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You’ve heard of King Charles and his Savile Row suits, Prince William’s jaunty velvet evening slippers and, following last summer’s viral X (formerly Twitter) thread, Spain’s King Filipe VI’s impeccable approach to tailoring.
But what about Fernando Fitz-James Stuart, 17th Duke of Huéscar? Derek Guy, the internet’s self-proclaimed “menswear man” (@dieworkwear on X) – who noted the king of Spain’s flawless Wimbledon ensemble last July – ordered “[he] he may be the second most stylish living royal (after the king of Spain)”.
Grandson of the late Duchess of Scotland – the world’s most titled grandee at the time of her death in 2014 – Fitz-James Stuart married Sofía Palazuelo Barroso in a spectacular ceremony in 2018 and has since flourished in blue Iberian style. icon we never knew we needed.
But what is it about the Spanish nobility that truly defines its appearance? And more importantly, how can you replicate it in your own wardrobe when you don’t come from one of the wealthiest families in your own country?
Here are seven key style lessons to learn from the best-dressed royal you’ve never heard of.
1. It’s worth sticking to a uniform (that isn’t a uniform)
There’s a lot to be said for finding a sartorial tank that works and figuring it out until you develop a distinct personal style. It is a trick that the Duke of Huéscar has done during his 33 years.
When not in formal dress, the gentleman opts for a simple outfit of high-collared shirts and immaculately tailored garments that flatter his body and complement the broad sweep of his shoulders. The moody color of his outfit works beautifully as well as the intensity of his coloring.
“As well as often wearing official uniform for formal occasions, the Duke has adopted a personal uniform for the rest of his engagements,” explains stylist Catherine Hayward. “A simple, dark single-breasted dress with an expensive silk tie for work or an unflattering rolled-up shirt sleeve, bunchino and shorts for the weekend. He never strays from this formula. It is useful and it works.”
2. Going informal? Go preppy
A fan of worn polo shirts, mid-rise chinos (paired, importantly, with statement belts in complementary shades of leather), and button-down shirts, Duke’s off-duty style comes imbued with a whiff of American prep, albeit with an edge He’s European.
The key to achieving the look with equal sartorial aplomb is to do it like the Duke and stick to a simple palette of muted cobalt, washed sage, buffed stones and dusty roses. This will ensure that even though your casual clothes are cut for comfort, they will look stylish due to their chromatic integration.
“John F Kennedy Jr is, off duty, under the Duke,” says menswear consultant Olie Arnold. “The right jeans, worn with the right formal shirt (but with rolled up sleeves and just enough chest showing), or a faded polo shirt with short shorts, shows an appreciation for style and confidence in what he wears completely natural. .”
3. Get. A. Tailor
If you want to look as stylish as the Duke, you need to find a great tailor and let them work their magic on every piece of clothing you buy – out of pocket or otherwise. That fitter doesn’t have to cost the world, or have a house on Savile Row, but they do need to have a strong understanding of silhouette and be able to advise you on the best cuts to suit your frame .
“Duke tailoring does three things,” explains Derek Guy on X. “1. The extended shoulder widens his shoulder line. 2. The filled waist gives it a V-shaped figure. 3. The longer jacket flatters his hips and creates a line that flows into his legs.”
Be prepared that it will take time to find a tailor who can achieve all the points mentioned above, so don’t be afraid to call other people you know for their recommendations – and be willing to shop around make around
“The Duke obviously has a great tailor or knows his onions when it comes to combinations and fits,” says Arnold. “I guess he wears Tom Ford, because of the wider lapel, strong shoulder and waisted cut of the jacket. It looks elegant and expensive, but it also has the air of someone who’s fitted for a bespoke suit since they might be spinning, so I’m sure they’re not off the rack.”
4. If in doubt, keep it simple
Coco Chanel once famously said, “before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take off one thing.” It’s a dictum the Duke clearly lives by – intentionally or otherwise – as the most attractive thing he ever wears is a perfectly knotted silk tie or a pair of smart colours.
Instead, Fitz-James Stuart focuses his energy on the component elements of his look – the perfect arch of his lace-up Oxfords or the slim-draped cut of his shirts. “Fitz-James Stuart seems to strike the balance between formality and contemporary,” says Arnold. “The Don Draper quote, ‘Make it simple, but significant’, feels apt when describing the current Duke of Huéscar’s dress code.”
“There’s nothing wild or edgy about his tailored look,” agrees menswear designer Oliver Spencer. “There are no bold ties or eccentric lining – he just lets the cut and quality of his suit shine.”
5. Pick fuller trousers
“The Duke wears trousers a little fuller, allowing them to drape more cleanly,” Guy wrote in his post – a point stylist Gareth Scourfield agrees; “The Duke seems to have a keen eye for detail and his tailoring is perfectly balanced. Her hem hits the shoes at just the right length and her trousers are cut fuller so they hang from the waist.”
The trend in recent years has been close-cut tapered trousers, which end above the boot, pull in at the calf and create a sort of carrot shape. However, the truth is that such a cut will make you look shorter and stick to the planes of your leg muscles – something to avoid if you plan to walk while wearing your trousers.
“You have to look at how your pants look not only when you’re standing, but also when you’re moving,” wrote Guy. “The relative fullness of the Duke’s trousers allows him to create a smooth, harmonious silhouette between the jacket and the pants. [trousers].”
6. Your formal wear should never be an afterthought
Although it may be tempting to save money by renting a morning suit or tuxedo, the truth is that a) you will wear it a lot more than you imagine, and b) you will be seen in plenty of photos while doing so. It makes better sartorial and financial sense, then, to do a Fitz-James Stuart and invest in proper formalwear designed to fit your frame and last a lifetime.
“The Duke is clearly very familiar with formal wear – his choice of morning suit and frock coat is always excellent,” says Oliver Spencer. “For example, he attended his brother’s wedding in 2021 wearing a traditional black morning coat with striped cashmere trousers, which he paired with a soft yellow shawl lapel waistcoat with a pale blue collared shirt and a tonal navy tie. All this shows a keen eye for detail and an appreciation for the power of good color pairings.”
7. Make the most of your hair
Unlike most British aristocrats, who wear their locks into submission or have very little hair to begin with – Fernando Fitz-James Stuart is blessed with a class-specific follicular fertility and he’s not afraid to flaunt it .
“I think the Duke is sartorial piece-of-resistance what a great head of hair,” says Catherine Hayward. “He’s got a healthy lustrous mane with just the right amount of ‘flick’. It’s a bit George Michael circa 1986 – all soft waves and smolder – and it’s the perfect antidote to the simplicity of his wardrobe.”
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