly woven cloth for drape, or whatever platitudes are circulating; it doesn’t work anymore ; adapt.

Find a new tailor in your new Asian home base; listen to him: choose lightweight, open weave cloth that the locals choose.

Eschew what the expatriate Europeans and Americans do; they don’t know anything except the staid baggage and same old clothing concepts that they bring with them. Be light, cool, airy and adventurous in cloth, colors, accessories, etc etc.

I wish I was you, starting on this new adventure. The future begins....

Good luck and all success.

Dear Wasser,

congratulations for the new job! Stock up on Piuma and Brisa. Dress code is conservative and driven by London norms. Linen shirts and socks is a good idea. Keep your shoes, they should be fine.

Cheers, David

Uppercase is certainly a man of the world, isn't he ?
I get goosebumps

Me too.

As for Singapore and Hong Kong, at the top end they have a very good eye for fine tailoring. The only adjustment I make is to wear lightweight (not too lightweight ) Mohair,its cool and always looks very crisp.
Good luck in all three countries.
Dr T