Matt Barbet is a TV presenter and journalist in the UK, working for the BBC, ITV and now Sky. He’s also a keen cyclist, and we met years ago at a Rapha event, back when were both on the bike far more than we are now.
Matt’s a reader and a menswear enthusiast. The overlap between that and his profession is something I’ve always found interesting, given it’s such an obvious arena where presentation matters – where you’re striving to give a particular impression to the viewer, whether of newsreader seriousness or chat-show chumminess.
It was great talking to Matt about the restrictions of being on TV and of presenting in the field, and reminded me of the reader profile we did with Patrick Dawson a while ago. I hope you find the perspective on menswear interesting.
Outfit 1
Suit: Trunk made to measure
Shirt: Emmet made to measure
Tie: Anglo-Italian
Glasses: Moscot
Shoes: Edward Green
PS: Matt, I think you picked this first outfit to represent the kind of thing you wear on TV most of the time. Why this combination?
MB: Well, usually you want to look professional and not wear anything that distracts the viewer. So tailoring that’s muted and dark, often with a white shirt and a dark tie. Patterns can be distracting or create a bit of shimmer on the camera – I have a Prince of Wales tie I really like but that doesn’t work so well. Dogtooth in a suit is similar.
We used to be told to avoid red, as that bled on screen, but TVs are better now and it doesn’t really happen. However, it’s generally a rule not to wear green in case you’re in front of a green screen. The terminology is “it keys”, the colour does, meaning the camera doesn’t pick it up.
Some presenters have made it part of their brand to wear bold things though, such as Channel 4 anchor Jon Snow. Asad Ahmad on BBC London also wears a lot of interesting shirt/tie combinations.
Yes, I knew Jon before he retired and those ties were hand painted, most of them. Maybe the older presenters get the more comfortable they are with expressing themselves. Certainly people are much more aware now of how much what they wear is part of their personal brand.
What else makes a good suit for TV?
Soft-shoulders are usually best, as structured ones can get a little awkward when you’re sitting down, usually with your jacket buttoned. If you have broad shoulders that can be emphasised by that position and by the structure.
In terms of length, you’d think a shorter jacket would be better if you’re sitting, but actually you need length so the jacket drapes well. You also need to think about the battery packs that are usually clipped to the back of your trousers.
Where is this suit from?
This is made-to-measure from Trunk, a recent commission. There’s some nice texture in the cloth – from Dugdale – and in the Anglo tie too, which also has a little spot, but it’s pretty subtle.
The shirt is a white twill from Emmett. I’ve always loved Emmett shirts, and this is my favourite collar – the ‘Lord’. Most presenters wear spreads, so this is a little unusual.
Do other presenters ask what you’re wearing?
Not often, though a colleague did ask recently where my shoes were from. When I told him they were John Lobb he looked them up, his response was ‘I’m not bloody paying that for a pair of shoes!’
Interestingly shoes are one thing people often don’t pay much attention to, because they’re behind a desk the whole time. But it feels odd to me not to consider everything.
Ah yes, the newsreader look – the subject of a very early PS piece. Do you know anyone that does that, wearing a suit on top but jeans or something else under the table?
No, I’m afraid not!
Outfit 2
Suit: Anglo-Italian
Knit: John Smedley, Bill Nighy collaboration
Shoes: Carmina
Sunglasses: Celine
So this outfit looks similar, but more relaxed. I assume that’s deliberate?
Yes, this is what I wear on the slightly more relaxed formats. Tomorrow I’m doing a show called UK Tonight for example, which is a little more conversational, and I might wear a navy sweater like this under a suit.
It’s amazing how much people still hate that though – they respond really strongly when male newsreaders are casual at all. Women have it a little easier, they can wear anything from a denim shirt up to a suit and tie, and it’s fine. The flip side is they have to spend a lot more time on hair and make up though.
You have a short beard now, was that always part of the look?
No, it’s fairly recent. I actually came back with it after holiday – closely cropped like this, with a shaved neck – and within a few minutes the controller had phoned the show to tell me to shave it off. It wasn’t really possible in the three-minute ad break though, and I seem to have got away with it since.
Is there a someone on the channel that’s in charge of styling?
Yes there’s a stylist and she’s lovely. I’m fairly new to Sky but when she got the sense I knew what I was doing, she largely left me alone. She did give me advice like not wearing materials that crease too much, and not wearing brown suits – not the colour of news, apparently.
Do you have a budget to spend on clothes?
Yes although it doesn’t go far where items featured on Permanent Style are concerned. I love tailors like Michael Browne but it’s one among many things I could never afford.
Which tailoring brands have you used?
I shopped at Kilgour a lot back in the day, when Carlo Brandelli was there. I loved that one-button look, and in fact got married in a Kilgour tux. I’ve used Richard James, Thom Sweeney, though Trunk is probably the place I go the most; I’ve known Mats and Tyler for a long time [Mats Klingberg and Tyler Brulé, founders of Trunk and Monocle respectively.]
I note the knit is from a Smedley collaboration with Bill Nighy, who’s told me he’s a reader. Do you know him well?
We’ve met a few times and I interviewed him once. I also listen to his podcast, ‘Ill-advised’, which is great. He’s obviously playing a caricature of himself, but it comes across so well.
He was also charming in interview, which isn’t always the case. He and Mark Rylance stick out as the most genuine in interviews I’ve done. Mark was artistic director at the Globe Theatre when I met him, so not an Oscar winner yet, and I remember he was so generous with his time. At one point he showed me how to project my voice across the Globe, as we stood on the stage looking out on all the empty seats. It was such a thrill.
Are you a watch person?
Not really, though if I had the money perhaps I would be. This watch is the only one I own – I’ve had it 18 years. I got some money from my grandparents and this is what I bought. It’s probably a little large for trends these days, but I like it.
What would you buy if you could get a second watch?
Probably a Day-Date or a Datejust, something simple. Though I would be tempted to do a President in all gold.
Outfit 3
Jacket: Vintage US Army jungle jacket
Shirt: Kenneth Field chambray
Jeans: Boncoura
Shoes: Wakouwa
Belt: Unknown!
Now I know this is your off-work outfit, but it does remind me to ask what you wear outside of the studio – because you covered Afghanistan didn’t you?
I did, and the Ethiopian famine, also Haiti. That was years ago, and I ruined some good shoes by overdressing! Although the example that comes to mind is doing a piece at the King’s garden at Highgrove – I wasn’t expecting to be outside and it was very muddy. I pretty much only wear rubber soles these days.
What did you wear when you were in the field abroad?
A dark shirt, probably navy. It’s good to wear dark materials as they don’t show sweat and dirt. Some colleagues like to wear a kefir scarf, but that never felt authentic on me. Brands like North Face and Patagonia pop up a lot, though in general you want to avoid showing brands.
Everyone generally has a uniform that they keep in a grab bag at home, ready to go. Always two passports in there – as you might be in Israel one week and Syria the next.
You’d never wear a piece of military clothing like this jungle jacket though, I presume?
No, if only because it might make you look too much like military rather than press.
This outfit is more what I wear at home, and I like to travel to the office in it too. I generally leave suits and shoes there and drive up from home in Lewis in casual garb. The last two nights have been a nightmare actually, as I’ve been doing ‘The Wrap’, which finishes at midnight, and at night a lot of the motorways are closed, so it’s taking me ages to get back.
The other advantage of dressing casually most of the time is it makes you less noticeable. I’m probably D-list when it comes to celebrities, but I do get recognised sometimes and it’s less likely in something like this.
What are you favourite casual brands?
A lot of Japanese ones – I’m an absolute fiend for second-hand things on Marrkt, I love their daily emails. This chambray shirt was from there, and it’s great – cheaper and already worn in, which makes a chambray look so much better.
I’ve always been into clothes, and back in the day I was a big trainer guy. The best Nikes of all time are the AirMax 97s, silver bullets, they came out when I was 26. I think I’ve bought them almost every time they’ve been released actually, although now I tend to wear more canvas shoes like these Wakouwas, or actually loafers – I’m after a good pair of tassel loafers. At a certain point trainers with jeans becomes too ‘Dad’.
And a PS tote bag I see?
Yes, I love the tote you did, it’s been used so hard but looks almost new. The only stain it hasn’t been able to deal with was candle wax – though even then I don’t mind it.
I also have your black and white donegal coat, that’s an absolute forever piece, it gets so many compliments.
Lovely to hear. Was it hard finding the jungle jacket?
I was looking for a while, yes. I was after a Medium Regular, and of course that’s the most popular size. All I could find was Medium Long, Medium Short. Finally I found this one in a big flea market north of Paris. When you actually find them in markets like that they’re pretty cheap though.
I also put the jacket’s label into ChatGPT to try and age it, and there was a lot of information. It dated it to 1966 or soon after. It must have been hardly worn, it’s soft but with no damage or stains or anything at all.
Thanks Matt, it’s been an absolute pleasure.
Same here Simon, nice catching up.
