Happy New Year everyone! A sincere and heartfelt thanks go out from everyone at the Favourbrook team for all of your support this year, and what a year it was! Challenging, yes, but we learned many a valuable lesson, not least that people are desperate to get married! After 18 months of practically no weddings, this summer saw not a glut but a deluge of couples running for the aisle and so we had to work fast! As ever though, we were so happy to play a small part in these big days, whether we were kitting out grooms or dressing mothers of the bride.
So what will 2022 have in store for us? Goodness only knows as it looks like the year will start under the cloud of omicron, but with any luck that will soon dissipate to reveal a blue sky of social events that we can look forward to and dress up for! In fact, we've picked out some of our favourites here so you can save the date in your diaries. We'll have plenty of new looks to explore in our SS22 collections for both menswear and womenswear and we can't wait to show you them (some time in February for the big reveal). Until then, stay safe!
The key events on our radar
Provided we don't have anymore covid intrusion, we've handpicked some of our favourite events that we can't wait to get dressed up for...
Royal Ascot Platinum Jubilee
With 2022 being the Queen's Platinum Jubilee year, getting an invitation to Royal Ascot is a must! With the racing occurring between 14-18th June, Favourbrook are once again official licensees for this most special of British events, so we cannot wait to see what the organisers have in store for us all on this most special of years. We'll be introducing some new elements into our Royal Ascot collection for men's morning dress including some fantastic waistcoats so watch this space. Meanwhile, our womenswear SS22 collection will consist of the perfect dresses for such an historic occasion and we can't wait to reveal them some time in February.
Burns Night 25 January
Much closer to home is Burns Night on January 25, which provides the perfect excuse to crack open that special single malt you've been eyeing all this time and raise a toast to the life and works of the great Scottish poet Robert Burns. We'll be priming our Blackwatch tartan trousers and slipping into one of our favourite velvet dinner jackets or smoking jackets as you should too! Haggis is an undeniable treat that not enough people have savoured - perhaps we'll share a recipe closer to the date?!
Cheltenham Festival 15-18 March
The first of the big race meets of the year, the Cheltenham Festivals runs from the 15th-18th March, the highlight of which is the Gold Cup on the Friday. While the dress code isn't quite at Ascot levels of formality, it is nevertheless smart, with suits being de rigeur for gents and elegant dresses for ladies.
The Boat Race 3 April
Before Cheltenham became a fixture, The Boat Race typically heralded the start of The Season. The annual rowing contest between crews from Oxford and Cambridge universities starts in Putney and finishes in Mortlake, giving spectators plenty of opportunities to find a gap on the banks of the Thames to watch the crews glide by. It's the perfect opportunity to gather your friends together and pitch up with a chilled bottle or two, then slide back into Putney for dinner at the River Cafe. Book ahead well in advance.
Grand National 7-9 April
The most widely watched race of the season, the Grand National is steeped in history. Ladies Day at Aintree is on the Friday, but all eyes turn to the key race on the Saturday. While there is no official dress code to speak of, it's advisable to dress up and make the most of the occasion. Lounge suits, while smart, always feel a little corporate at Aintree so we would suggest opting for separates instead. For ladies, the weather in Liverpool will likely dictate your wardrobe plans so if you're travelling, ensure you take with you a couple of different options.
Glyndebourne 21 May - 28 August
Opera lovers cannot and do not miss Glyndebourne! The famous opera house in East Sussex has hosted the opera festival ever since 1934 and remains the premier operatic event of the calendar. Tickets are exceedingly hard to come by (public booking opens in March), but if you do manage to find yourselves there, it's worth getting dressed up for. Glyndebourne founder John Christie always impressed upon guests his preference for formalwear in respect of the performers and we would thoroughly agree with him (although 'contemporary fashions' are now also encouraged). For men, it's a chance to be flamboyant with black tie. Equally, ladies should think glamour and sophistication when deciding upon their outfit. Don't forget a shawl for the cooler days and a cushion for your derriere.
Don't forget to explore the SALE!
Even though we might be looking ahead of ourselves, don't forget to explore the Favourbrook sale that is currently ongoing. We are offering some fantastic discounts on a host of menswear and womenswear pieces, all of which are timeless and trans-seasonal. It's a great opportunity to pick up an investment piece for less.
Literary down time
If you're planning on skipping these dull grey shores for January or February (can we come too?) for a good dose of rest and relaxation, then might we suggest you give the New Yorker's annual review of books a digital flick through? Whether fiction or non-fiction is your preferred literary libation, you'll find plenty in here to keep your brain ticking over. We can personally vouch for Hayden Herrera's Upper Bohemia which is a brilliant memoir of life growing up in the chaos of moneyed narcissism circa the late 40s and 50s.
