With a background in menswear and years spent styling editorial shoots and red‑carpet looks, Gareth Scourfield brings a rare combination of craft, restraint and instinct to every project. He’s been a trusted collaborator with Field Grey for many years, and most recently styled our latest studio shoot – bringing his inimitable vision to our Readywear and bespoke uniforms.
Along the way he’s dressed countless A‑listers – from Ben Whishaw to Daniel Craig – but for My Uniform we sat down with him to talk about his personal style: what he loves, what he avoids and how he builds a wardrobe that works hard and still feels authentic.
Hi, Gareth. How do you separate your work style from your home style?
We now live in Wales and have done for the last decade, but I’m in London every week. So that’s work, yeah. I can separate work from home quite clearly, even though I do work at home. What I wear at home for work is very different to when I’m meeting clients or on photo shoots. Off duty and weekends is wear I tend to wear more denim – sometimes double denim with shirt and jeans. Chore jackets in a cotton twill are always good for layering and very practical, as I’m often found out in the garden at weekends and any free time I have.
What does a typical work outfit look like for you?
Generally, navy is my base colour, as it probably is for most men. Comfort is quite important because I’m often running around showrooms, on and off tubes, or on set. Photo shoots can be quite physical, even in a studio. So I tend to opt for loose pleated navy trousers – I’ve got several pairs. They’re smart enough for meetings but comfortable and generous enough to move around in. And I’m a fan of the stripe so I’ll often team them with a stripe Tee or shirt.
Does working over Zoom change how you dress?
At home, it might be a navy T-shirt and shorts. But when I’m meeting clients in London, I make more of an effort. It’s about trust. Clients want to see that you’ve considered how you present yourself. It gives you confidence too. It puts you in the mental state of: I’m going to a meeting, I’m seeing someone important. And sometimes it’s a conversation starter – where did you get your trainers, or I like the cut of those trousers.
Do you have ant style rules you stick to dressing yourself or others?
I tend not to wear more than two or three colours at a time. That actually informs a lot of my styling. A look is more elevated if you stick to a limited palette. If it’s creams, camels, whites – that’s the vibe. If it’s navy, I’ll add khaki or brown. If it’s black, I keep it monochromatic with white. I do wear some print and pattern, but mainly on shirts. I don’t really follow trends. Menswear is often about small details – the collar shape, stitch details, buttons. I’ll update things season to season with those small changes.
How would you describe your personal style?
I’d say my style can be a bit schizophrenic. I’m naturally more drawn to utilitarian clothes because they suit my job, but there are times when I need to be more elevated. I haven’t worn suits in a long time, but I do like to mix and match. I’ll often team a blazer with a simple shirt, sometimes collarless, and tailored trousers. In summer it’s cotton or linen; in winter, wool or cord. A crew camel knit or roll neck is a good ‘go to’ for the chillier months.
Do you enjoy shopping for clothes?
Honestly, men don’t like sending things back. Fit is everything. If you find the golden chalice of jeans, that’s it — you’ll wear them to death. Brands are having to give more information now. A friend of mine is launching a denim line and he’s shooting on all different size guys, which makes sense. You can’t just show jeans on a six-foot model with a 32-inch waist and expect men to relate. And men aren’t going to measure their favourite shirt with a tape measure. They need to see it on someone like them.
Which brands do you gravitate towards?
I tend to go for Folk or Universal Works – that utilitarian space. Oliver Spencer too. Tailoring-wise, I’ve got a fair amount of Brunello, which I can’t really afford, but I’ve been lucky with gifted samples. One brand I love is The Strangeways. Their concept is great: a capsule wardrobe, seasonless, a handful of colours – navy, black, grey, white, sometimes khaki or brown. They just do the staples: T-shirts, polos, chinos, loose-fit shirts. It’s easy to shop and everything builds season to season. Men are loyal once they’ve found their fit. They’ll go back for four pairs of trousers or three shirts. Consistency with brands is key.
How do you approach styling your clients?
It depends what the brief is and what the client wants, whether it’s a magazine shot or the actors I work with. I think you can get a little bogged down and confused if you start following trends of the season, and I haven’t done that for a while. It’s just about evolving their style and not making them too scared or skeptical about what you’re putting in front of them.
Do you remember your earliest fashion obsession?
Yes, very clearly. I must have been seven or eight. I had this brown velour hooded sweat top with ‘Bonjour’ embroidered in orange on the front. I was obsessed with it. I wore it everywhere – even on the beach with stripy swimmers! Growing up in the ’70’s avoiding a sea of nylon was pretty hard to do. Scratchy and itchy fabrics were everywhere, so this soft, tactile top felt a bit more luxurious to me. Even the french word ’Bonjour’ on the front felt exotic! My other obsession was bags. I had these little plastic mini briefcases. One in particular — brown with white trim, hard back, soft front, white plastic handle. Completely impractical but I carried it everywhere. I can still remember the smell of it in the summer.