What colour theory can teach you about clothing

January 10th 2024

by Philipp Fröhlich Between 1966 and 1970, Barnett Newman, a prominent figure in abstract expressionism, painted four versions of a painting he called ‘Who's Afraid of Red, Yellow and Blue’ (above). I assume Newman foresaw the intim...

What colour theory can teach you about clothing

Match in comments:
My rule is akin to the doctors' oath to "first do no harm". In other words, with an outfit, avoid major blunders and you have done 90% of what's needed. If a tie is dramatic in pattern, the shirt and jacket must be subdu...

StyleJanuary 10th 2024

Why I love my Ferdinando Caraceni blazer

January 8th 2024

This jacket from Ferdinando Caraceni has become one of my real favourites in the past couple of years, and I think it’s worth exploring why. It says something about where tailoring is today, at least for me. It was made in 2021 by Nicoletta C...

Why I love my Ferdinando Caraceni blazer

Match in comments:
Hey JJ, I have visited actually, and they have some nice things in there. I will be covering them soon. My review of their MTM jacket for me was actually not bad at all, it was just some lack of transparency over product...

Jackets - StyleJanuary 8th 2024

Christmas Gift List 2023: Do not read!

December 8th 2023

Permanent Style reader, this is not for you. This is intended for your wife/husband/partner/child/dog, in an attempt to help source a Christmas present for someone who, let’s face it, is very fussy in general but particularly about clothing. ...

Christmas Gift List 2023: Do not read!

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I haven't had Dent's for a while so hard to say, but I think they'd be similar to Trunk, yes...

Belts and wallets - Black tieDecember 8th 2023

The weekend gilet or vest

December 1st 2023

As colder weather has arrived recently, there have been a few questions from readers about gilets or vests. It’s not a category we’ve covered in much detail, so Alex and I took a bunch to the studio last week and had a play with a few ou...

The weekend gilet or vest

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Yes, I'd agree it looks like it would do that...

Casual clothingDecember 1st 2023

Reader profile: Sebastian

November 24th 2023

Sebastian has an interesting story - a clothing story with distinct phases. He’s a long-term reader (just over 10 years) and has worn many different styles, many different brands. But he's another PS reader in essence - always a little similar...

Reader profile: Sebastian

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Saman Amel does. P Johnson for some things...

Coats - JacketsNovember 24th 2023

Casual suits with collared knits: A new default

November 10th 2023

I like wearing suits. Not only do I have a lot that I like wearing, but I continue to commission them – not as much as sports jackets, certainly, but consistently. It can be an issue knowing how to wear them without a tie though. I know I have...

Casual suits with collared knits: A new default

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Yes, though they are quite happy to move it a bit...

Knitwear - SuitsNovember 10th 2023

Dressed-up New Yorkers: The view from the pop-up

October 27th 2023

Our New York pop-up (now in its second year) brings in an interesting range of people - more, perhaps, than London. There’s Guy, who came last time too, an old-school New Yorker in bespoke, red socks and Warren Edwards loafers; Duncan, the kn...

Dressed-up New Yorkers: The view from the pop-up

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That's so lovely to hear, thank you Robert...

October 27th 2023

The appeal of Solaro: Suit from Cristina Dalcuore 

October 11th 2023

Solaro has always been one of those materials I’ve found intriguing but never took the leap on, simply because I was too unsure how much I’d like such an unusual, and in some ways showy material. For those that don’t know, Solaro ...

The appeal of Solaro: Suit from Cristina Dalcuore 

Match in comments:
Hey Andrew, Always as a suit myself. That look sounds like it shouldn't work, as you say. I suspect it may have been a combination of a few things that made it work - eg an old and worn-in jacket, worn undone, soft make ...

SuitsOctober 11th 2023

We’re coming back to New York (and bringing...

September 15th 2023

The pop-up shop we did last year with Rubato and Taillour went really well, so we're coming back to New York in October, with the addition shoemaker Seiji McCarthy (shoes below). This time we'll be on Christopher Street, with J Mueser kindly letting...

We’re coming back to New York (and bringing...

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Thank you Robert, it was lovely seeing you too...

September 15th 2023

Should you buy a copy? What’s the harm?

September 13th 2023

A few weeks ago, a reader asked my opinion on a pair of suede boots that were clearly a copy of the popular Open Walk from Loro Piana . That soft, unlaced chukka has become so widespread in a few short years that some don’t even recognise them...

Should you buy a copy? What’s the harm?

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Well I'd argue there's another point on top of this one to make. Quality. Recently, my wife needed a pair of new shoes. She previously had both a pair of Clark's, and a pair of "More expansive brand" (to respect anonymit...

September 13th 2023

If you only owned five pieces of knitwear: A caps...

September 8th 2023

I’ve had a few requests over the years to do one of these, our wardrobe-building guides , about knitwear. One of the challenges of doing so is that very little is right or wrong, and a lot is personal. Still, there are some helpful things ...

If you only owned five pieces of knitwear: A caps...

Match in comments:
Thanks Mark. No, shawls are a lot easier than half zips with collared things, as the shawl collar is softer and less sticky-uppy (for want of a better phrase). Still, I would usually wear shawl collars with softer collar...

KnitwearSeptember 8th 2023

Kind of showy: All black jacket and jeans

July 24th 2023

On Permanent Style we’ve always talked about dressing with subtle elegance - clothing that makes the wearer appear simply well dressed. This is still the style I get most pleasure from. It's a matter of good fit, quality materials, and tastefu...

Kind of showy: All black jacket and jeans

Match in comments:
Yes, see my article here...

Bags - DenimJuly 24th 2023

Swimming shorts: Simple, tasteful, flattering

July 19th 2023

I haven’t written about swimming shorts for a long time. Other than a passing reference on our regular ‘holiday snaps’ articles , it’s been over a decade since they were covered on PS. Even back then, it was a pretty short ar...

Swimming shorts: Simple, tasteful, flattering

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Oh good, thanks William!...

July 19th 2023

The Permanent Style Anniversary dinner

June 21st 2023

Last November marked 15 years since the founding of Permanent Style. To celebrate the occasion, we planned two things: a personal dinner with friends in Florence and a more public event in the pop-up shop on Savile Row. The public event, to which al...

The Permanent Style Anniversary dinner

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Thank you both!...

June 21st 2023

The Bores jacket: My Fox version

June 12th 2023

The Bores jacket from Chato Lufsen has been covered on PS before - it was reviewed by contributor Tony Sylvester in November last year. But seeing that jacket in person made me reconsider the style, and then when Christophe of Chato Lufsen - who ma...

The Bores jacket: My Fox version

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It's lovely, but it definitely gets used less than sports coats. I think that's personal though - there's no reason it couldn't be used just as much, it's just a style choice...

JacketsJune 12th 2023

Video: Carl and Oliver of Rubato, in conversation

April 21st 2023

One of the things I enjoy about this series is the way each conversation drifts onto grander topics. Even though many of the people are similar, and the questions don’t vary too much, we always end up discussing abstract, interesting ideas. W...

Video: Carl and Oliver of Rubato, in conversation

Match in comments:
I recently picked up the Rubato fireman’s jacket. Leaving a review here, since Google brought me here when I was looking for opinions. I was thinking about the jacket for months and had the good luck of trying Carl’s...

VideoApril 21st 2023

The practicality of a sweater over the shoulders

April 12th 2023

Wearing a sweater over the shoulders has a lot of negative connotations. But if you can get away with it - because of your style, of where you are, or just because of your personality - it’s incredibly practical. This suit I wore at Pitti earl...

The practicality of a sweater over the shoulders

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I probably haven't done it often enough Mark, but I think most are robust enough...

Knitwear - SuitsApril 12th 2023

Bryceland’s black unsanforised jeans: Review

March 15th 2023

These are the first jeans I've had from Bryceland's , and I've been absolutely loving them - for the fit, the colour and the denim. But I was a little nervous about buying them, as I'd never had unsanforised denim before. Given I know this will be ...

Bryceland’s black unsanforised jeans: Review

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Yes I have found it to give a little...

DenimMarch 15th 2023

The next talk with Rubato, and pop-up shop updates

March 10th 2023

I’m pleased to say that the next in our series of talks at Mortimer House will be with Oliver and Carl from Rubato, on March 31st. These events have a really nice atmosphere, with everyone milling around, browsing the products and chatting to ...

The next talk with Rubato, and pop-up shop updates

Match in comments:
Yes, I have lots of the Rubato lambswool. Lambswool is just merino, but a lamb specifically. Merino generally is used to refer to a worsted yarn, making finer knits. But anyway, I wouldn't say their knits are close to ca...

March 10th 2023

PS Presents ’23: Arterton, LEJ, Marrkt, Fox...

January 27th 2023

March 1 update: Rubato and Permanent Style dates confirmed as March 29 to April 1 Rubato will be launching new products, bringing almost everything to try on, and a good range to buy as well Fox will be running different on different days of their e...

PS Presents ’23: Arterton, LEJ, Marrkt, Fox...

Match in comments:
Hi Teo, Yes that's right, and I'll be there with them on Thursday, the first day. It will open at 10am...

January 27th 2023

Indulgent Shawl Cardigan back in stock, with new ...

November 21st 2022

*NB: The black shawl actually has black-horn buttons, not light brown as in the sample shown.* After a good few weeks' delay, I'm pleased to say that the Indulgent Shawl-Collar Cardigan is finally back in stock - in a new black iteration as well as ...

Indulgent Shawl Cardigan back in stock, with new ...

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Medium...

KnitwearNovember 21st 2022

Double brown: Just a touch less subtle

November 7th 2022

I think there's a useful variable in considerations of how we dress that we haven't talked about explicitly before: how subtle or showy clothes are. I might write a longer piece on it at some point, but I think it's essentially a spectrum from the v...

Double brown: Just a touch less subtle

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I think this looks equally nice Ayush...

Knitwear - StyleNovember 7th 2022

Doek tennis shoes: How great things age

October 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

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No, I wouldn't really wear them with high twists Ayush...

ShoesOctober 19th 2022

Introducing: The navy Donegal Coat

September 28th 2022

The cut and contours of this, the PS Donegal Coat, will be familiar to most readers. So I’ll focus on the colour to begin with. This is our navy iteration, and it is primarily a large, 3x3 herringbone weave that alternates between navy and bl...

Introducing: The navy Donegal Coat

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I’m so happy to read that, I was so sad I missed the sizes in this color and the dark navy....

CoatsSeptember 28th 2022

We’re coming to New York!

September 12th 2022

So this is exciting. For the first time, Permanent Style Presents is coming to New York. A mini version of the London pop-up shop, it will be led by Rubato and PS, with very special guest Fred Nieddu, aka Taillour. We will be at 54 Mercer Street on ...

We’re coming to New York!

Match in comments:
Yes...

September 12th 2022