“Tailored trousers are more comfortable than jeans”
For Glen Sutton, dressing well isn’t about trends – it’s about timeless shapes, comfort and quality. Growing up in the ’80s, he was hooked on the sharp suits he saw on American TV and spent most of his twenties putting every spare penny into made-to-measure tailoring.
That love of great clothes hasn’t gone away. Glen is still passionate about young tailors, soft Italian cuts and fabrics that get better with age. As Director of Fulham Pier – where Field Grey designed the uniforms for every team – his own “uniform” is so consistently smart it’s prompted a few affectionate jokes from his colleagues.
Whether he’s on a building site or in the boardroom, Glen sticks to his formula: tailored jackets, relaxed knitwear and trousers so well cut they “feel like pyjamas.” In this edition of My Uniform, we chat about the art of soft tailoring and why letting staff show personality in their uniform matters.
How would you describe your approach to dressing for work?
It’s not wildly different from how I dress off-duty. People joke about what I wear when I’m not at work, but I’ve long since abandoned the shirt-and-tie look. I’m most comfortable in tailored trousers or good jeans. My style inspiration comes from the late ’40s to early ’60s – elegant silhouettes rather than fashion trends. I don’t like logos or loud patterns; I’m interested in fabric and cut.
Where did your passion for tailoring come from?
My mum says when I was eight and asked what I wanted for Christmas, I said “a suit.” I grew up in the 1980s in a regular working-class neighbourhood, watching aspirational American TV full of sharp suits and briefcases. That image stuck. In my twenties, most of my disposable income went on made-to-measure suits. Living in London helped – it’s still the centre of the tailoring world. Over time I learned how to get things made, altered and softened. I’m fascinated by the new wave of young tailors, including brilliant women coming out of Savile Row.
You’re involved in London Craft Week and support young tailors. Any favourites?
Yes – a great example is Anglo-Italian in Marylebone. They use British fabrics with an Italian cut. Savile Row can be quite boxy and structured – almost like armour – whereas Italian tailoring is softer, with unpadded sleeves stitched like shirts. When you combine that softness with British flannel you get suits that feel like pyjamas but look incredibly smart. I always tell people: try a great pair of tailored trousers in quality fabric. They’re more comfortable than jeans.
Did you ever consider a career in fashion?
No – I don’t think I’d enjoy “fashion” as such. But if I’d known more about tailoring as a job – cutters, apprenticeships – I might have gone that way. It’s similar to hospitality: attention to detail, presentation, service, a very personal experience. The two worlds are blending more and more – look at high-end department stores now, where hospitality is part of retail. Savile Row was doing that long before it was trendy.
You wear a few different hats at Fulham Pier. Does your “uniform” change depending on your day?
Less and less as I get older. Construction sites are still a challenge, but otherwise my look is consistent: a tailored jacket, tailored trousers, good shoes and either a knitted T-shirt or sweater instead of a shirt. I love The Anthology in Hong Kong for knitwear – it removes the need for a shirt but stays smart. I own their knitted T-Shirts in almost every colour.
Do you have any go-to brands for separates?
For entry-level tailoring you can alter without spending a fortune, I like SuitSupply. Trousers from Kit Blake are excellent. Scandinavian labels such as Berg & Berg or Rose & Born do great pieces, too. But knitted T-shirts and sweaters are my daily staples. They travel well, don’t crease and work under a jacket, with jeans or even shorts.
What’s your favourite element of the Fulham Pier uniform?
I love the members’ club worker’s jackets. They’re an upgrade on a chore jacket with a proper lapel, made in a French cotton chambray that will soften over time. They pull a person together, have plenty of pockets are easy to wash and won’t stain easily – all essential in hospitality. We pair them with the Readywear Neckerchief. Staff can style it however they like – in their hair, as a pocket square, tied around an arm or as a neckerchief. It gives each person a chance to show a bit of personality.
What makes you proud when you walk through Fulham Pier today?
All the spaces look incredible, thanks to three different interior designers – Stuart Forbes Associates in Fulham, LRV in Barcelona and Dion & Arles in Paris. Each had their own distinct design language, which was exactly what we wanted. But an empty building is nothing without people. The best moment is seeing our teams working in those spaces, feeling proud and taking ownership. You hand the project over to the public and the staff – it’s theirs now. That’s when you know it’s working.