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:
Hi Wu, Nice to hear, thank you. To be honest, a blazer like that is not something I've ever looked into having made, as it's not a style I like so much - perhaps a little too costume-y. If you have specific questions, do...

Jackets - StyleJanuary 8th 2024

The Simone Abbarchi workshop, in a little street,...

February 10th 2023

I know shirtmaker Simone Abbarchi has a lot of PS customers in London and New York. They might like to know - and see - where their shirts are made. It’s a little workshop about 10 minutes drive outside of Florence. Simone arrives every morni...

The Simone Abbarchi workshop, in a little street,...

Match in comments:
Thank your for this view behind the curtains! I like the trend the people want to know how and were their clothed are made. Too long we just thought about styling - and too less about the conditions behind it....

ShirtsFebruary 10th 2023

Summer Top 10: Polos, more polos, and espadrilles

July 6th 2022

I wasn’t going to do a ‘high summer’ version of our seasonal Top 10. After all, the spring edition back in April included such things as panama hats and boat shoes. But everyone’s stock has been arriving so late that the int...

Summer Top 10: Polos, more polos, and espadrilles

Match in comments:
No, think of it as a piece of knitwear, not a T-shirt. And it's smart, like a short-sleeved knit rather than a tee. So most of the time I'd wear it with smarter trousers, in this kind of style...

Casual clothing - ShoesJuly 6th 2022

Reader profile: Patrick

May 4th 2022

Patrick Dawson is a retired news correspondent, now living in London. During his career he worked for ABC, CNN and NBC and covered the Balkans War from Kosovo, the Gulf War from Kuwait, and was the first NBC correspondent on the ground during 9/11. ...

Reader profile: Patrick

Match in comments:
Pat Dawson has -always- looked great. He and I competed in local news in NYC back in the late 80s, and even then he was the best-dressed man I knew. I'm not at all surprised it has continued....

StyleMay 4th 2022

Reader profile: Ben C

December 10th 2021

I’ve known Ben for a long time now. He worked round the corner from me during my journalism days, and we were both customers of visiting artisans like Elia Caliendo and Simone Abbarchi. We even did a shoot together for Elia years ago. Ben and ...

Reader profile: Ben C

Match in comments:
Love the semi-casual....

Jackets - StyleDecember 10th 2021

New black bullskin tote, and angled DBs

July 16th 2021

A new black version of our bullhide tote, a collaboration with Frank Clegg, goes on sale today. It’s available on the Frank Clegg site (not ours) alongside a restock of the dark brown. I shot some pictures of it with Alex last week, and it re...

New black bullskin tote, and angled DBs

Match in comments:
I haven't, no, it's done very well. The brown will probably be more versatile, but it's mostly a question of what you wear it with, your style...

July 16th 2021

My shirt collars

January 27th 2021

  When we published our recent article on the types and styles of shirt collars , a reader requested a follow-up piece on the precise dimensions of what I wear. In fact, this has come up a few times over the years, particularly as we&rsqu...

My shirt collars

Match in comments:
It depends on the shirt - whether it suits the style (eg good on an oxford, not on a western shirt), and whether it suits the collar style (point collar yes, cutaway collar no)...

Shirts - January 27th 2021

The cream shirt

May 11th 2020

There is a certain type of gentleman who swears by the cream shirt. Who argues passionately for its elegance over that boring, corporate alternative: white. When I say there is a type, I am basing this on three men, all of an older generation, who ...

The cream shirt

Match in comments:
I'm afraid it won't be the same now - those collections that aren't core never last more than a couple of years. Sorry...

ShirtsMay 11th 2020

Introducing: The Madras linen

March 13th 2020

There is a certain preponderance among men to order bespoke shirts in loud checks. This must be the case, because most patterned materials offered for bespoke are bright and loud. Even though the ones available in a mill’s full collection - o...

Introducing: The Madras linen

Match in comments:
Can someone tell me why this second hand Ralph Lauren madras shirt has DRAWSTRINGS on the inside along each side seam. I've found this identical shirt for sale at a number of aftermarket sights, and none of them show or ...

ShirtsMarch 13th 2020

Monochrome and concrete: Styling grey, charcoal a...

March 1st 2018

Although I love rich, natural colours (particularly in Autumn) I've always been fascinated by the subtleties of monochrome dressing. It has such strong style, and yet there is so little too it. It's striking and unusual, and yet quiet. These photo...

Monochrome and concrete: Styling grey, charcoal a...

Match in comments:
No worries Daniel. Dark-brown suede could be fine - rather like black jeans, when they're faded and have enough of that casual vibe as your charcoal linen sounds like it has, they work well. Also, I'd encourage you to co...

StyleMarch 1st 2018

Florence: A sartorial shopping guide

April 6th 2016

Florence is best known as a tourist destination in the summer – the Uffizi, the Duomo, the Ponte Vecchio – and a menswear hub in January and June, when it plays host to the men’s trade show Pitti Uomo. But it has enough ...

Florence: A sartorial shopping guide

Match in comments:
They are good quality, yes, but I'm afraid I haven't used them for many years Lindsay, I couldn't tell you my favourite. Do try them in person...

April 6th 2016

Escorial jacket: The modernity of muted colours

April 4th 2016

There are many ways in which you can make a sartorial outfit look younger or more modern. Extremes are always wrong: very short jackets, big puffy shoulders. They just look trendy, for a bit. But aside from the extremes, I would argue proportions...

Escorial jacket: The modernity of muted colours

Match in comments:
I think it would look great in either, and no, I really don't think a cut always looks better in any particular fabric - just different. Eg a fine worsted is more formal and arguably suits a sharper cut. But there is som...

Jackets - StyleApril 4th 2016

The in-between (pub, weekend) jacket from Stile L...

January 1st 2016

As on Wednesday, so today. A piece made to measure by Neapolitan brand Stile Latino, with similar attractions. As with the completely unstructured coat we featured on Wednesday, this jacket is: An effective bridge between the formal and the casua...

The in-between (pub, weekend) jacket from Stile L...

Match in comments:
No, sorry. With brands like Stile Latino they're rarely materials that are available by the cut length....

Casual clothing - JacketsJanuary 1st 2016

Simone Abbarchi shirt fitting

September 14th 2015

When I brought my shirt from Simone Abbarchi back to him in June (or rather his assistant, Gianluca) we ended up making quite a few changes. This may be a cause for concern, though I will reserve judgment. I had had one fitting originally, in a t...

Simone Abbarchi shirt fitting

Match in comments:
I can't really tell from a photo Jack, sorry. Particlarly as there are lot of elements to it - height, button gap, shape of the point. Sorry...

ShirtsSeptember 14th 2015

Simone Abbarchi – finished bespoke shirt

July 24th 2015

It’s probably worth saying this once more. These images are merely indicative. They are intended to give a general impression of the shirt (a lovely grey from Simone Abbarchi). They are not intended to be the basis of an assessment of the fi...

Simone Abbarchi – finished bespoke shirt

Match in comments:
Sure, thanks, Simon....

ShirtsJuly 24th 2015

Grey cashmere and brown flannel: Caraceni and Abb...

July 1st 2015

Last week’s explanation of how I put an outfit together seemed to be popular, so let’s try that again. This outfit is simpler than last week’s. There are fewer colours, there’s no tie to worry about, the handkerchief is pla...

Grey cashmere and brown flannel: Caraceni and Abb...

Match in comments:
Yes, I'd start with brown as the safest, then try something that is similar, like olive, and only occasionally look for something with more contrast that was a harmonious colour...

Shoes - StyleJuly 1st 2015

Simone Abbarchi shirts, Florence

June 26th 2015

Simone Abbarchi is a Florence-based shirtmaker that has made for my friend Tommaso Capozzoli for a long time. He has always said that they have a very good relationship between price and quality, and he’s right. Simone’s made-...

Simone Abbarchi shirts, Florence

Match in comments:
More like 180 for MTM and 240 for bespoke these days....

ShirtsJune 26th 2015

Grey shirts with grey suits, at Milan launch

May 5th 2015

Last week was the official launch of the Permanent Style book, with an event in Milan hosted by Vitale Barberis Canonico and A Caraceni. I was interviewed by the fashion editor of La Repubblica, Simone Marchetti, about my history and views on cont...

Grey shirts with grey suits, at Milan launch

Match in comments:
I still quite like them with grey suits Philip, but it's certainly more of a fashion look...

Shirts - StyleMay 5th 2015