A. Marchesan, Stockholm: Curated Period Menswear

April 8th 2024

By Manish Puri There’s not exactly a shortage of quality secondhand and vintage stores in Stockholm. Take a stroll along Hornsgatan for example - a busy road running through the Södermalm neighbourhood - and within just a few hundred metr...

A. Marchesan, Stockholm: Curated Period Menswear

Match in comments:
Hi Manish, I realize that I’m late to the party with this comment, but thank you for this wonderful article! I will follow A. Marchesan’s Instagram page and eagerly await their website launch. I’ve had great luck f...

Coats - HatsApril 8th 2024

The bowler hat in the fifties: My grandfatherR...

January 17th 2024

When we cleared out my grandparents’ house last year, we discovered an article my grandfather had written about bowler hats in the late 1950s. I've written about him before, publishing an interview in 2012 that talked about what it was like t...

The bowler hat in the fifties: My grandfatherR...

Match in comments:
What a lovely article your grandfather wrote about bowlers. The subtle humor in it is just amazing....

HatsJanuary 17th 2024

Reader Profile: Ben (and the community of menswear)

January 5th 2024

I met Ben at our recent pop-up party, and liked what he was wearing (first outfit below). We got to talking and I discovered his interesting background - always good, as I’d like these profiles to explore different types of PS reader - and his...

Reader Profile: Ben (and the community of menswear)

Match in comments:
Every time I read one of these, I learn something new. He’s got a phenomenal command of color and proportion. Really sharp dresser....

Alterations and care - BagsJanuary 5th 2024

On baseball caps – and logos in general

September 18th 2023

Baseball caps are, in many ways, the lazy option for headwear. They’re ubiquitous, they’re cheap and they go with everything. I completely understand those that fight the good fight for brimmed hats, and feel it necessary to attack ball ...

On baseball caps – and logos in general

Match in comments:
Good Sunday morning Mike..we both know that Ken Griffen Jr was a great player...his dad was excellent..peace...

HatsSeptember 18th 2023

The Cromford fur hat: Shearling for deep winter

January 6th 2023

A few weeks ago, just before Christmas when it was suddenly freezing in London, I was in Cromford talking to them about offcuts. The shearling coats we’ve done over the past three years have been pleasingly received - the olive double-breasted...

The Cromford fur hat: Shearling for deep winter

Match in comments:
Super. Thats helpful Simon. Many thanks....

HatsJanuary 6th 2023

New colours in the Arran scarf and PS watch caps

September 9th 2022

The popular PS Watch Caps and exclusive Arran scarves from Begg & Co - introduced last year - have just been restocked on the PS Shop, with two additional colours. It was a real struggle last year to get things in on time, with delays not ju...

New colours in the Arran scarf and PS watch caps

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You may well have done, we did sample one. But no, we're not making those for this Autumn/Winter I'm afraid...

Hanks and scarves - HatsSeptember 9th 2022

Holiday snaps 2022: Illustrating versatile packing

August 17th 2022

In recent weeks you may have noticed comments have not been published quite as quickly as normal. That’s because I’ve been on holiday - in the north of Portugal, where my wife’s family is from. It’s a beautiful part of the w...

Holiday snaps 2022: Illustrating versatile packing

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A little, but I wouldn't have a problem with it on smarter linens. On these that are a little more casual I wouldn't have them lined...

Casual clothing - Glasses and jewelleryAugust 17th 2022

Rain: Cap and cordovan, or felt and suede

May 9th 2022

This may be a little niche, but it’s something that often stresses me out in the morning, so hopefully it will be of some use to others. My plans for what to wear on a particular day usually don’t account for rain. I might be going int...

Rain: Cap and cordovan, or felt and suede

Match in comments:
Hi Craig, I find the Rider's good for warmer weather, hence the shots of me wearing it with just a T-shirt underneath. For umbrellas, anything from a quality maker will be good, perhaps Swaine or James Smith...

Coats - HatsMay 9th 2022

The Spring Top 10: Fun, paper and lavender

April 20th 2022

It’s that time of the year again. Brands have been receiving all the spring clothing they ordered last year, even though they weren’t quite sure whether it would arrive, or be swallowed by an unexpected lockdown. So rejoice, there are n...

The Spring Top 10: Fun, paper and lavender

Match in comments:
Regarding Trumpers. Apart from ordering a tub of Almond Shaving Cream which is utterly superb and highly concentrated in a very generous 200g tub... probably the best value of all the prestige London barbers, I asked for...

Casual clothing - CoatsApril 20th 2022

Reader profile: Andy

March 25th 2022

This is Andy. A long-time reader and customer, Andy had led, shall we say, an interesting life. Currently a hydrographic surveyor, he has also been a pilot, a mountaineer, and dabbles as a model (fashion and life). He is passionate about clothing, ...

Reader profile: Andy

Match in comments:
Thanks Willie my man. Appreciate your comments mate, I'll have to give you a big hug as you are sitting only about 10 feet away from me in the offline room just now. Top hat and goggles - Its the way to go and of course,...

Coats - HatsMarch 25th 2022

I have Gay Talese’s hat

March 14th 2022

Gay Talese. In a different hat By Tom Mastronardi "The story I’m about to relate is true; it really happened, just a few short years ago, before Covid upended the simple everyday pleasure of running into someone you know on the street and havi...

I have Gay Talese’s hat

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I'm pleased you continue to enjoy it Robert. And yes I agree, I enjoy dressing so much more now than I did when I was younger...

HatsMarch 14th 2022

Christmas gift list 2021: Shawls, soap and Swan S...

November 17th 2021

It’s that time of the year again. So, with both apologies and thanks to readers that bemoaned the lack of this list last year, these are just a few of my favourite things... In these lists we try to go beyond menswear into other beautiful, cra...

Christmas gift list 2021: Shawls, soap and Swan S...

Match in comments:
Hi Simon. This is very helpful indeed. Dry clean it will be. Thanks. Yash...

Casual clothing - HatsNovember 17th 2021

The custom-block service, from Optimo

April 12th 2021

Over the past year or so, Optimo has been developing a unique bespoke hat programme, where a personal ‘block’ is made for each customer. Most Optimo hats are already made to order, so customers pick their felt, their crown style and the...

The custom-block service, from Optimo

Match in comments:
I've never really looked at this James, as I don't wear black tie that often, and even less often think about the head gear, given that will not be on display (rather like a silk scarf) at the event itself. I'd imagine a...

HatsApril 12th 2021

Hats with coats: A sliding scale

March 19th 2021

I’m often asked which hats work best with different types of coat. In fact, it often comes up at this time of year - I guess when unexpected showers are more of a hazard. The sliding scale of formality with hats is pretty intuitive: a fedora i...

Hats with coats: A sliding scale

Match in comments:
Thank you Simon....

HatsMarch 19th 2021

The complete capsule: Prices, budgets and timelines

July 13th 2020

  Our ‘complete capsule’ article last month went down particularly well with readers. Setting out a concentrated, versatile wardrobe, I think it provided both a good starting point for new readers and a way for older ones to real...

The complete capsule: Prices, budgets and timelines

Match in comments:
Hi Jacob, I guess you won't be noticed of my message but if you do see it, I would be interested to know how it went. What cloth did you choose? Was the first fit good? Has it lasted well? Always interesting to learn fro...

Coats - Hanks and scarvesJuly 13th 2020

The hats of author Ned Brown

April 13th 2020

In our recent article on Wellema , much of the conversation in the comments centred around the relevance and wearability of hats today. So I thought it would be interesting to look into the habits and collection of a reader, in this case author and...

The hats of author Ned Brown

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Dear Ned, How fun to reconnect after all these years. I thought of you a few years ago when I was in Banff again, remembering riding a tandem bike ride with you around town there! Camp Pennington was truly a great experi...

HatsApril 13th 2020

Wellema bespoke felt hat: Review

April 6th 2020

This is my first hat from Cody Wellema, the LA-based craftsman that we covered the background on a couple of weeks ago. A hat from Cody is an investment - something that is truly made to last for years, and to be cleaned, reblocked and looked after....

Wellema bespoke felt hat: Review

Match in comments:
Many thanks Simon. Yes I think that will work better....

HatsApril 6th 2020

The quality and style of Wellema hats

March 25th 2020

Everyone you speak to about Cody Wellema (above) agrees on two things. That he’s a lovely, lovely man. And that his hats are top notch. I can certainly attest to the former - and the latter I’ll cover when I review the hat I’m hav...

The quality and style of Wellema hats

Match in comments:
Just come across this site whilst looking at the Wellema site. Some interesting comments about brimmed hats not being appropriate wear in these modern times. I would never have worn one in my younger days mainly because ...

HatsMarch 25th 2020

Baseball cap, white jeans and Ivy: Pick and choose

March 4th 2020

There are five elements I want to talk about in this outfit. Five. And I’ll take them all separately - because you can easily change one, or only like one. There’s no need to lift an outfit (or, give it the thumbs up/down) as a whole. ...

Baseball cap, white jeans and Ivy: Pick and choose

Match in comments:
No, sorry Owen. We do now offer the cloth for readers to buy though, so you can do that and have it made yourself somewhere...

Denim - HatsMarch 4th 2020

Video: What makes a quality hat?

January 17th 2020

In a comment on our recent video covering suit alterations, a reader complimented my questioning of Davide - saying I was putting the questions the viewer was thinking. I was really chuffed at that. As someone who spent most of their professional c...

Video: What makes a quality hat?

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Yes it could, though I'd probably start with a sisal one, or perhaps at least a brown band and slightly smaller shape...

Hats - VideoJanuary 17th 2020

PS Watch Caps back in stock

December 16th 2019

The Permanent Style Watch Cap is finally available again, in the popular navy and mid-grey. Although the grey we did originally was well received, a lot of people commented that something a shade darker - more the colour of classic flannels - would ...

PS Watch Caps back in stock

Match in comments:
60cm, but there's a lot of give in these - I find they can fit down to a 56, and certainly up to 61 or 62. When you try it on, if you do, please make sure to wear it as I do in the images - low in the front, high in the ...

HatsDecember 16th 2019

The Optimo hat factory, Chicago

November 8th 2019

Optimo hats in Chicago has to be the prettiest factory I’ve ever been to. Over the years I have been to some impressive ones: Hermes, Loro Piana, Zegna. But they’re grand, sweeping, sometimes in sculpted countryside. Optimo is small an...

The Optimo hat factory, Chicago

Match in comments:
Simon, I had always heard great things about Optimo but never personally met anyone who was a customer or seen their work. Therefore, thank you for the firsthand report of your experiences. I don’t ever see myself as a...

HatsNovember 8th 2019

The Trench Coat with casual wear

September 13th 2019

Over the past three years, Permanent Style has gradually covered more casual clothing in response to requests from readers. Guys want to know how to extend PS principles of quality, fit and simplicity to weekend clothing, and that makes sense. I&rsq...

The Trench Coat with casual wear

Match in comments:
Thanks Dave...

Denim - HatsSeptember 13th 2019

Optimo bespoke felt hat: Review

February 18th 2019

I'm not sure whether it came across, but I was almost surprised by how much I liked the Optimo hats I saw in New York last October. It was the first time I had seen them first hand, and the felt was noticeably different from what I had seen at other...

Optimo bespoke felt hat: Review

Match in comments:
Just let it dry naturally - felt like this is very robust. When you see some police wearing plastic covers over their hats, you can tell they must be pretty poor quality! Let it dry, then brush the nap of the felt back u...

HatsFebruary 18th 2019

Watch Caps back in stock – in navy and cream

January 25th 2019

I'm pleased to say the Permanent Style watch caps are finally available again - on the shop site - after some delays. There are two colours: a slightly darker navy than last time, which I feel is more sartorial and suited to tailoring; and a cream t...

Watch Caps back in stock – in navy and cream

Match in comments:
OK, good to hear. Cheers Dan...

HatsJanuary 25th 2019