“Gareth Southgate effect” results in 35 per cent increase in waistcoat sales

We somehow can't imagine Sam Allardyce having a similar impact on the fashion industry.

Who knows if football is actually coming home but when Gareth Southgate eventually does return home, he will see an awful lot more waistcoats around the country. The England manager has apparently sparked a significant increase in waistcoat purchases thanks to his match attire at the World Cup in Russia. Marks & Spencer have reported that sales of waistcoats have soared by 35 per cent since the tournament began two weeks ago in a phenomenon that's being called "the Gareth Southgate effect." For each of England's three group games, Southgate has sported a formal look of a fully-buttoned navy waistcoat over a pale blue shirt, accompanied by a navy, red and white striped tie. Marks & Spencer, who have been the official suit supplier to the England national team since 2007, have made replica versions of the suit available to fans at the price of £265, while Southgate's popular waistcoat costs an additional £65. The accompanying tie will set supporters back £25. Southgate and his England players will make the short trip to Moscow on Tuesday evening for their Round of 16 game with Colombia. The winners of Sweden vs. Switzerland await either England or Colombia in the quarter-final.