Smart casual sounds simple until somebody actually tells you that’s what you’re expected to wear, and suddenly you’re wondering whether the shoes are too formal, the jeans are too casual, whether you need a jacket, and whether your work shirt with two buttons undone is somehow supposed to solve the whole problem.

In this episode of The Fitting Room, I’m talking through how I actually approach smart casual with clients, starting with the questions I ask before we even get near the clothes: where are you going, what are you doing, who are you going to be with, and what does smart casual actually mean in that particular situation?

From there I get into the foundation pieces I tend to build around for spring, summer, autumn and winter, the difference between a proper smart casual shirt and a business shirt, why texture matters so much in jackets, the footwear mistakes men make all the time, and why a wardrobe built around a few versatile pieces is far more useful than owning lots of things that only work in one very specific combination.

I also explain why smart casual for a law firm partner might look completely different from smart casual for an entrepreneur or someone in a creative business, and why context, colouring, fit, and how you want to feel matter far more than following generic rules.

If “smart casual” has ever made you stand in front of the wardrobe for longer than it should, this episode should make things a lot easier.

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Apple’s September event is almost here, so Roberto and Jon are back in The Lab to do something potentially dangerous: put their predictions on record before Apple announces anything.

This year could be rather more interesting than the usual annual iPhone upgrade. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected, but the regular iPhone 18 may be moving to spring 2027 as Apple apparently reshuffles its entire release schedule.

Then there’s the big one: Apple’s first folding iPhone.

Could the rumoured iPhone Ultra finally be Apple’s answer to Samsung’s foldables? Roberto has gone from insisting he doesn’t need another Apple device to mentally preparing himself to spend somewhere around £2,500, while Jon is considerably more sensible about the whole thing.

They get into the rumoured 7.8-inch folding display, Apple’s attempt to eliminate the crease, Touch ID replacing Face ID, the potential camera compromises and whether an iPhone that unfolds into something approaching an iPad mini actually makes sense.

There’s also the iPhone 18 Pro’s rumoured variable-aperture camera, the point at which smartphone upgrades stop being worth the money, rising Apple prices, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, AirPods 5, camera-equipped AirPods, Siri AI and the possibility that Apple might have a few genuine surprises left for us.

Finally, Roberto and Jon put their predictions on record, including the products they think Apple will definitely announce, what they desperately want to see and the ridiculous wildcard that probably has absolutely no chance of happening.

We’ll find out next week how wrong they were.

If you enjoy Tailoring Talk Magazine: The Lab, follow the podcast so you don’t miss our post-event reaction, and subscribe to Tailoring Talk Magazine on YouTube.

00:00 Welcome Back to The Lab

03:31 Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” Event

05:49 What Are We Actually Expecting?

10:27 iPhone 18 Pro, Prices & Is It Worth Upgrading?

24:08 The Folding iPhone Ultra

36:47 Apple Watch, AirPods & Siri AI

43:12 Our Apple Event Predictions

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Most men judge whether a suit fits by asking a fairly simple question: does it feel roughly okay and does it look decent in the mirror?

The problem is that a suit can technically be the correct size and still be wrong for the person wearing it.

In this episode I’m talking through what I actually look for when I assess the fit of a suit, starting with the shoulders because if they’re wrong they tend to throw everything else out, then moving through jacket length, sleeves, chest and waist, trouser fit and all the compromises that tend to appear when you’re buying off the peg.

I also get into something I think matters just as much as how a suit looks, which is how it feels. A really well-fitting suit should almost become an afterthought once you’re wearing it. Nothing should fight you, pull at you or make you fidget. You should be able to put it on, see that you look good and then forget about it while you get on with your day.

I’ll also explain what a good alterations tailor can realistically fix, what they probably can’t, why following fashion can make fit problems worse, and the simple things I’d look for if I were standing next to you while you tried a suit on in a shop.

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror wearing a suit and thought, “something looks off but I can’t work out what”, this one should help.

Get in touch with Roberto with any style questions via www.robertorevillalondon.com

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