At the time of his birth, Prince Michael of Kent was seventh-in-line to throne. He now sits at 48th in the line of succession. Prince Michael’s interests spread far and wide. He’s a qualified interpreter of Russian and takes a particular interest in Russian affairs. His maternal grandmother was a cousin of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia. It’s conceivable that his distinctive, empowering and regal beard has been passed down the royal bloodline without divergence from his Russian ancestors, the Romanovs. Almost as symbolic as his beard, he has become known to sport impeccably tailored double-breasted blazers with real distinction. The navy double-breasted blazer with gold buttons is perhaps his most recognizable of all. Taking inspiration from Prince Michael of Kent in this elemental classic, The Rake Tailored Garments have come up with a version in their very own guise, with it comprising a fusion of English, Italian and French tailoring techniques.
The Rake Tailored Garments: Navy Double-Breasted 4-Ply Blazer
This 6x1 half-canvassed blazer is made in Italy using a beautiful 13oz. 4-ply wool by Vitale Barberis Canonico. It features these wider than usual peak lapels which are elegantly positioned so it creates the opportunity to wear a shirt in a variety of styles. With inherent Naval origins of which coincidently Prince Michael of Kent is Commodore-in-chief of the Royal Naval Reserve, the blazer can be worn with real freedom of expression just as Prince Michael does. He usually wears it with block coloured and Bengal stripe shirts, cut with generous collars and paired with bold jacquard ties. The trademark is his bulbous tie knots, which lends itself to how The Rake Tailored Garments have curated their collection. We have designed these pieces, to be worn in the way that you want to.
The strategically applied cloth has been implemented in such a way that there is consistency of drape and therefore clear visibility of a fine silhouette. The implementation of gold RTG skull and crossbone buttons made by Benson & Clegg add a touch of old-fashioned craft to the jacket. The deliberate length and drape of the jacket creates a beautiful equilibrium with a classically tailored trouser of the higher-waisted variety, which can be shown off more effectively when the jacket is unbuttoned.
Prince Michael of Kent’s’ penchant for establishmentarian dress is offset by his unique quirks. His approach to dressing mirrors that of what The Rake Tailored Garments have created. The foundation of high-quality tailoring, using the finest materials, artisans in original styles, is neutralized by the fusion of tailoring techniques. It allows genuine adaptability, which you can see in the way we have styled the jacket with a Breton-striped shirt and cream flannel trousers with reverse-double pleats.
Contributor
Freddie AndersonPublished
October 2020
