Paul Smith

Paul Smith prices reflect quality fabrics, considered construction and the fact that it remains an independent British house rather than part of a conglomerate. You are paying for the 'classic with a twist' design point of view as much as the cloth. A well-made Paul Smith shirt or coat is the kind of piece that ages well rather than dating, which softens the cost over years of wear.

For someone who wants traditional tailoring with personality, Paul Smith is genuinely worth it. The brand is celebrated for adding unexpected colour and detail to classic shapes, so pieces feel distinctive without being loud. Bought thoughtfully, the staples become long-serving wardrobe anchors rather than passing trends.

Paul Smith is best known for being 'classic with a twist', and especially for his trademark multicoloured stripes and pinstripes. He made his name by adding colour to existing designs and subverting British tailoring tradition with a sense of humour. That blend of proper craftsmanship and playful detail is the brand's whole identity.

Smith describes his style as predominantly classic with a twist, meaning he starts from familiar, well-cut British shapes and then adds something unexpected. Often that twist is colour, a flash of the signature multicolour stripe, or a quirky lining or detail. The result looks restrained from a distance but rewards a closer look.

Sir Paul Brierley Smith, born 5 July 1946 in Beeston, Nottinghamshire, is the English fashion designer behind the eponymous brand. He left school at 15 and originally dreamed of being a professional cyclist before a serious accident at 17 led him toward art and fashion. Cycling has remained a lifelong influence on his work.

Smith opened his first shop, Paul Smith Vetements Pour Homme, in Nottingham in 1970. It was tiny, just twelve feet by twelve feet, and open only on Fridays and Saturdays while he did freelance work the rest of the week. He presented his first menswear collection in Paris in 1976 and opened his flagship London store on Floral Street in Covent Garden in 1979.

Yes. Smith launched his first womenswear line, Paul Smith Women, in 1993, after female customers had been buying smaller sizes of his menswear for themselves. The house also has childrenswear, which grew from a one-off boys' collection in 1990 into the seasonal Paul Smith Junior line in 2010. Menswear remains its foundation, but the brand dresses the whole family.

Paul Smith remains majority-owned by its founder, which is unusual at this level. In 2006 the Japanese trading house Itochu bought a 40% stake in the company, but Smith retained majority ownership. That independence is a meaningful part of the brand's character and how it stays true to its own point of view.

Highly so. He was appointed a Royal Designer for Industry in 1991, knighted in the 2000 Birthday Honours, and in 2020 made a Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour for services to fashion. The Design Museum in London also celebrated 25 years of his work with the 1995 exhibition 'True Brit'.

The brand has grown well beyond that first tiny Nottingham shop. As of late 2025 Paul Smith claims 130 stores in more than 60 countries, in cities including Seoul, San Francisco, Paris, Amsterdam, Milan and Copenhagen. Its fluorescent pink flagship in Los Angeles has even become a widely photographed landmark in its own right.

The signature stripe is the most recognisable entry point, so a striped shirt, scarf or pair of socks is an easy first buy. If you want something more lasting, a well-cut shirt or a wool overcoat showcases the tailoring the brand is built on. Either way, look for that quiet twist of colour that marks a piece as unmistakably Paul Smith.

Treat the tailoring and fine cottons with respect and they will reward you. Hang structured pieces like jackets and coats on proper shaped hangers, and follow the care label closely, since fabrics range from delicate poplins to Italian wools. For the multicolour stripe especially, gentle, cooler washing helps keep those colours crisp.