Ludens: Japanese belts and leather goods

August 11th 2023

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...

Bags - Belts and walletsAugust 11th 2023

Tokyo: A sartorial shopping guide – 2023 Up...

June 7th 2023

  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...

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Thank you Laurent, that's very useful (for me and for everyone else!) Cheers...

Bags - Belts and walletsJune 7th 2023

Christmas gift list 2022: Towelling, tooling and ...

December 7th 2022

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 ...

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I think the off-white x beige is the best yes, even with those trousers...

Bags - Belts and walletsDecember 7th 2022

Chez Dede: Andrea Ferolla and Daria Reina

August 26th 2022

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

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Cheers Jerry, and will do...

Bags - Belts and walletsAugust 26th 2022

The slouchy cardigan

June 10th 2022

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

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I don’t see those on their website? Can you share a link?...

Belts and wallets - KnitwearJune 10th 2022

The Spring pop-up: Rubato, Bentley’s, Ludov...

March 18th 2022

*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...

Bags - Belts and walletsMarch 18th 2022

Bespoke braided belt from @Tightly_Stitched: Review

January 28th 2022

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

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No, I'd still recommend it...

Belts and walletsJanuary 28th 2022

Why I’m wearing more belts

January 5th 2022

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

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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...

Belts and wallets - StyleJanuary 5th 2022

Introducing: The leather envelope folio

February 25th 2019

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

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No, sorry...

Bags - Belts and walletsFebruary 25th 2019

Carreducker: The pains of learning to saddle stitch

February 4th 2019

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

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Shhhh. Don't give the fraternity's secret's away!...

Belts and walletsFebruary 4th 2019

Christmas gift list 2018

November 30th 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

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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......

Belts and wallets - Hanks and scarvesNovember 30th 2018

Should your belt match your shoes? (Or bag)

September 21st 2018

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)

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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...

Bags - Belts and walletsSeptember 21st 2018

Paris: Lafayette Saltiel, Kenjiro Suzuki, Atelier...

September 19th 2018

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....

Bags - Belts and walletsSeptember 19th 2018

How leather is tanned: Billy Tannery goat leather

July 18th 2018

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

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Whose the meterial are mixed in goat leather for increasing the skin and gain the layers of goat skin...

Bags - Belts and walletsJuly 18th 2018

Hopsack and linen trousers – in humid Hong ...

May 21st 2018

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 ...

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I think that can be fine - the danger comes more when the linens are pretty similar in texture and weight...

Belts and wallets - JacketsMay 21st 2018

Christmas gift list 2017

November 29th 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

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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 ...

Belts and wallets - Hanks and scarvesNovember 29th 2017

Simpson London leather goods – Factory visit

November 22nd 2017

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

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Alas Simpson are no longer with us. They went into receivership over a year ago....

Bags - Belts and walletsNovember 22nd 2017

Bespoke brass jewellery: Diana Maynard

October 27th 2017

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

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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...

Belts and walletsOctober 27th 2017

Connolly: Style and fashion meet on Clifford Street

July 14th 2017

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

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My please Scott, really pleased it's worked well for you, and you appreciate the quality...

Bags - Belts and walletsJuly 14th 2017

How a hand-sewn alligator strap is made

June 16th 2017

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...

Belts and walletsJune 16th 2017

Serge Amoruso leather goods, Paris

September 19th 2016

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

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Wow looks really well made and thought out. Need to go Paris...

Bags - Belts and walletsSeptember 19th 2016

Permanent Style trunk show: Heurtault, Amoruso, C...

September 7th 2016

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...

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Yes, there will be a few things...

Bags - Belts and walletsSeptember 7th 2016

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 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

Belts and wallets - Glasses and jewelleryFebruary 5th 2016