ARTICLES OF STYLE Suits rose to be defence force fashion in the 1940s, when they moved away from their gangster association, to be a symbol of both business and authority. Commander Vernon J. Geberth once referred to the suit as psychological armour. The Secret Service wear suits to appear less military looking, uniforms following the president or first family can be very intimidating and send out the wrong kind of public message — more of a dictator than a leader. They are meant to be visible yet invisible. The president needs to be approachable, kiss children and speak to the people, yet be kept safe. Suits are subtle, and fashionable. They are designed specifically for the public eye, and allow the team to fit into all kinds of situations without scaring the nation with their presence. Articles of Style have found a way to suit men from all walks of life, including the Secret Service. Articles of Style, previously known as The Style Blogger, was launched in 2009, and developed a global readership, featuring in magazines such as Playboy and Sports Illustrated. The blog was designed ideally, to reach a male audience and make fashion as relatable as possible for the everyday man. In particular, finding the perfect suit is something men have always struggled with, listening to the advice of a store clerk trying to make a sale rather than dress a man to impress, the creator of Articles of Style, Dan Trepanier CEO and creative director of AoS, also known as ‘America’s Best Dressed Man’,
was left with no choice but to launch his own company to make customised suits in America, for Americans, and have never ever had a return. Partnering with Southwick Clothing, America’s oldest menswear manufacturer, AoS is made up of a team of five men and fits each client personally using try-on garments (they send a first draft of the suit if you like, which they also consider a 'welcome to the family' bonus). Men’s fashion is different because it isn’t always seasonal, it’s long wearing, and in today’s market, there was no good option for something timeless yet simple. Dan upskilled as a tailor and together with his team turned the popular blog into an online store, which launched in 2015. What’s so unique about Articles of Style is that, not only are they ethical, American-made and a high-quality suit, but the whole process is done online. You won’t find another service quite like it. Dan said for years they sampled every online tailoring brand, and were always very disappointed with the product and experience. There was a massive drop-off between an in-person fitting experience and the online ‘selfmeasure’ experience: “This, combined with our readership worldwide constantly requesting to buy the garments we were showcasing in our editorials...led to the ‘aha’ moment. The online fitting process is an absolute game-changer for e-commerce. It allows people, anywhere in the world (we have clients in more than a dozen countries), to have a bespoke experience with experts that they trust creating quality clothing for them.”