Liverano & Liverano ulster coat: Review

January 5th 2018

I’ve wanted a Liverano ulster coat for a long time. Ever since I first saw one on Ethan Newton I think, and subsequently reinforced by seeing versions on Jeff Hilliard (now at Mr Porter) and others. Liverano is very expensive, however, and it ...

Liverano & Liverano ulster coat: Review

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Prices are today double than what the article says for those wondering. Overcoats are 15-20, suits are 10-12 k EUR...

CoatsJanuary 5th 2018

The Armoury at the pop-up: College cardigan, R...

November 30th 2017

The Armoury really inspired me (as it did many others) when it started out in Hong Kong, and I still get particularly excited about having them in the pop-up shop. I was in there yesterday, looking through everything with Dick (Carroll, pictured bot...

The Armoury at the pop-up: College cardigan, R...

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Nice, thanks Pat!...

Coats - KnitwearNovember 30th 2017

Bespoke commissions – What I should and sho...

September 20th 2017

Thank you everyone that responded to my ‘You are the interviewer’ post a couple of weeks ago. The number of variety of questions was staggering, and I will try to answer as many as I can over the coming weeks. It may take time, but I wou...

Bespoke commissions – What I should and sho...

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For a cream linen suit? No, not at all. Jacket or trousers, yes, but the suit should not be regarded as a staple. For DBs, absolutely...

Black tie - CoatsSeptember 20th 2017

Introducing: The Permanent Style trench coat

September 13th 2017

*Check the Shop page for stock levels* Our first collaboration this Autumn/Winter is, for me, the perfect trench coat - a limited edition of a Ventile coat being made with Private White VC. Visitors to the pop-up shop, or our UK manufacturing debat...

Introducing: The Permanent Style trench coat

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Any good dry cleaner should be able to handle it Michael, it's pure cotton so not sure they could mess up. If in doubt, the Valet would certainly be a sure bet though...

CoatsSeptember 13th 2017

Ettore de Cesare workshop, Naples

August 4th 2017

*For more on Ettore de Cesare, and examples of the pieces he has made for me, see original post here* The workshop of Ettore de Cesare is in Vomero, a residential neighbourhood on the hill behind central Naples. But he lives in the centre of town. E...

Ettore de Cesare workshop, Naples

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Yes they have, thank you Ian. Or more specifically, the car coat is reversible, the overcoat unlined. I'll change that now...

Coats - JacketsAugust 4th 2017

Ettore de Cesare – Neapolitan summer blazer...

June 30th 2017

In some ways, this navy jacket and topcoat from Ettore de Cesare are the antithesis of the Disguisery tweed jacket we featured last week. Ettore is a third-generation Neapolitan tailor known for his close-fitting, unstructured garments and leather ...

Ettore de Cesare – Neapolitan summer blazer...

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I'm not sure what it's called, but I always think of midnight as being something most people would look at and think was black. This is not that, I'd call it dark navy...

Coats - JacketsJune 30th 2017

Coherence: Vintage-inspired Japanese outerwear

March 31st 2017

When I first heard about and tried Cohérence outerwear last year, I wasn't sure it would be for me. I tend to favour outerwear that flatters the figure and creates a straight-cut silhouette. So long in the body, slim at the waist and high in...

Coherence: Vintage-inspired Japanese outerwear

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Grenfell makes some great pieces, and it's a shame they're not more represented here in the UK. I haven't tried Grenfell cloth though so can't speak to that much I'm afraid....

CoatsMarch 31st 2017

The Dunhill archive

February 1st 2017

As 'heritage' has become more popular in recent years, brands have increasingly emphasised their longevity, their history and their traditions. This has several issues. Most obviously, the brands that push this hardest often have the least to shout...

The Dunhill archive

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Over the years I've bought a number of pieces from Dunhill and enjoyed them. That said, my experience of them since their acquisition by the Richemont Group has been at best, variable. There seems to be a lack of consist...

Coats - Factory visitsFebruary 1st 2017

Cover story in Plaza Uomo

December 16th 2016

These things always seem to come in bunches. First Esquire named me in a top 10 and now Plaza Uomo have published their latest edition, with a profile of me as the cover story. Plaza is a Swedish fashion magazine, and Plaza Uomo has an English ver...

Cover story in Plaza Uomo

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Hi Neil, Has your copy come through yet?...

Coats - HatsDecember 16th 2016

Unstructured casentino coat – Rubinacci x T...

December 9th 2016

Although some of the products aren't to my taste, I always keep an eye on what The Rake are doing in terms of collaborations. It's interesting to see a clear vision move through different brands and categories. One that caught my attention recently...

Unstructured casentino coat – Rubinacci x T...

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I love Casentino cloth. Just bought my third piece....

CoatsDecember 9th 2016

A pale-grey jacket with green corduroy

November 14th 2016

This outfit was used in a piece written recently for Drake's regarding corduroy. The piece mentions some of the associations that corduroy often carries, and ways to avoid them; basically, keeping the colours dark and the fit contemporary. But you...

A pale-grey jacket with green corduroy

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Yes, it probably would, and wouldn't wear them together today - see article here on outfits I'd wear differently...

Bags - CoatsNovember 14th 2016

Edward Sexton long overcoat – finished

April 18th 2016

This is the finished charcoal overcoat from Edward Sexton, and it’s hard to over-estimate how much pleasure it gives me. It’s a very different feeling from my navy Cifonelli coat. That is practical, every day, an anonymous touch of lu...

Edward Sexton long overcoat – finished

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No, but that was because we wanted quite sharp, clean lines which cashmere might not have been quite as good for...

CoatsApril 18th 2016

Edward Sexton long, grey overcoat

January 25th 2016

Last summer, Edward Sexton and I were sitting in the gardens of the Four Seasons hotel, Florence. It was a beautiful evening. Warm, with a light breeze, scattered groups sitting at the tables and wandering across the lawn. The conversation turned ...

Edward Sexton long, grey overcoat

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Yes, I'd say it's too smart for that kind of polo coat to be honest. Camel hair is hardier than cashmere yes, but still not quite as hardy as wool, so that's the only caution...

CoatsJanuary 25th 2016

Stile Latino grey double-breasted coat

December 30th 2015

For men who – for reasons of economy or laziness – want a coat that will go with everything, this might be the perfect candidate. But that doesn’t necessarily mean I’d recommend it. It was made for me by Stile Latin...

Stile Latino grey double-breasted coat

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On the inside of the jacket? Yes, thats a label like you'd have on the breast pocket, and is meant to stay on...

CoatsDecember 30th 2015

Tips on buying an overcoat

October 16th 2015

One of these days I’ll put together an editorial calendar. It always comes as a surprise when people start asking for advice on overcoats as the weather turns cold, but it shouldn’t. The same people ask for tips on luggage and swimming...

Tips on buying an overcoat

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Noted, Kristoffer. Polyester shouldn't really become less water-resistant, unless it's the treatment on the outside that wears off a bit...

CoatsOctober 16th 2015

Stile Latino – from Vincenzo Attolini

September 2nd 2015

I interviewed Vincenzo Attolini (above) back in January. This post is therefore a little late, although the advantage is the clothes will be dropping into shops now, unlike other pieces from trade shows where you have to wait at least six months t...

Stile Latino – from Vincenzo Attolini

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I'm not sure Florian to be honest, I don't know enough about the labour rates or the amount of work involved. But make sure to include time for design and for all the costs of running a business, from credit card fees to...

Coats - TrousersSeptember 2nd 2015

What is worth being made bespoke?

August 21st 2015

Re-fitting for a Simone Abbarchi shirt, Florence In comments to Friday’s post on my ‘go-to’ clothing, readers said they would like to see a post suggesting which types of clothing it is most worth having made bespoke. In order to...

What is worth being made bespoke?

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Thanks for your two cents about MTM being more two dimensional. I didn’t ask for higher collars back then, but in retrospect I wish I did!...

Coats - ShoesAugust 21st 2015

Cifonelli double-breasted overcoat

January 26th 2015

For the reader who commented that my pieces on Cifonelli tend towards the emotional, I apologise in advance. This is a beautiful, beautiful coat, and one of the finest things I have ever worn. Right, that’s over. Down to details. This is...

Cifonelli double-breasted overcoat

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I'd go for 80/20 I think. I also find that these days I prefer something more substantial and hard wearing, less luxe. I'm making a new navy overcoat for next year that will certainly be mostly wool, if not all....

CoatsJanuary 26th 2015

The bespoke pea coat – Part 5

December 8th 2014

A few more details on the bespoke pea coat from Gieves & Hawkes, as promised. (By the way, isn’t the pitch of the sleeve above gorgeous? Easier with a heavy cloth of course, but it is a uniquely pleasurable sight.) So, the last po...

The bespoke pea coat – Part 5

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I think that could look great...

CoatsDecember 8th 2014

When we write about… E Tautz

December 3rd 2014

In our last post in this series on new London shops, we looked at how readers – with a natural affinity for fit and materials – could analyse the casual wear offered by Private White VC. In this post we shall do the same for E Tautz, but ...

When we write about… E Tautz

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No not pure bespoke, but I guess my point was I can read about latest "fast fashion" brand on GQ or whatever I guess. Of course, the articles on Smedley and tie-makers etc I see as very valuable. But to the other 'J' :) ...

Coats - StyleDecember 3rd 2014

The bespoke pea coat – Part 4

December 1st 2014

Two weeks ago I finally received the pea coat that Davide (Taub, Gieves & Hawkes) and I have been working on for just over a year. There are a few pieces of clothing that make me literally dance for joy when I get them (such as the Stefano ...

The bespoke pea coat – Part 4

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It's a useful type, yes, though there are many others - have you seen this article?...

CoatsDecember 1st 2014

How to dress for winter

November 12th 2014

I’m so excited the weather in London has finally turned cold. Summer clothing is great, but there’s just so much more of it in winter: hats, scarves, gloves, overcoats, plus heavy-gauge knitwear and serious boots. The key to dressing we...

How to dress for winter

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Two questions: a) where can one find a classic trenchcoat today? Burberrys stopped making them, neither does Aquascutum, b) is the Invertere coat company back in action, and where can they be found?...

Coats - Hanks and scarvesNovember 12th 2014

Postcard from Mackintosh – drawing on the t...

November 4th 2014

Often the most charming aspect of a factory is the way its industrial environment has been altered by the employees. Usually that amounts to no more than photos of children on desks, or the scores of the five-a-side competition on the pinboard. The...

Postcard from Mackintosh – drawing on the t...

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It's a shame not to make more use of that somehow, it's so authentic and says much about the company. It'd also be a tragedy to leave it behind after the move, for the same reasons....

CoatsNovember 4th 2014

How an overcoat should fit (Cifonelli fitting)  

September 5th 2014

A reader recently asked me how an overcoat should fit – around the armholes, in the shoulder width – and given that I already had a post planned on this fitting on a Cifonelli overcoat, I thought I would combine the two. The central pro...

How an overcoat should fit (Cifonelli fitting)  

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I see. Even then I can't recommend anything specifically, I would just look at articles on PS regarding fit. How a shirt should fit, how a suit should fit etc. And in every review of a suit or jacket there will be commen...

CoatsSeptember 5th 2014

The bespoke pea coat – Part 3

July 24th 2014

The bespoke pea coat had many inspirations. Among its foremost influences were the personal creations of Davide (Taub, Gieves & Hawkes head cutter); the Gieves military and naval archive; and the embroidery designs of lovely Claire (Barrett...

The bespoke pea coat – Part 3

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I'm afraid I don't have any Sam, sorry...

CoatsJuly 24th 2014