Jacket Required has become one of the industry’s go-to shows in recent years. As the UK’s only dedicated menswear fashion trade show, it is a must attend for buyers, designers, stylists and industry professionals looking for inspiration and the next big thing. At the SS20 edition, we sat down with Topman’s Frazer Goater to get a stylist’s take on the show.
 

I’m part of the styling team at Topman. So, at our flagship stores we have a complimentary styling service, so that will be anything from wedding appointments to just help people find a new look or wardrobe. I also work closely with our media teams, styling content for social media and online. I specialise just in menswear, which is very much my passion.
 

I’ve always loved fashion and I’ve worked for Topman for over six years now. As soon as I started in retail, I was trying to find my path into styling straight away, rather than going off and studying it somewhere else or going down the retail management route.
 

I like seeing what some of the more traditional brands are doing at the moment with some perhaps newer brands as well. There’s a lot going on with a more modern take on traditional pieces. Brands like Barbour who have been collaborating with newer brands for I guess a more street style kind of take on classic styles. It’s great to see how brands can reinvent themselves after such a long period of doing the same things. It’s actually quite exciting at Topman right now as well – there’s a lot of changes happening with our tailoring for next season. I think the trends are just inspired from street style and fashion weeks; just different ways to wear classic suits and things like that. Breaking all the traditional rules! I think you also need to look at the streetwear brands for the trends right now. Menswear has got a lot more casual in the last three seasons or so, but I do think those sorts of tailoring styles and “peacock” looks are going to start coming back soon.
 

I’m looking for inspiration first and foremost, but at Topman, we do stock a lot of the brands as concessions. Whilst I’m not here to buy it’s good to chat to all the teams and find out more about the brand. I do find that we often have conversations here, and the brand comes on board the following season. So just building a relationship with them before they’re in store is always a bonus for myself to just get an inside knowledge as to how the brand works and what their inspiration is. And even in terms of client loyalty, being able to talk to clients about potential concessions that are coming through the Topman door for the next season is helpful; they’re not stupid and they know that there are other brands and retailers out there, so being able to share that knowledge and newness is what keeps them loyal to us.
 

There are a couple of brands that have caught my eye just from wandering around. I’ve been to Jacket Required for the last three seasons now, and it’s probably my favourite! I like the whole vibe of it, it’s just really relaxed.
 

Fun, I like the social aspect. Up to date, every season I’ve been I’ve discovered new brands. And, yeah, just inspirational to be honest.


Jacket Required will be back for the AW20 edition on 22nd and 23rd January.