Video: A hand-sewn wallet, from start to finish

June 26th 2016

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 Book l...

Video: A hand-sewn wallet, from start to finish

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I just received my Lloyd Billfold with black alligator leather outer and black chèvre inner, black Lin Cable, blind embossing and internal note compartment divider. It took seven months to be made because of the pandemi...

Belts and wallets - VideoJune 26th 2016

Brand round-up: Inhedited, Coast Society, J Hopen...

June 10th 2016

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...

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A sponge or spot clean means using water or chemicals and a sponge to clean small areas rather than the whole garment. You can do it yourself but there's obviously some risk. Better with a good dry cleaner or even better...

Bags - Belts and walletsJune 10th 2016

Brands review III: Son of a Tailor, d’Alemb...

February 5th 2016

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...

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Hi Simon, I asked a question on another one of your articles, and I'm not one to ask for something without giving something, so I thought I'd write a little about my experiences with Son of a Tailor. As a 5'6" man weighi...

Belts and wallets - Glasses and jewelleryFebruary 5th 2016

Video: Hand-sewing a belt (and a watch strap)

October 27th 2015

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)

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Sadly,it seems that Equus Leather is no longer with us. Their website is closed....

Belts and wallets - VideoOctober 27th 2015

Mont Blanc leather facility, Florence

October 9th 2015

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

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I'm afraid I don't know anything in that area, no. Let me know anything you find out...

Bags - Belts and walletsOctober 9th 2015

The beauty of a vintage alligator cigar case: How...

July 22nd 2015

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...

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Hi Iero Bik, I just looked on google, two weeks out open on a balcony and/or a silica bag/ silica gels, but I've not tried this personally. Baking soda was also mentioned but is not put directly in the bag and more time ...

Belts and walletsJuly 22nd 2015

Brands review II: Vocier, Simon& Me, Moreca,...

April 20th 2015

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,...

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we would like to comment that Simon has brought up some very valid and well-founded points about our VOCIER C38, which he tested a pre-production model of. We are keen to add that we have taken his concerns very seriousl...

Bags - Belts and walletsApril 20th 2015

Bespoke leather folio: MES Leather

April 4th 2014

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

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Thanks Mark, good to know...

Bags - Belts and walletsApril 4th 2014

A (Christmas) word from our sponsors

November 18th 2013

One of the nice things about having nice advertisers is the range of Christmas shopping ideas they present. Here are my favourites. Among the best additions to the collection at Drake’s are the untipped cashmeres in various shades of grey. The ...

A (Christmas) word from our sponsors

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A Fine Pair of Shoes - my supplier of Saphir Shoe & Leather Polish and related products, probably the best around!...

Bags - Belts and walletsNovember 18th 2013

Jean Rousseau small leather goods

June 28th 2013

In the past few weeks I have spent quite a lot of time with the lovely staff at Jean Rousseau in the Piccadilly Arcade. One of France’s hidden secrets in the leather trade, Jean Rousseau make lovely watch straps, belts and other leather goods w...

Jean Rousseau small leather goods

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Not especially, no. I've always just used normal leather cream, sparingly...

Belts and walletsJune 28th 2013

Reader question: belts with suits

March 29th 2013

Simon I have been thinking lately about removing the belt loops from some of my bespoke suit trousers. I was previously convinced that I wanted to remove the belt loops, but now I’m confused after discussing it with my Neapolitan tailor. Sh...

Reader question: belts with suits

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Regarding suit jackets, I’ll be trying my current Steed Jacket, currently paired with trousers and braces/side-adjusters, with another pair of “belted”and indeed very much cheaper RTW grey trousers to check the loo...

Belts and wallets - Reader questionsMarch 29th 2013

Chester Mox hand-sewn wallets

February 27th 2013

A reader commented recently that it would be nice to feature a few things on the blog that were more affordable. Well one thing that is certainly affordable for most men is a good wallet – and given that he will use it many times a day, it repr...

Chester Mox hand-sewn wallets

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Community Clothing does. " Community Clothing is different. We are a social enterprise and we have a simple goal; to sell great quality affordable clothing, and by doing so create great jobs and help restore economic pro...

Belts and walletsFebruary 27th 2013

Wallets: reader question

January 16th 2013

Dear Mr Simon, Let me first say that I always admire your passion and insight into gentlemen’s garments. I am a fan of Permanent Style and I have been hooked on it for years. I have one long-standing question: what kind of wallet shou...

Wallets: reader question

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Okay, thanks, Simon....

Belts and walletsJanuary 16th 2013

Bespoke leather at Dunhill

November 23rd 2011

Just over a year ago, Dunhill began offering bespoke leather services at Bourdon House in London. Tomasz Nosarzewski, whom readers might remember from my visit to the Walthamstow Dunhill factory last year, began spending every Thursday at Bourdon Hou...

Bespoke leather at Dunhill

Just over a year ago, Dunhill began offering bespoke leather services at Bourdon House in London. Tomasz Nosarzewski, whom readers might remember from my visit to the Walthamstow Dunhill factory last year, began spending...

Belts and walletsNovember 23rd 2011

Handmade belts: Equus Leather

February 7th 2011

I’ve been sent photographs of my things being made before, but never a video. This is a step up. In case you can’t tell, it’s a bridle leather belt, being made to measure for me by Charlie Trevor of Equus Leather. Charlie kindly off...

Handmade belts: Equus Leather

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Equus leather is gone...go to Tim Hardy in Worcester who makes superb leather belts. They need to be reviewed. Even the buckles are made in Walsall including a unique quick release buckle Superb quality...

Belts and walletsFebruary 7th 2011

How to buy luxury: Notebooks

August 31st 2008

Those familiar with my How to Buy Luxury series will remember that I have a few straightforward guidelines for buying luxury effectively. (Here luxury will be defined as whatever is just beyond the top end of your budget – go on, be a little ir...

How to buy luxury: Notebooks

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Does somebody know if Smythson refills are compatible with ANTORINI A5 organizers ring mechanism? I received the ANTORINI diary as a gift and want to add some more refills into it. https://www.antorini.com/collections/le...

Belts and walletsAugust 31st 2008