Ludens: Japanese belts and leather goods
In recent years I've been wearing more belts with tailoring, as I've worn other accessories such as ties and handkerchiefs less. That's meant me upping my belt game, with a couple of commissions from Tightly Stitched , some great belts from Rubato ...
Ludens: Japanese belts and leather goods
Match in comments:
To Simon & Gary Many thanks for these suggestions. Some absolutely beautiful makers that you list here. Some using J & FJ BAKER & SEDGEWICK leathers. A review on some of these makers would be nice at some sta...
Tokyo: A sartorial shopping guide – 2023 Up...
Tokyo is one of the most varied, creative and stimulating retail experiences in the world. Not only is the city huge, but each area has a distinct feel and atmosphere, reflected in its shopping. There are small, niche brands everywhere, as...
Tokyo: A sartorial shopping guide – 2023 Up...
Match in comments:
Thank you Laurent, that's very useful (for me and for everyone else!) Cheers...
Christmas gift list 2022: Towelling, tooling and ...
1 Double-breasted towelling robe Anderson & Sheppard, £395 The sartorial design of this robe from Anderson & Sheppard is so satisfying. It basically has ulster-coat lapels, with one buttoning under the chin when the collar is u...
Christmas gift list 2022: Towelling, tooling and ...
Match in comments:
I think the off-white x beige is the best yes, even with those trousers...
Chez Dede: Andrea Ferolla and Daria Reina
Chez Dede is a lovely little multibrand shop in Rome. It sells clothing and accessories, books and furniture, including some familiar brands such as P. Le Moult and Camoshita. However, for me the most lovely thing about the store when we visited was...
Chez Dede: Andrea Ferolla and Daria Reina
Match in comments:
Cheers Jerry, and will do...
The slouchy cardigan
Most cardigans that classic menswear fans admire fall into one of two camps. First is the cardigan to be worn under a jacket, frequently sleeveless. This is often quite thin, and is practical as an additional layer for warmth. It can look a little ...
The slouchy cardigan
Match in comments:
I don’t see those on their website? Can you share a link?...
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...
Match in comments:
Thanks Jonathan. Yes, they'll all be there all the way through...
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
Match in comments:
No, I'd still recommend it...
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
Match in comments:
Either could work. With workwear chinos the point about unused loops doesn't apply anywhere near as much, and doesn't really at all with jeans...
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
Match in comments:
No, sorry...
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
Match in comments:
Shhhh. Don't give the fraternity's secret's away!...
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
Match in comments:
Sorry Christopher, I've had to skip it this year, there's been so much else on. Very pleased you found it so useful though - sorry, will certainly reinstate next year......
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)
Match in comments:
I don't really wear burgundy shoes, unless it's close to the Alden Color 8 - if it's that dark. If so, it's great with navy certainly, and even with dark greys. Often with greens too. As to a belt, I'd go for whichever i...
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...
Match in comments:
I think Kenjiro Suzuki has closed his business. His instagram is down, and I came by the shop the other day, it was closed at 11am....
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
Match in comments:
Whose the meterial are mixed in goat leather for increasing the skin and gain the layers of goat skin...
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 ...
Match in comments:
I think that can be fine - the danger comes more when the linens are pretty similar in texture and weight...
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
Match in comments:
Only recently came across your stuff, Simon and I gotta say I love your recommendations. It feels as though you've taken your time with each product and really know what you're talking about. I only wish I'd known about ...
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
Match in comments:
Alas Simpson are no longer with us. They went into receivership over a year ago....
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
Match in comments:
Hi Simon, My wedding band is white gold. I might have chosen yellow gold if I did it again, but the colour has mellowed in any case. The design was a copy of my father's band. I had it made to the same design in Hatton G...
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
Match in comments:
My please Scott, really pleased it's worked well for you, and you appreciate the quality...
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
Match in comments:
I contacted Equus last year and spoke to Charlie, the owner and man in the video. We spoke on the phone and was very nice as we were working on a design for an 18th century Russian reindeer double tour watch strap for my...
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
Match in comments:
Wow looks really well made and thought out. Need to go Paris...
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...
Match in comments:
Yes, there will be a few things...
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 The hi...
Video: A hand-sewn wallet, from start to finish
Match in comments:
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...
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...
Match in comments:
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...
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...
Match in comments:
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...
