Rain: Cap and cordovan, or felt and suede

May 9th 2022

This may be a little niche, but it’s something that often stresses me out in the morning, so hopefully it will be of some use to others. My plans for what to wear on a particular day usually don’t account for rain. I might be going int...

Rain: Cap and cordovan, or felt and suede

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Hey Jack, No, it's a rubber sole but a thinner one...

Coats - HatsMay 9th 2022

Reader profile: Daniel

February 14th 2022

Meet Daniel. A regular at the pop-up shop, and a man who knows more about wine glasses than you’d care to ask. It’s fair to say that Daniel appreciates good clothes, and knows what styles he likes. But he doesn’t obsess about it. ...

Reader profile: Daniel

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I like that look as well. However, what colour are the trousers - dark navy, dark brown, dark green? Surprisingly difficult to tell from the photos....

Casual clothing - JacketsFebruary 14th 2022

The custom-block service, from Optimo

April 12th 2021

Over the past year or so, Optimo has been developing a unique bespoke hat programme, where a personal ‘block’ is made for each customer. Most Optimo hats are already made to order, so customers pick their felt, their crown style and the...

The custom-block service, from Optimo

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I've never really looked at this James, as I don't wear black tie that often, and even less often think about the head gear, given that will not be on display (rather like a silk scarf) at the event itself. I'd imagine a...

HatsApril 12th 2021

Hats with coats: A sliding scale

March 19th 2021

I’m often asked which hats work best with different types of coat. In fact, it often comes up at this time of year - I guess when unexpected showers are more of a hazard. The sliding scale of formality with hats is pretty intuitive: a fedora i...

Hats with coats: A sliding scale

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Thank you Simon....

HatsMarch 19th 2021

Video: What makes a quality hat?

January 17th 2020

In a comment on our recent video covering suit alterations, a reader complimented my questioning of Davide - saying I was putting the questions the viewer was thinking. I was really chuffed at that. As someone who spent most of their professional c...

Video: What makes a quality hat?

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Yes it could, though I'd probably start with a sisal one, or perhaps at least a brown band and slightly smaller shape...

Hats - VideoJanuary 17th 2020

The Optimo hat factory, Chicago

November 8th 2019

Optimo hats in Chicago has to be the prettiest factory I’ve ever been to. Over the years I have been to some impressive ones: Hermes, Loro Piana, Zegna. But they’re grand, sweeping, sometimes in sculpted countryside. Optimo is small an...

The Optimo hat factory, Chicago

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Simon, I had always heard great things about Optimo but never personally met anyone who was a customer or seen their work. Therefore, thank you for the firsthand report of your experiences. I don’t ever see myself as a...

HatsNovember 8th 2019

The pop-up, the goods, and the opening party

February 21st 2019

Personally, the best part of yesterday’s opening party was about half an hour before, when Graham of Optimo hats (below) told me how well the first two days had gone for him. ‘Really exceeded expectations’ were the words he used. I...

The pop-up, the goods, and the opening party

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Yes, we plan to Tim, but we don't know when yet. We're heavily dependent on available spaces from friendly landlords. The idea would be to do another in Autumn/Winter though, so before Christmas....

February 21st 2019

Optimo bespoke felt hat: Review

February 18th 2019

I'm not sure whether it came across, but I was almost surprised by how much I liked the Optimo hats I saw in New York last October. It was the first time I had seen them first hand, and the felt was noticeably different from what I had seen at other...

Optimo bespoke felt hat: Review

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Just let it dry naturally - felt like this is very robust. When you see some police wearing plastic covers over their hats, you can tell they must be pretty poor quality! Let it dry, then brush the nap of the felt back u...

HatsFebruary 18th 2019

New pop-up shop – with Bryceland’s, O...

January 7th 2019

I'm very happy to say that Permanent Style Presents will be back for another opening at the end of February. The pop-up shop, now its fourth incarnation, will be on Savile Row for two weeks from February 19th. We will be featuring largely new brands...

New pop-up shop – with Bryceland’s, O...

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Yes it will Carl. Not currently, no......

January 7th 2019

Optimo hats, Chicago

December 12th 2018

Optimo is everything you might want from a craft manufacturer. There was a passionate beginning; a long gestation; success and popularity; and now a beautiful new factory that supports transmission of the craft. Plus a product that is superlative ...

Optimo hats, Chicago

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I don't think it's a problem Nellie, and perhaps Optimo just changed their mind on whether they included size tags at some point. After all if you're buying from their shop, with someone giving good advice, you don't rea...

HatsDecember 12th 2018