Race-day style for him
After a decade creating bespoke suiting for men, Patrick Johnson, of P. Johnson Tailors, knows the short cuts to a timeless look.
SUIT
I like a navy-blue doublebreasted suit in Australian merino wool. Double-breasted styles have a lovely elegance and you can trick them up with a tie or pocket square. They’re also great if you’re travelling because they work easily across other occasions and in any kind of weather.
ACCESSORIES
To bring colour and life, I add a beige pocket square with some mint in it. A knitted tie with a motif also works because if you’re wearing a doublebreasted suit, you’re not seeing a lot of the tie so it’s nice to have a bit of interest there.
SUNGLASSES
I have a pair of tortoiseshell sunglasses by FranÇois Pinton. The style was inspired by Aristotle Onassis and they’re hard to find now. I love them because the shape is quite different – they’re both square and classic.
SHIRT
A lovely ice-blue shirt in a fine stripe is fresh. I have quite fair hair so it gives colour to my skin, which is a good thing at spring racing time when you don’t always have a tan.
SHOES
Shoes are a great way to take an outfit in another direction. Lace-ups, like a pair of black Oxfords, make it more formal and the races are probably the most formal thing we go to in Australia, apart from black-tie events. Do you roll or fold? I fold most things. I have my shirts pre-folded in plastic and I fold my trousers. But my knitwear is rolled and my suits travel in a carry-on suit bag.
Do you unpack at the hotel or live out of your suitcase? I live out of my suitcase because I’m rarely in the same place for more than two nights.
What do you like to wear on a long-haul flight? I wear a suit jacket, shirt and nice pair of trousers to the airport because I often have to go straight to a meeting when I arrive. But when I’m in the airport lounge, I get changed into a pair of knitted tracksuit pants, a top and driving shoes. When we’re about to land, I change back.
What are non-negotiables when you pack? I always travel with my iPad, a sketch pen and a notebook. When it comes to clothes, I take a pair of old Levi’s 501 jeans and a travel utility vest. I wear the vest to the airport over my jacket and keep my passport and other travel essentials in the pockets.
Are you influenced by your destination when packing?
I definitely believe in dressing for your surroundings. So if I’m going to Italy in summer, I’ll take interesting linen pieces. But I pack a suit wherever
I go, in case I get invited to something more formal.
Any tips for travelling with a hat? If I’m taking a hat with me, it’s usually a cap. I wore a top hat to Royal Ascot but I keep that in my London showroom. My wife has had to travel with hats but she does everything with a minimum of fuss so I don’t know her secrets!