Permanent Style trunk show: Heurtault, Amoruso, C...
September 7th 2016I 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...
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 w...
Simonnot-Godard handkerchiefs
May 23rd 2016Simonnot-Godard is an interesting company. It dominates what is a (very) niche market of high-end woven cotton and linen handkerchiefs. That market that has grown substantially in recent years. When Benjamin Simonnot (pictured above) started travell...
Simonnot-Godard handkerchiefs
Simonnot-Godard is an interesting company. It dominates what is a (very) niche market of high-end woven cotton and linen handkerchiefs. That market that has grown substantially in recent years. When Benjamin Simonnot (...
The Rake collaborations
April 21st 2016I’ve had a few questions from readers as to my views on The Rake’s new collaborations – products that the magazine started selling on its site a couple of months ago. I’ve seen most of them first hand, inde...
The Rake collaborations
I’ve had a few questions from readers as to my views on The Rake’s new collaborations – products that the magazine started selling on its site a couple of months ago. I’ve seen most of th...
Lavabre Cadet glove maker, Paris-Millau
March 16th 2016It is rare these days that I cover someone for the first time who is genuinely a step above their peers. Yet such is the case with Lavabre Cadet. I had known of the French glove maker for several years, but never met and talked to them in person....
Lavabre Cadet glove maker, Paris-Millau
It is rare these days that I cover someone for the first time who is genuinely a step above their peers. Yet such is the case with Lavabre Cadet. I had known of the French glove maker for several years, but neve...
Video: How to tie a scarf
January 13th 2016Another practical piece for everyone: my five favourite ways to wear a scarf – with a jacket, with an overcoat or with knitwear. Begg & Co and I collaborated on the video, which is also available on their website alongside a w...
Video: How to tie a scarf
Another practical piece for everyone: my five favourite ways to wear a scarf – with a jacket, with an overcoat or with knitwear. Begg & Co and I collaborated on the video, which is also available on ...
If you only had five handkerchiefs – a caps...
January 7th 2016A capsule collection has many uses. When you travel for long periods, for example, you want a small but versatile collection of clothes that has a large number of permutations, and suits different occasions. And if you commute by bike (as I do) yo...
If you only had five handkerchiefs – a caps...
A capsule collection has many uses. When you travel for long periods, for example, you want a small but versatile collection of clothes that has a large number of permutations, and suits different occasions. And if ...
How to wear the PS square scarf
November 17th 2015As promised last week – when we introduced our latest collaboration, the PS square scarf – here are some step-by-step guides to wearing it. All images can be enlarged by clicking on them. The scarves are available to buy, in ...
How to wear the PS square scarf
As promised last week – when we introduced our latest collaboration, the PS square scarf – here are some step-by-step guides to wearing it. All images can be enlarged by clicking on them. The scarves...
Introducing: the PS square scarf
November 11th 2015Men have historically always worn something at the neck – if it wasn’t a tie, it was an ascot or a workman’s neckerchief. Such things are practical, for work and for warmth. Over the past six months we have been working with w...
Introducing: the PS square scarf
Men have historically always worn something at the neck – if it wasn’t a tie, it was an ascot or a workman’s neckerchief. Such things are practical, for work and for warmth. Over the past six months we have ...
How to wear a casual linen hank: less contrast, l...
August 26th 2015Handkerchiefs are not easy for a modern man. Few things are as conspicuous and unusual. Enough people wear ties and waistcoats to make them anonymous – even hats, which change the silhouette more than anything else, are more likely to be ...
How to wear a casual linen hank: less contrast, l...
Handkerchiefs are not easy for a modern man. Few things are as conspicuous and unusual. Enough people wear ties and waistcoats to make them anonymous – even hats, which change the silhouette more than anythin...
Zampa di Gallina: Neapolitan retail
June 4th 2015Zampa di Gallina (‘chicken feet’) is a menswear site set up recently specialising in Neapolitan makers. At least one of them has a connection to Naples, so it’s nice to have slightly more local retail, particularly for...
Zampa di Gallina: Neapolitan retail
Zampa di Gallina (‘chicken feet’) is a menswear site set up recently specialising in Neapolitan makers. At least one of them has a connection to Naples, so it’s nice to have slightly more local ret...
Begg and Barbour in HTSI
March 17th 2015For those that follow my column for How to Spend It magazine (part of the Financial Times), there have been two articles in the past month – on Barbour and on Begg. We’ve stuck with this format for almost 18 months now, as resp...
Begg and Barbour in HTSI
For those that follow my column for How to Spend It magazine (part of the Financial Times), there have been two articles in the past month – on Barbour and on Begg. We’ve stuck with this format for almos...
Wear a flower in your buttonhole
March 13th 2015It’s been beautiful weather this week – in London, anyway. Spring has sprung and the sun encourages some reflection in our dress. Which means more than just a pair of sunglasses. The wonderful thing about this time of year is t...
Wear a flower in your buttonhole
It’s been beautiful weather this week – in London, anyway. Spring has sprung and the sun encourages some reflection in our dress. Which means more than just a pair of sunglasses. The wonderful thing ab...
In front of the Barbour beacon
March 2nd 2015Last week three of us visited the Barbour factory in South Shields, in the name of a new book on British heritage brands. Given we were researching the stories behind the companies, it was natural to stay next to the lighthouse that was the early ...
In front of the Barbour beacon
Last week three of us visited the Barbour factory in South Shields, in the name of a new book on British heritage brands. Given we were researching the stories behind the companies, it was natural to stay next to...
Quality, embroidery and mechanisation – at ...
February 13th 2015The video above shows the key aspect of quality control at most weaving houses. Workers quickly scan the cloth for faults, then either snip off the stray end or – much more laboriously – manually reweave the thread back in. The...
Quality, embroidery and mechanisation – at ...
The video above shows the key aspect of quality control at most weaving houses. Workers quickly scan the cloth for faults, then either snip off the stray end or – much more laboriously – manually reweave ...
Coats, gloves, shirts and jeans: Reflections on b...
January 7th 2015Last year a reader commented – quite rightly – that there is a tendency here to cover freshly received suits/shirts/shoes, but not follow up on them later, when they have bedded in. He was right also to say that this is a defic...
Coats, gloves, shirts and jeans: Reflections on b...
Last year a reader commented – quite rightly – that there is a tendency here to cover freshly received suits/shirts/shoes, but not follow up on them later, when they have bedded in. He was right also ...
Begg & Co: luxury scarves, Ayr
December 24th 2014Begg & Co is not in the most prepossessing location. Ayr is far from a glamorous location anyway, but the factory itself is down a side street, opposite several blocks of council flats. Still, that’s often the way with British fac...
Begg & Co: luxury scarves, Ayr
Begg & Co is not in the most prepossessing location. Ayr is far from a glamorous location anyway, but the factory itself is down a side street, opposite several blocks of council flats. Still, that’s often t...
Begg’s milling machine
December 19th 2014This is a milling machine. An old one. Part of the finishing process for woven cloth, milling involves pummelling the material in order to break up the fibres and pull them together. The cloth shrinks slightly, becoming denser and acquiring a spon...
Begg’s milling machine
This is a milling machine. An old one. Part of the finishing process for woven cloth, milling involves pummelling the material in order to break up the fibres and pull them together. The cloth shrinks slightly, beco...
How to dress for winter
November 12th 2014I’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
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....
Postcard from Begg – teasels and cream cash...
November 4th 2014One of the interesting tensions in a factory visit is the way machinery is portrayed. Some manufacturers will boast of their old, traditional methods, when in fact the same thing could be done, quicker, by a newer machine – they just can&...
Postcard from Begg – teasels and cream cash...
One of the interesting tensions in a factory visit is the way machinery is portrayed. Some manufacturers will boast of their old, traditional methods, when in fact the same thing could be done, quicker, by a newer mac...
Brands review: Deux Cuirs, Svbscription, Cornerst...
September 22nd 2014Every week, around a dozen small companies contact me about their product. Each one has a great idea. It may be glasses made to measure, luxury socks or mystery gift boxes, but each is convinced he has an exciting new product. They often involve men&...
Brands review: Deux Cuirs, Svbscription, Cornerst...
Every week, around a dozen small companies contact me about their product. Each one has a great idea. It may be glasses made to measure, luxury socks or mystery gift boxes, but each is convinced he has an exciting new pr...
Postcards from Madrid
May 26th 2014These past few days I’ve been in Madrid, speaking at the Aristocrata club meeting and seeing a few of the tailors and shoemakers I know ( Langa, Reillo, Calvo de Mora, Norman Vilalta). I invited Elia Caliendo and Luca Avitabile of Satria...
Postcards from Madrid
These past few days I’ve been in Madrid, speaking at the Aristocrata club meeting and seeing a few of the tailors and shoemakers I know ( Langa, Reillo, Calvo de Mora, Norman Vilalta). I invited Elia Caliendo ...
Hermes silk scarf with Shetland sweater
April 2nd 2014A silk scarf, tied any way, is a great way to recreate the contrast achieved by a suit and tie and keep the neck warm. The sheen of this Hermes silk scarf contrasts particularly nicely with the deep texture of a Shetland sweater. It can be worn with...
Hermes silk scarf with Shetland sweater
A silk scarf, tied any way, is a great way to recreate the contrast achieved by a suit and tie and keep the neck warm. The sheen of this Hermes silk scarf contrasts particularly nicely with the deep texture of a Shetland...
Buying affordable luxury
March 28th 2014Last month, a reader asked for some recommendations of “affordable luxury”. By this, I think he meant items that weren’t necessarily that expensive, but were nonetheless luxurious. The best (a little) money could buy. Buying the bes...
Buying affordable luxury
Last month, a reader asked for some recommendations of “affordable luxury”. By this, I think he meant items that weren’t necessarily that expensive, but were nonetheless luxurious. The best (a little) money could b...
A (Christmas) word from our sponsors
November 18th 2013One 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
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 va...
Anderson & Sheppard on Clifford Street: It’s ...
March 8th 2013It is perhaps understandable to assume that the new Anderson & Sheppard store on Clifford Street is expensive. Bespoke suits round the corner certainly aren’t cheap, while in Clifford Street the trousers are over £300 and you can ...
Anderson & Sheppard on Clifford Street: It’s ...
It is perhaps understandable to assume that the new Anderson & Sheppard store on Clifford Street is expensive. Bespoke suits round the corner certainly aren’t cheap, while in Clifford Street the trousers are over ...