August Special, Besnard, Haversack: Autumn highli...

October 25th 2024

1. Snow Peak Boa Fleece jacket £220, Large If a Permanent Style reader wanted a good fleece - for park wear as much as mountain wear - this Snow Peak one ticks most of the boxes. It’s a nice style, in a good fleece, without any obvious b...

August Special, Besnard, Haversack: Autumn highli...

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It's indeed a complex topic, but adding cotton to the equation seems like an unnecessary detour, as we are discussing midlayers, where it's safe to assume that noone wants cotton. Full disclosure: I have no idea about th...

Bags - KnitwearOctober 25th 2024

What I’m looking forward to wearing this winter

September 13th 2024

By Jamie Ferguson. Hey there Permanent Stylers. Longtime contributor, first time writer so go easy on me. Now I may be in the minority here but I LOVE summer dressing. I enjoy the feeling of a cool breeze betwixt my nethers, brazenly unclasping that...

What I’m looking forward to wearing this winter

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Beautiful Inis Meain sweater, and great style generally. Simon, Jamie - or anybody really! - do you know if there’s anywhere that makes Aran or Shetland knitwear, where I could do some MTO/MTM? Unfortunately my arms ar...

Jackets - KnitwearSeptember 13th 2024

Seven boat shoes compared: Quoddy, Yuketen, Parab...

July 31st 2024

Boat shoes and their ilk (deck, moc, canoe etc) have become a bit of a trend in the past year. Miu Miu, Bally and Loro Piana launched styles in the fashion world, while the likes of Ghiaia, Crockett & Jones and Saman Amel have introduced mor...

Seven boat shoes compared: Quoddy, Yuketen, Parab...

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Hey Max - that's from Rubato. Last year, so not sure they currently offer it...

ShoesJuly 31st 2024

La Botte Gardiane: Searching for my perfect black...

June 24th 2024

By Lucas Nicholson. The idea of black boots has been obsessing me for much of the past year. It must be a fairly common menswear preoccupation, given the inspiration: Marlon Brando in his black leather and bad-boy persona, most obviously. Which as a...

La Botte Gardiane: Searching for my perfect black...

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I got half a size larger than my usual size and it was the right decision. There was some heel slippage but it’s very minor and it got better with time. All in all, the sandals are very comfortable to wear even on long...

ShoesJune 24th 2024

Reader profile: Tetsuya

June 19th 2024

Tetsuya Yamashita is a reader that Lucas knows rather than me. Back in the days when he ran the Drake’s pop-up in the old Beige shop in Paris, Tetsuya was a regular visitor, and is still a friend of Beige today. In fact we used their shop as a...

Reader profile: Tetsuya

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I have to say as another Viennese that I disagree here a bit, Markus. You are correct that there are long tourist queues and it has become more touristy, but the place still has a charm. Maybe it no longer has 220 papers...

Jackets - ShoesJune 19th 2024

Which office are you? A cold, current 2024 update

May 22nd 2024

The article ‘Which office are you?’ in 2016 was one of the most popular we have ever done on PS. I think largely because it showed clearly how outfits could be adjusted to different levels of formality, at a time when office attire was a...

Which office are you? A cold, current 2024 update

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I do, but these were meant to be a little more robust and easier in wet weather, so I went with a rubber one...

Jackets - KnitwearMay 22nd 2024

Making shoes for King Charles: Tony Gaziano video

May 15th 2024

Forgive me for leading with the story of the shoes Gaziano & Girling made for His Majesty Charles III. It isn't the main thing we discussed in this interview with Tony Gaziano, but I know it will be the one that gets the most attention. That...

Making shoes for King Charles: Tony Gaziano video

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I second Simon here, I checked several UK and IT balance sheets, none are making more money that before, quite the opposite....

Shoes - VideoMay 15th 2024

Beige, Paris: The best kind of multi-brand shop

May 6th 2024

A lot of music fans don’t see the point of covers albums. They want the originals, not a bunch of copies. But I’ve always liked them, whether it’s Johnny Cash’s American IV or Rage Against The Machine’s Renegades , beca...

Beige, Paris: The best kind of multi-brand shop

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We can certainly look to at some point, PF. It's hard to cover everyone and we would always focus on the ones we liked the style of particularly, but a round-up article or similar on great independent shops in Europe mig...

Bags - Casual clothingMay 6th 2024

Reader profile: Niyi

April 26th 2024

By André Larnyoh I’ve known Niyi for three or four years and he’s always someone I’ve learnt from. His style is eclectic: classic menswear brands alongside contemporary fashion, bursts of colour with subdued tones. Yet someh...

Reader profile: Niyi

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A great example of someone not trying to be anything other than himself...and maybe that's the point of everything....

Coats - KnitwearApril 26th 2024

Buck Mason, Novesta, New & Lingwood: Spring ...

April 24th 2024

Our seasonal summary of things I’ve seen and liked rolls around again, and as ever is a good mechanism to answer questions about new products from established brands, such as the City Moc from Saman Amel (above). But it’s also, by design...

Buck Mason, Novesta, New & Lingwood: Spring ...

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Hey Mike, I'd wear it with something like brown chinos or flannels and then black loafers or boots. Or perhaps charcoal trousers and brown boots, something along those lines. I also wear it with the first combination and...

Belts and wallets - Casual clothingApril 24th 2024

Yuketen, Crescent Down Works, Big Rock Candy Moun...

March 25th 2024

Last week I wrote about visiting the Paris trade shows for the first time, and being able to interview some new brands as a result. Today I’m going to highlight three that we found particularly interesting. The first is Yuketen, the craft-bas...

Yuketen, Crescent Down Works, Big Rock Candy Moun...

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The sizing was pretty true to size. They are quirky, but if you like the style they are really nicely made...

Casual clothing - CoatsMarch 25th 2024

How does Paris compare to Pitti? Pendleton, Frizm...

March 15th 2024

Boots on display at Viberg, at Man/Woman; above, Welcome Edition This past January, after Pitti, I went to see the equivalent shows in Paris for the first time. I’d never been before and was interested to see how it compared to Pitti in terms ...

How does Paris compare to Pitti? Pendleton, Frizm...

Match in comments:
No, sorry Avi...

Bags - Casual clothingMarch 15th 2024

Bespoke loafers with Seiji McCarthy: Commissionin...

December 15th 2023

In Japan earlier this year I started the process of commissioning a pair of bespoke loafers from Seiji McCarthy. Loafers are often tricky to make bespoke, and bespoke as a whole I’ve found a little inconsistent, so why did I take this leap wi...

Bespoke loafers with Seiji McCarthy: Commissionin...

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Only that they have been delayed a little. Seiji is having problems with workers and with the infrastructure in Japan generally, as I know others are too, unfortunately...

ShoesDecember 15th 2023

Seoul: A menswear shopping guide

December 13th 2023

  Earlier this month I visited Seoul, to see some of the tailors I had been intrigued by but mostly seen from afar, and to visit some of the shops and brands. My impression was of a dynamic city – new development, new retail, every sho...

Seoul: A menswear shopping guide

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I think that can be nice Alex, certainly better than a coloured bow tie or cummerbund. Personally I'd still go with black, as that's the essence of black tie for me, but burgundy socks wouldn't be bad at all...

Bags - Belts and walletsDecember 13th 2023

Roberto Ugolini bespoke boots: Review

November 22nd 2023

I recently had these boots made bespoke by Roberto Ugolini in Florence, and they have turned out very well. I have two reflections about bespoke shoes off the back of them. One is that I am increasingly specific about what I need in terms of fit, an...

Roberto Ugolini bespoke boots: Review

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I can see how that could be confusing Shannon. I meant that the challenge of bespoke isn't whether you know the customer's foot shape or not - that's a fairly minor thing. So scans that show you the foot shape aren't muc...

ShoesNovember 22nd 2023

Wythe, Bally, P Johnson: A/W 2023 highlights 

November 3rd 2023

Some old, some new in this year’s round-up of Autumn/Winter products. These articles are a nice way to mention brands on the edge of our radar (Bally) as well as to discuss new releases from favourites that wouldn’t otherwise get a full ...

Wythe, Bally, P Johnson: A/W 2023 highlights 

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Yes. Trees make less of a difference, but I still would if they were worn regularly. Worth a brush down after wear just like suede as well...

Casual clothing - DenimNovember 3rd 2023

Arthur Sleep, Aimé Leon Dore and Acme/Mori: Three...

October 16th 2023

We probably spend a little too much time talking about how great products are on PS (even though we're more critical than most) and not enough talking about ones that didn't work out. Here's a summary of three I've tried recently, which for various ...

Arthur Sleep, Aimé Leon Dore and Acme/Mori: Three...

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Cotton sweaters are near-on essential in the subtropics, or there's nearly no opportunity to wear knitwear....

Knitwear - ShoesOctober 16th 2023

Questions about unlined loafers – with my B...

August 18th 2023

There have been quite a few queries about unlined shoes, particularly loafers, in recent months. Ones about longevity and fit specifically have come up multiple times. I thought it would be good therefore to do a post summarising answers to them, in...

Questions about unlined loafers – with my B...

Match in comments:
Okay thank you Simon....

ShoesAugust 18th 2023

Reader profile: Ian

August 14th 2023

Ian is retired, and got into luxury menswear late in life. But he always had an interest in clothes, from his early days in Ivy clothing to the forties and fifties influences that came with learning jive dancing. It could be easy to see him as bein...

Reader profile: Ian

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Amazing! I bet Ian must have loved that. Thanks for letting me know...

Shirts - ShoesAugust 14th 2023

Sandals: Slides and huaraches, open-toe and closed

August 7th 2023

Espadrilles are my preferred, casual summer shoe. I’ve always liked their clean lines and simplicity, which make them more elegant than pretty much any other option. I also quite like the massage-like feeling of walking on rope. They’re ...

Sandals: Slides and huaraches, open-toe and closed

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I'd say the natural or the black. I actually like the natural a lot - I wear it with everything, including black trousers...

ShoesAugust 7th 2023

If you only had five (casual) shoes

June 28th 2023

  This is intended to be a partner to the ‘ If you only had five shoes ’ article in our Wardrobe Building guide, which was all smart footwear. Today’s piece is shoes that aren’t smart enough for a traditional office o...

If you only had five (casual) shoes

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I wouldn't say the Cranleigh is workwear, but yes I know what you mean. The Galway is good with jeans and chinos yes. The most versatile model would probably be a chukka...

ShoesJune 28th 2023

Sticking with Yohei: Commissioning black oxfords

June 26th 2023

Readers will be aware that I have become a little sceptical about bespoke shoes in recent years. As I detailed in the article ‘ Are bespoke shoes worth it? ’ my experiences have been a little patchy, and looking back on 13 years of commi...

Sticking with Yohei: Commissioning black oxfords

Match in comments:
Good question. I'd say the make is more refined in places, more precise and dressy, but we're talking small details, they're fundamentally made in the same way...

ShoesJune 26th 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...

Match in comments:
Thank you Dave. Yes you do get Tabio here in the UK carried by a few stores...

Bags - Belts and walletsJune 7th 2023

Parker Boot Company: Roper boots review

June 5th 2023

These are my finished western boots from Parker Boot Company in Houston, Texas. I’ve had them for a while now, but various other things (mostly Japan) have got in the way of coverage. As I wrote in my first article on Zephan Parker - ‘ ...

Parker Boot Company: Roper boots review

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I have been searching for a low heel and round toe boot for so long. I do not like the pointy toe or heel to high as it makes my back hurt. These are beautiful only out of reach for me!...

ShoesJune 5th 2023

The struggles with shoemaking in Japan

May 12th 2023

Five or six years ago, it was easy to find young people that wanted to be shoemakers in Japan. The wave of enthusiasm for both craft and menswear elsewhere in the world had washed up here just as strongly. Today, with Covid having only just effecti...

The struggles with shoemaking in Japan

Match in comments:
Thank you Nezar...

ShoesMay 12th 2023