The Spring pop-up: Rubato, Bentley’s, Ludov...
*Update: I forgot to say that all PS products will be there too! Sorry, forgot to mention that...* I'm delighted to say that the PS Presents pop-up shop will be back in April, in the same space at The Service, on Savile Row. For Rubato it will be th...
The Spring pop-up: Rubato, Bentley’s, Ludov...
*Update: I forgot to say that all PS products will be there too! Sorry, forgot to mention that...* I'm delighted to say that the PS Presents pop-up shop will be back in April, in the same space at The Service, on Savile...
Bespoke braided belt from @Tightly_Stitched: Review
Given we talked recently about wearing more belts , it seems timely to review a belt I recently had made by Russian maker @Tightly_Stitched. I did so because I find there is a relative lack of good belt brands out there, and I couldn’t find t...
Bespoke braided belt from @Tightly_Stitched: Review
Given we talked recently about wearing more belts , it seems timely to review a belt I recently had made by Russian maker @Tightly_Stitched. I did so because I find there is a relative lack of good belt brands out the...
Why I’m wearing more belts
In recent months I’ve been wearing belts more often, after years of hardly doing so at all. I never wore them with tailoring, preferring the clean, elegant look of an unfettered waistband with side adjustors. And I didn’t even wear the...
Why I’m wearing more belts
In recent months I’ve been wearing belts more often, after years of hardly doing so at all. I never wore them with tailoring, preferring the clean, elegant look of an unfettered waistband with side adjustors. And ...
Introducing: The leather envelope folio
Writing about this leather folio feels like a release more than anything else. It is the result of two years of work, back and forth, with the aim to produce a simple but beautiful hand-sewn envelope - in which to carry a phone, wallet, keys, headph...
Introducing: The leather envelope folio
Writing about this leather folio feels like a release more than anything else. It is the result of two years of work, back and forth, with the aim to produce a simple but beautiful hand-sewn envelope - in which to carry...
Carreducker: The pains of learning to saddle stitch
Last week I took part in a leather hand-stitching class organised by Carréducker: British bespoke shoemakers Deborah Carré and James Ducker. It was lovely to see Deborah and James again (I last covered them back in 2013) and to see the...
Carreducker: The pains of learning to saddle stitch
Last week I took part in a leather hand-stitching class organised by Carréducker: British bespoke shoemakers Deborah Carré and James Ducker. It was lovely to see Deborah and James again (I last covered them back in 20...
Christmas gift list 2018
It’s that time of year again. The TV adverts that started a month ago should have been a warning. Below is my Christmas gift list for 2019. It is not a comprehensive list of the best menswear gifts right now. It’s certainly no...
Christmas gift list 2018
It’s that time of year again. The TV adverts that started a month ago should have been a warning. Below is my Christmas gift list for 2019. It is not a comprehensive list of the best menswear gifts right now. I...
Should your belt match your shoes? (Or bag)
This question might seem like an easy one, but I do get a lot of comments and emails about it, so I thought I’d lay it out in a post. No, in short, a leather belt and leather shoes do not have to match. But they should be closely related. So a...
Should your belt match your shoes? (Or bag)
This question might seem like an easy one, but I do get a lot of comments and emails about it, so I thought I’d lay it out in a post. No, in short, a leather belt and leather shoes do not have to match. But they shoul...
Paris: Lafayette Saltiel, Kenjiro Suzuki, Atelier...
Samuel Gassmann Last week I was in Paris for two days, catching up with old friends and artisans, and seeing a few new ones. One of the most interesting things was an interview with Lyne Cohen Solal, the new head of the Institut National Metiers d&r...
Paris: Lafayette Saltiel, Kenjiro Suzuki, Atelier...
Samuel Gassmann Last week I was in Paris for two days, catching up with old friends and artisans, and seeing a few new ones. One of the most interesting things was an interview with Lyne Cohen Solal, the new head of the...
How leather is tanned: Billy Tannery goat leather
Although I’ve visited many workshops and factories over the years, I’ve never been to a tannery (a trip to Barker’s is way overdue). It was with particular interest, therefore, that I went to see the tiny operation set up by Jack M...
How leather is tanned: Billy Tannery goat leather
Although I’ve visited many workshops and factories over the years, I’ve never been to a tannery (a trip to Barker’s is way overdue). It was with particular interest, therefore, that I went to see the tiny operatio...
Hopsack and linen trousers – in humid Hong ...
It was really lovely being back in Hong Kong last week, after a few years away. The talk we Lorenzo Cifonelli and I did at Attire House worked well - more a conversation than an interview, with Lorenzo asking me questions about other tailors, and th...
Hopsack and linen trousers – in humid Hong ...
It was really lovely being back in Hong Kong last week, after a few years away. The talk we Lorenzo Cifonelli and I did at Attire House worked well - more a conversation than an interview, with Lorenzo asking me questio...
Christmas gift list 2017
I finally got around to putting together a Christmas gift guide for this year, which I know many readers have asked about (and like forwarding directly to their wives). I have deliberately not included either Permanent Style products here, or those ...
Christmas gift list 2017
I finally got around to putting together a Christmas gift guide for this year, which I know many readers have asked about (and like forwarding directly to their wives). I have deliberately not included either Permanent ...
Simpson London leather goods – Factory visit
Simpson London in Canning Town is one of those rare things in British menswear: a shining new and dynamic factory. I’ve visited dozens of British factories over the past 10 years, and although many of them have character in spades, they are of...
Simpson London leather goods – Factory visit
Simpson London in Canning Town is one of those rare things in British menswear: a shining new and dynamic factory. I’ve visited dozens of British factories over the past 10 years, and although many of them have charac...
Bespoke brass jewellery: Diana Maynard
This probably won’t surprise readers, but when I started looking to buy a significant piece of jewellery last year, I wanted something personal, bespoke and handmade. I don't have anything particular against friendship bracelets; when I was a ...
Bespoke brass jewellery: Diana Maynard
This probably won’t surprise readers, but when I started looking to buy a significant piece of jewellery last year, I wanted something personal, bespoke and handmade. I don't have anything particular against friendshi...
Connolly: Style and fashion meet on Clifford Street
Connolly, which opened on Clifford Street at the end of last year, is one of the most interesting new menswear stores London has had for a while. It offers luxury clothing, both under its own name and a few European brands ( Charvet, Car Shoe, Stile...
Connolly: Style and fashion meet on Clifford Street
Connolly, which opened on Clifford Street at the end of last year, is one of the most interesting new menswear stores London has had for a while. It offers luxury clothing, both under its own name and a few European bra...
How a hand-sewn alligator strap is made
This video, just completed by Charlie at Equus Leather, is a wonderfully expressive demonstration of leatherwork. I particularly like the sound detail - that sinewy scrape of knife cutting through alligator skin. Watch the full 10 minutes and then ...
How a hand-sewn alligator strap is made
This video, just completed by Charlie at Equus Leather, is a wonderfully expressive demonstration of leatherwork. I particularly like the sound detail - that sinewy scrape of knife cutting through alligator skin. Wat...
Serge Amoruso leather goods, Paris
Of the four makers featuring in our Permanent Style trunk show in a few weeks, the one least likely to be familiar to readers is Serge Amoruso. So, some background. Serge is an award-winning leather worker and designer; born in 1959, he trained at ...
Serge Amoruso leather goods, Paris
Of the four makers featuring in our Permanent Style trunk show in a few weeks, the one least likely to be familiar to readers is Serge Amoruso. So, some background. Serge is an award-winning leather worker and design...
Permanent Style trunk show: Heurtault, Amoruso, C...
I am very proud to say that we have a Permanent Style trunk show organised for October 5th, co-hosted with Gaziano & Girling at their Savile Row store. This has been a good while in the making, particularly as I was keen to bring together: ...
Permanent Style trunk show: Heurtault, Amoruso, C...
I am very proud to say that we have a Permanent Style trunk show organised for October 5th, co-hosted with Gaziano & Girling at their Savile Row store. This has been a good while in the making, particularly as I w...
Video: A hand-sewn wallet, from start to finish
A lovely video this, showing a lot of the detail of making a hand-sewn alligator wallet - from Charlie Trevor at Equus Leather. It was just released today. The music might be a bit much, but I think we can forgive it that. Related posts Cheste...
Video: A hand-sewn wallet, from start to finish
 A lovely video this, showing a lot of the detail of making a hand-sewn alligator wallet - from Charlie Trevor at Equus Leather. It was just released today. The music might be a bit much, but I think we can forgive ...
Brand round-up: Inhedited, Coast Society, J Hopen...
Our latest brand round-up includes some positive and some mixed reviews - reflecting both the quality of new things seen and tested by Permanent Style, and their originality. 1 Inhedited www.inhedited.com From £258 We start with a small compan...
Brand round-up: Inhedited, Coast Society, J Hopen...
Our latest brand round-up includes some positive and some mixed reviews - reflecting both the quality of new things seen and tested by Permanent Style, and their originality. 1 Inhedited www.inhedited.com From £258 We ...
Brands review III: Son of a Tailor, d’Alemb...
This has become a Permanent Style feature in the past couple of years. An opportunity to mention the dozens of brands that email asking me to review their product, but never get a full post because they don’t quite make that grade. As e...
Brands review III: Son of a Tailor, d’Alemb...
  This has become a Permanent Style feature in the past couple of years. An opportunity to mention the dozens of brands that email asking me to review their product, but never get a full post because they don’t...
Video: Hand-sewing a belt (and a watch strap)
The more I write about this industry, the longer it is since I first covered someone. It’s nice, but it always surprises me how fast the time goes. I wrote about Equus Leather back in 2011, and purchased one of their ‘lined an...
Video: Hand-sewing a belt (and a watch strap)
  The more I write about this industry, the longer it is since I first covered someone. It’s nice, but it always surprises me how fast the time goes. I wrote about Equus Leather back in 2011, and purchased on...
Mont Blanc leather facility, Florence
The Mont Blanc leather facility is in an industrial park just outside Florence. All the big names of fashion are here. Gucci is across the road, Prada a few blocks down. Only Hermes from among the top brands is missing. Mont Blanc used to made its...
Mont Blanc leather facility, Florence
  The Mont Blanc leather facility is in an industrial park just outside Florence. All the big names of fashion are here. Gucci is across the road, Prada a few blocks down. Only Hermes from among the top brands is mis...
The beauty of a vintage alligator cigar case: How...
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 b...
The beauty of a vintage alligator cigar case: How...
  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.Â...
Brands review II: Vocier, Simon& Me, Moreca,...
Last September I did a post rounding up small brands that I had tried, but weren’t quite good enough to recommend with a full write-up. It went down well, and seems like a good vehicle to mention some of the dozens of start-ups that conta...
Brands review II: Vocier, Simon& Me, Moreca,...
 Last September I did a post rounding up small brands that I had tried, but weren’t quite good enough to recommend with a full write-up. It went down well, and seems like a good vehicle to mention some of the doz...
Bespoke leather folio: MES Leather
Over the past few months I’ve got to know Jonatan Staniec, a leather worker who produces his own, hand-sewn leather goods from a studio in London under the brand M.E.S. Hand sewing is not that hard to do (despite my attempts to prove the contra...
Bespoke leather folio: MES Leather
Over the past few months I’ve got to know Jonatan Staniec, a leather worker who produces his own, hand-sewn leather goods from a studio in London under the brand M.E.S. Hand sewing is not that hard to do (despite my at...