Charlie Borrow pilot bag: How great things age

Read MoreJan 26th 2024

Lucas has had this canvas bag from Charlie Borrow for years, and I’ve always admired its rugged quality, particularly when we’ve traveled together. So I thought it would make a good entry in our How Great Things Age series, which of course has pa...

Charlie Borrow pilot bag: How great things age

Lucas has had this canvas bag from Charlie Borrow for years, and I’ve always admired its rugged quality, particularly when we’ve traveled together. So I thought it would make a good entry in our How Great Things Age series, which of course has pa...

Jan 26th 2024

Filson briefcase: How great things age

Read MoreJun 3rd 2022

Of all the things we cover in the ‘How great things age’ series, a bag such as this probably has the most potential - because it is made of canvas, leather and brass.  All those three materials age differently.  Brass, presuming it’s not ...

Filson briefcase: How great things age

Of all the things we cover in the ‘How great things age’ series, a bag such as this probably has the most potential - because it is made of canvas, leather and brass.  All those three materials age differently.  Brass, presuming it’s not ...

Jun 3rd 2022

Doek tennis shoes: How great things age

Read MoreOct 19th 2022

I have had these Doek canvas trainers - what could usefully be called tennis shoes - for five years. They have been worn once or twice a week, every week, during that period. So hundreds of times.  With bare feet in the summer, they've occasionally ...

Doek tennis shoes: How great things age

I have had these Doek canvas trainers - what could usefully be called tennis shoes - for five years. They have been worn once or twice a week, every week, during that period. So hundreds of times.  With bare feet in the summer, they've occasionally ...

Oct 19th 2022

My Anderson & Sheppard cord suit: How great things age

Read MoreOct 5th 2022

This Anderson & Sheppard jacket is part of a suit I had made over 10 years ago. When I wrote back in January about my ‘favourite clothes ever’, I named it my favourite ever piece of bespoke.  It is therefore a good candidate for our ‘Ho...

My Anderson & Sheppard cord suit: How great things age

This Anderson & Sheppard jacket is part of a suit I had made over 10 years ago. When I wrote back in January about my ‘favourite clothes ever’, I named it my favourite ever piece of bespoke.  It is therefore a good candidate for our ‘Ho...

Oct 5th 2022

How great things age: Tod's driving shoes

Read MoreJan 20th 2012

For the next in my series on How Great Things Age, here are my beloved gommino driving shoes from Tod's. I've had them for three years and wear them almost every day. They are my default shoe when I come home from work and usually for any time aro...

How great things age: Tod's driving shoes

For the next in my series on How Great Things Age, here are my beloved gommino driving shoes from Tod's. I've had them for three years and wear them almost every day. They are my default shoe when I come home from work and usually for any time aro...

Jan 20th 2012

Bruce Boyer's A&S jacket: How great things age 

Read MoreJan 15th 2021

When Bruce read our article on Nicoletta Caraceni’s 50-year-old jacket recently, he was spurred to send an example of his own: the Anderson & Sheppard jacket worn above.  And really, there are few people better placed to talk about how tail...

Bruce Boyer's A&S jacket: How great things age 

When Bruce read our article on Nicoletta Caraceni’s 50-year-old jacket recently, he was spurred to send an example of his own: the Anderson & Sheppard jacket worn above.  And really, there are few people better placed to talk about how tail...

Jan 15th 2021

How great things age: Nicoletta’s 50-year-old jacket

Read MoreNov 30th 2020

In the coming months I will be writing more posts again in our ‘How great things age’ series, which aims to illustrate the beauty of quality clothing over time.  Basically, it’s an antidote to the new clothing that it’s much easier to wri...

How great things age: Nicoletta’s 50-year-old jacket

In the coming months I will be writing more posts again in our ‘How great things age’ series, which aims to illustrate the beauty of quality clothing over time.  Basically, it’s an antidote to the new clothing that it’s much easier to wri...

Nov 30th 2020

How great things age: Bespoke leather jacket

Read MoreSep 28th 2015

   The 'How Great Things Age' series celebrates and examines how quality menswear ages over time. Often, it becomes more beautiful, though different materials from leather to cotton to board age in very different ways.  The last two we featured ...

How great things age: Bespoke leather jacket

   The 'How Great Things Age' series celebrates and examines how quality menswear ages over time. Often, it becomes more beautiful, though different materials from leather to cotton to board age in very different ways.  The last two we featured ...

Sep 28th 2015

Chapal USAAF jacket: How great things age

Read MoreFeb 9th 2022

I think this Chapal jacket holds the record for the review most frequently requested, yet never fulfilled. I do apologise - the past two winters I have meant to shoot and cover it, and things have always got in the way.  The upside of the delay i...

Chapal USAAF jacket: How great things age

I think this Chapal jacket holds the record for the review most frequently requested, yet never fulfilled. I do apologise - the past two winters I have meant to shoot and cover it, and things have always got in the way.  The upside of the delay i...

Feb 9th 2022

How great things age: Globe-Trotter luggage

Read MoreApr 23rd 2010

One of the great attractions of buying classic, handmade items is how they age; true investment pieces that last not just more than one season, but more than one generation. However, few articles are written about aging. Understandably, most are writ...

How great things age: Globe-Trotter luggage

One of the great attractions of buying classic, handmade items is how they age; true investment pieces that last not just more than one season, but more than one generation. However, few articles are written about aging. Understandably, most are writ...

Apr 23rd 2010

How great things age: The Belgravia loafer from Edward Green

Read MoreSep 20th 2019

  Last week, I realised I had worn my Belgravia loafers three out of the five working days.  Ever keen to look after them, I never wear them on consecutive days (the leather will not fully dry out - and wears quicker when damp)...

How great things age: The Belgravia loafer from Edward Green

  Last week, I realised I had worn my Belgravia loafers three out of the five working days.  Ever keen to look after them, I never wear them on consecutive days (the leather will not fully dry out - and wears quicker when damp)...

Sep 20th 2019

How great things age: Cleverley Russian-reindeer monks

Read MoreJan 11th 2017

On Permanent Style we have always pushed the intelligent, considered acquisition of a quality wardrobe. This has many advantages. But it also has a large disadvantage: it removes, or at least makes less frequent, the unique adrenaline ...

How great things age: Cleverley Russian-reindeer monks

On Permanent Style we have always pushed the intelligent, considered acquisition of a quality wardrobe. This has many advantages. But it also has a large disadvantage: it removes, or at least makes less frequent, the unique adrenaline ...

Jan 11th 2017

How great things age: Gieves & Hawkes bespoke pea coat

Read MoreFeb 21st 2018

This post could come under the ‘How great things age’ or the ‘Reflections on bespoke’ heading. Whatever the category, readers have asked frequently about this pea coat, how it has held up and - more specifically - whether I ever changed t...

How great things age: Gieves & Hawkes bespoke pea coat

This post could come under the ‘How great things age’ or the ‘Reflections on bespoke’ heading. Whatever the category, readers have asked frequently about this pea coat, how it has held up and - more specifically - whether I ever changed t...

Feb 21st 2018

How great things age: Levi's 'big E' denim jacket

Read MoreJun 11th 2014

 Denim is really beautiful in the way it frays and fades. Most cotton twills used for workwear age in this way – losing their saturation at wear points as the surface dye rubs away. But the thickness and indigo dye of denim make it particularly at...

How great things age: Levi's 'big E' denim jacket

 Denim is really beautiful in the way it frays and fades. Most cotton twills used for workwear age in this way – losing their saturation at wear points as the surface dye rubs away. But the thickness and indigo dye of denim make it particularly at...

Jun 11th 2014

How great things age: Barbour motorcycle jacket

Read MoreMay 23rd 2014

  During my recent series of posts on Levi’s bespoke jeans, a reader commented that he didn’t like denim because it didn’t drape like wool, linen or other materials commonly used for suiting. He’s not wrong, but denim and other cotton mater...

How great things age: Barbour motorcycle jacket

  During my recent series of posts on Levi’s bespoke jeans, a reader commented that he didn’t like denim because it didn’t drape like wool, linen or other materials commonly used for suiting. He’s not wrong, but denim and other cotton mater...

May 23rd 2014

How great things age: Bown weekend bag

Read MoreDec 17th 2012

Three years ago I met Judy Bown, a bag designer who had left her previous career working for companies such as Mulberry, Asprey and Tanner Krolle to set up her own label. The make of her bags was superb. The edges were inked by hand, for example, whi...

How great things age: Bown weekend bag

Three years ago I met Judy Bown, a bag designer who had left her previous career working for companies such as Mulberry, Asprey and Tanner Krolle to set up her own label. The make of her bags was superb. The edges were inked by hand, for example, whi...

Dec 17th 2012

Armoury workwear chinos: How great things age

Read MoreDec 30th 2020

We all know different materials age in different ways.  Leather is probably the most beautiful, and certainly the most varied. As a skin, if untreated it darkens when exposed to dirt or hands, yet lightens where it’s exposed to sunlight. It wil...

Armoury workwear chinos: How great things age

We all know different materials age in different ways.  Leather is probably the most beautiful, and certainly the most varied. As a skin, if untreated it darkens when exposed to dirt or hands, yet lightens where it’s exposed to sunlight. It wil...

Dec 30th 2020

Down parka from Nigel Cabourn: How great things age

Read MoreJan 14th 2022

Over the winter, quite a few readers have asked what I wear for very cold weather.  If it’s formal, the answer is a simple variation on the coats we’ve already featured: a heavyweight overcoat like my 30oz from Sartoria Ciardi, for instance, ...

Down parka from Nigel Cabourn: How great things age

Over the winter, quite a few readers have asked what I wear for very cold weather.  If it’s formal, the answer is a simple variation on the coats we’ve already featured: a heavyweight overcoat like my 30oz from Sartoria Ciardi, for instance, ...

Jan 14th 2022

Edward Sexton overcoat: How great things age

Read MoreJan 26th 2022

A reader commented recently that if you don’t feel comfortable in a piece of clothing, it’s clearly not for you and you should move on.  While I agree that feeling comfortable in your clothes is important to looking good - more than many peop...

Edward Sexton overcoat: How great things age

A reader commented recently that if you don’t feel comfortable in a piece of clothing, it’s clearly not for you and you should move on.  While I agree that feeling comfortable in your clothes is important to looking good - more than many peop...

Jan 26th 2022

How great things age: Dunhill box

Read MoreNov 26th 2010

    There’s no getting away from it, this is a dinky man-bag. It’s made from stiffened vegetable-tanned leather, and so has a rigid and natural appearance, but it is still a small bag for me to put things in. Technically, it is called a p...

How great things age: Dunhill box

    There’s no getting away from it, this is a dinky man-bag. It’s made from stiffened vegetable-tanned leather, and so has a rigid and natural appearance, but it is still a small bag for me to put things in. Technically, it is called a p...

Nov 26th 2010

How great things age: Levi’s bespoke jeans

Read MoreMay 18th 2018

Several readers asked how my bespoke jeans, made by Levi’s in London, have aged in the four years I’ve had them. To answer, I decided to do a shoot at the new Levi’s bespoke workshop on Great Marlborough Street, showing in detail the ageing...

How great things age: Levi’s bespoke jeans

Several readers asked how my bespoke jeans, made by Levi’s in London, have aged in the four years I’ve had them. To answer, I decided to do a shoot at the new Levi’s bespoke workshop on Great Marlborough Street, showing in detail the ageing...

May 18th 2018

How great things age: Edward Green 1

Read MoreMay 10th 2010

Following on from my recent post on Globe-Trotter suitcases, this is a look at how my Edward Green Oundles are being refurbished at the company’s factory in Northampton. They were probably my first pair of really good shoes, bought about five ye...

How great things age: Edward Green 1

Following on from my recent post on Globe-Trotter suitcases, this is a look at how my Edward Green Oundles are being refurbished at the company’s factory in Northampton. They were probably my first pair of really good shoes, bought about five ye...

May 10th 2010

How great things age: Edward Green 2

Read MoreMay 12th 2010

Following on from a previous post on the refurbishment of Edward Green shoes Once just the upper and insole remains, both are tacked together in a couple of places around the toe. Everywhere else on the shoe the two are already tacked together, b...

How great things age: Edward Green 2

Following on from a previous post on the refurbishment of Edward Green shoes Once just the upper and insole remains, both are tacked together in a couple of places around the toe. Everywhere else on the shoe the two are already tacked together, b...

May 12th 2010

The beauty of a vintage alligator cigar case: How great things age

Read MoreJul 22nd 2015

   I'm a big fan of vintage leather goods. There's nothing like a real, century-old patina on alligator or bridle leather; plus silver or brass hardware that you can let tarnish or keep polished and shiny.  Over the years I have bought a Louis V...

The beauty of a vintage alligator cigar case: How great things age

   I'm a big fan of vintage leather goods. There's nothing like a real, century-old patina on alligator or bridle leather; plus silver or brass hardware that you can let tarnish or keep polished and shiny.  Over the years I have bought a Louis V...

Jul 22nd 2015

How great things age: Globe-Trotter 2

Read MoreJun 7th 2010

Usually it’s pretty hard waiting for your favourite things to come back from being repaired. But unlike the Edward Greens I reported on last in this series, my Globe-Trotter suitcase hasn’t really been missed. There were two weekends away in that...

How great things age: Globe-Trotter 2

Usually it’s pretty hard waiting for your favourite things to come back from being repaired. But unlike the Edward Greens I reported on last in this series, my Globe-Trotter suitcase hasn’t really been missed. There were two weekends away in that...

Jun 7th 2010