What I pack when I travel
July 19th 2017As I return from two summer trips – one for a week in Florence, the other a week in Naples – it seems a fitting time to run through what I pack for trips such as these. I know readers have asked about it in the past. Of course, an...
What I pack when I travel
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I highly recommend the unlined Duke from EG. Supremely comfortable and stylish, if you like a more classic / robust shape than B&L and something more substantial than the Polperro. I have a lovely biscuit coloured pa...
Style Guide – the partners shoot
April 24th 2017The Style Guide has been wonderfully received so far - at the launch events in London and New York, but also online and through personal messages. Thank you all. There are a few things I realise I haven't emphasised so far. One is that we proudly d...
Style Guide – the partners shoot
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Lots of things I think. Grey and navy as shown here, plus cream or white, and black. More tonally similar colours, like dark brown, might be Ok if there's some other contrast, such as a white shirt underneath...
The state of British manufacturing: A debate at P...
March 29th 2017Two weeks ago, I chaired a discussion in the Private White VC shop in Mayfair around the topic of British manufacturing. It turned out to be one of the most enjoyable such talks I’ve ever done. The speakers were great, with both young and old;...
The state of British manufacturing: A debate at P...
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David, Benjamin - Personally speaking, I've had the privilege to both work and live in London most recently and by 'A&S' I think by those initials you must mean Anderson & Sheppard? Well, I think they are an extr...
Cavalry twill for trousers
March 22nd 2017Finding the right material for odd trousers - those worn with sports jackets rather than suits - is not easy. The kind of smooth, worsted cloths you're used to wearing as part of a suit are too sleek and formal. Many cottons, particularly garment-w...
Cavalry twill for trousers
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Yes - a little smart, but they work well...
482,000 and counting
February 3rd 2017Permanent Style has never been about the numbers. It is about a highly engaged, (scarily) loyal, knowledgeable group of readers that want to dress well and understand quality clothing. But it's always nice to see that group grow. So I thought read...
482,000 and counting
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We have been fans from the very beginning and look forward to your announcement that Permanent Style has seen over a million page views a month!...
Brown in town: Donegal-tweed suit, Dalcuore
January 16th 2017The outfit I wore to present our Retailers Symposium last week was a donegal suit made by Dalcuore. I've liked the idea of a tweed suit for while - taking something so rural (as my mother would say, so 'Farmer Giles') and subverting its connotations...
Brown in town: Donegal-tweed suit, Dalcuore
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Yes, those are the main points - one you like the feel of but is also dense enough to hold a crease as a pair of trousers. One of those ones where it's a lot easier if you've seen it made up somewhere already. Perhaps ev...
Esquire names me one of the 10 most influential o...
December 6th 2016I have been included in a list of the Top 10 most influential men in fashion by Esquire. Which is nice. You can read the full article and a short interview here. I dislike the term 'influencer' - frankly if that's how you define yourself, there ca...
Esquire names me one of the 10 most influential o...
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Easily remedied situation … take off the socks and show bare ankles!...
A pale-grey jacket with green corduroy
November 14th 2016This outfit was used in a piece written recently for Drake's regarding corduroy. The piece mentions some of the associations that corduroy often carries, and ways to avoid them; basically, keeping the colours dark and the fit contemporary. But you...
A pale-grey jacket with green corduroy
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Yes, it probably would, and wouldn't wear them together today - see article here on outfits I'd wear differently...
Video: Edward Green shoes being made in Northampton
October 11th 2016Edward Green recently made this video showing step-by-step the stages of making a pair of shoes in the Northampton factory. I like the lack of pretentiousness to it - others would desaturate the imagery, use slow motion to linger over particular par...
Video: Edward Green shoes being made in Northampton
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Personally I think the Dainite is too thick - the city rubber sole would be OK, but the Dainite is a bit too chunky. Right on the London Grain, but a cord suit could be nice with it...
Chinos, loafers and a sports jacket (or sweater)
August 29th 2016Those on the Drake’s mailing list may have seen this outfit on Friday, accompanying an article on their new trouser range. To fill in the details: the olive Drake’s chinos were worn with a white lightweight pique-cotton shirt made by Luc...
Chinos, loafers and a sports jacket (or sweater)
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Cheers Andrew! I can't say I have though on exactly that shade of Olive. The Anglo Italian ones are pretty close...
Black suede shoes, and cream knitwear
May 20th 2016Yesterday's post raised a few questions about other aspects of the outfit - specifically the black suede shoes and cream-coloured cardigan. I think it's interested to discuss both together, for stylistically they have many things in common. I'm a ...
The benefits of building a shoe wardrobe – ...
November 6th 2015The new Edward Green website launched last week, and it’s very impressive. Unusually for the fashion industry, the site is both attractive and highly functional. The photography and colour palette are lovely, but it also has useful thing...
The benefits of building a shoe wardrobe – ...
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Again, up to you Jack, whether you want that little bit of variation...
Edward Green pop-up sale, from Thursday
July 6th 2015The Edward Green pop-up sale is always a popular one – in fact a reader asked me last week when it was going to be on. I can’t reveal the dates until they are public unfortunately, but they now are. The sale will be held at th...
Edward Green pop-up sale, from Thursday
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Was mid-December last year so assume may be the same for 2015. That was a great sale - not only for ties but cashmere knits, scarves, shirts etc....
Brio menswear store – Beijing, China
June 15th 2015Last month we had a book launch at the Brio menswear store in Beijing. It’s worth running through a few more details of the shop – because the stock is interesting, and because it is part of a pleasing trend in more s...
Brio menswear store – Beijing, China
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I haven't tried Inglese enough (one shirt a long time ago) to really comment on other areas like fit...
A newcomer to quality
September 1st 2014It’s been so long since I experienced bespoke clothing for the first time, or indeed most of the luxury, craft-based things I write about, that I find it interesting when friends do so for the first time. Each finds pleasure, or value, in...
A newcomer to quality
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I agree totally with good shoes and jeans. I also found upgrading from RTW suits to a cheap tailor was a significant improvement since I'm a bit harder to fit. Haven't tried something as expensive as GB. I've also had a ...
Casual, summer, office attire
August 22nd 2014Following a request on last week’s Finagon post – the cardigan we created with John Smedley – here are some details on the rest of the outfit, above. One reader drew attention to the shirt collar, a button-down made by Sa...
Casual, summer, office attire
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I don't, no. It can be nice, but not with the kind of smarter tailoring I usually feature...
Edward Green and Begg pop-up sale
July 23rd 2014Every year Edward Green does some kind of last-minute sale. In fact, just two weeks ago a reader asked when and where the next one would be. Well, it starts today – at the Old Truman Brewery just off Brick Lane. The sale is in conjunction...
Edward Green and Begg pop-up sale
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Will there be an Edward green winter sale this Christmas?...
Bodileys shoes – John Garner’s London...
April 9th 2014About four years ago I did a series of visits to Edward Green, which were reproduced in The Rake and in the How Great Things Age series here on the blog. One of my favourite people I met in that time was the head pattern cutter, John Garner. John had...
Bodileys shoes – John Garner’s London...
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Well they are for sale, you know!...
How to buy my first bespoke suit – reader q...
February 3rd 2014Dear Simon, In a couple of months time I will be 21. This is clearly an important time in one’s life, in my case particularly as I will also be undertaking the purchase of my first bespoke suit. As a regular reader of your blog I’...
How to buy my first bespoke suit – reader q...
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Thanks Sam, great update, and great knowing how timeless this advice has been...
Shoes for the rain: reader question
January 24th 2014Hi Simon, Today’s soggy London weather has reminded me of a conundrum I’ve been stuck on for a while: what sort of shoes do you wear on a rainy day if you still want to look smart? I don’t want to wear leather-soled sh...
Shoes for the rain: reader question
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Nicely spotted Alexander! Both posts are rather old, and I think in the past few years my thinking has firmly turned towards using toe taps. It varies a little between shoes, probably because of different lengths of shoe...
Pictures from Pitti Uomo 2014
January 12th 2014A few of the pictures of me from Pitti this year. Above, in brown tweed Caliendo jacket (more on that in a couple of weeks), Anderson & Sheppard flannels and Ralph Lauren madder-like orange handkerchief. Tweed such as this goes well with lot...
Pictures from Pitti Uomo 2014
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There would need to be more contrast in texture, yes. Try charcoal plain-weave or fresco perhaps...
Animation – in Anderson & Sheppard, Du...
December 17th 2013I’ve received a few odd communications over the years, but this is the first time anyone has drawn a cartoon of me. As a big fan of graphic novels myself, particularly Chris Ware, this was a lovely thing to receive, although I must say the ...
Animation – in Anderson & Sheppard, Du...
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Wonderful and very recognisable rendition! You should incorporate that into the site....
Edward Green Top Drawer
November 20th 2013An archive-trawling reader recently reminded me that back in November 2011 I wrote about my new Edward Green Top Drawer boots, concluding that perhaps it would be best to wait two years and then see how the boots had worn. So what have I learned in t...
Edward Green Top Drawer
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I like shoes very much but i think buying cloth is more important to me because i dont have enough cloth at my wardrobe...
Luca, Satriano Cinque and A&S collars
November 4th 2013[NOTE: Luca Avitabile, the cutter for men’s shirts at Satriano Cinque above, has split from the company and set up on his own. I recommend contacting him for any inquiries, at [email protected]] One of the nice things about having cl...
Luca, Satriano Cinque and A&S collars
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Either double or single, perhaps with a rounded edge but doesn't have to be...
Sartorial cyclists
October 1st 2013The first, rather informal meeting of our industry cycling group. (Someone, please, suggest a club name with a decent pun in it.) Fifty-odd miles around the hills of Kent. From left: Hercules and Chris, Edward Green; me; Andy Murphy, Cleverley; Samue...
Sartorial cyclists
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SWEET! Hand stitched I assume? Let me know when I'm needed for the first fitting. /Owen...
