Holiday snaps 2018: Eidos, Aspesi, Doek, Drake...
April 20th 2018Travelling to India on holiday this Easter gave me a reason to get the hot-weather clothing out early. It was unseasonably hot even for there, with the temperature pushing 40 degrees. We took the opportunity to visit the 100 Hands factory ...
Holiday snaps 2018: Eidos, Aspesi, Doek, Drake...
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Article coming on that tomorrow! Good timing......
Saint Crispin’s shoes: Reflections two year...
March 23rd 2018I now have three pairs of Saint Crispin’s shoes: the alligator/calf wing-tips pictured above; brown-suede chukka boots; and most recently a pair of dark-brown suede cap-toes. I have ordered steadily and regularly, each time gaining in confiden...
Saint Crispin’s shoes: Reflections two year...
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Thank you Russ, very useful. And yes I agree, doing it remotely is always going to make everything a step harder...
How to look after your shoes
January 12th 2018This is the first in a series of videos that we will be doing over the coming months, looking at caring for good clothes. They will be instructional, but not too technical, and we plan to build them up slowly over the year - so for example, not try...
How to look after your shoes
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Ah, yes but that will vary a little - sometimes if they've been on display in the shop they will have had some polish on them already...
Gaziano & Girling introduces my loafer ̵...
January 8th 2018The hatch-grain loafers I commissioned with Gaziano & Girling back in 2012 have consistently been among my favourite shoes - both for me and for readers. The mid-brown colour is tremendously versatile (everything from cream to mid-grey trous...
Gaziano & Girling introduces my loafer ̵...
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I personally like the shape of the Piccadilly more, but they're both beautifully made shoes...
Gaziano & Girling bespoke loafers – Re...
December 27th 2017These bespoke suede loafers from Gaziano & Girling have been a while in the make - I last covered the first fitting back in September 2016. It hasn't taken over a year to get from that fitting to now, however. They were actually ready in th...
Gaziano & Girling bespoke loafers – Re...
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I wear square and round and like both, but I wouldn't go as long as the Deco models these days...
Baudoin & Lange women’s shoes (and Luc...
November 24th 2017A few menswear shoemakers have expanded into women’s shoes in recent years. These shoes will generally be a lot better made than the other women’s shoes in the market, and not necessarily more expensive (given the designer mark ups on th...
Baudoin & Lange women’s shoes (and Luc...
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I just stumbled into this article. My husband loves his Sagans, and after accompanying him to the store on occasion, I ended up buying several myself! The only downside is that they're not quite as versatile as ballet fl...
Stivaleria Savoia bespoke shoes: Review
November 13th 2017When I cover an artisan where I’m genuinely interested in the product - its quality, design and often heritage or story, I have something made. I then tend to cover the maker in one, initial post that explains their product and background; and...
Stivaleria Savoia bespoke shoes: Review
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Jesper on Shoegazing said that Calzoleria Carlino has taken over the old models, lasts, and leathers from Savoia....
Enzo Bonafe hand-welted shoes – factory visit
October 16th 2017Enzo Bonafe is one of only two men’s shoe factories left in the area around Bologna, Italy. The other is Testoni, and when Enzo left Testoni to set up his own factory, in 1963, there were more than 40 factories in the region. It has been a rap...
Enzo Bonafe hand-welted shoes – factory visit
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Hi Timofey - interesting experience. Where in Forte have you bought Enzo Bonafe? The good prices at Mauro Volpino in Firenze, are they during their sales? If so, I assume they are the summer and winter ones? What kind of...
How to wear trainers: Part 3. Style
October 13th 2017This post is an illustrated explanation of how I wear trainers, or sneakers. As with similar exercises on the blog, I have attempted to be as structured as possible, keeping some parameters constant in order to focus on those being discussed. So in ...
How to wear trainers: Part 3. Style
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Hi Tamesh Personally, I think it could work well - it's not that dissimilar to what Simon is wearing in the first look (minus the knitwear)...
How to wear trainers: Part 2. Quality
October 6th 2017In recent years, as premium trainers/sneakers have increasingly popular, readers have asked for my view on when they might be appropriate, and when they are, what they should buy. I covered that last point in the first part of this series, ‘1:...
How to wear trainers: Part 2. Quality
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I don't I'm afraid. If you like the styles, I'd certainly recommend CQP, but otherwise Common Projects are the only leather style I wear. There are ones that are similar at a cheaper price - but make sure to carefully co...
Accessories for holiday
August 7th 2017Following my post two weeks ago on what I pack for travel, a reader asked about non-clothing items - electronics, toiletries and so on. So here are a few of my favourite things, which will certainly be going on holiday this summer. 1 Bower &...
Accessories for holiday
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Yes, I think a tote of some sort is the best option. And yes, I'd carry it all day...
What I pack when I travel
July 19th 2017As I return from two summer trips – one for a week in Florence, the other a week in Naples – it seems a fitting time to run through what I pack for trips such as these. I know readers have asked about it in the past. Of course, an...
What I pack when I travel
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I highly recommend the unlined Duke from EG. Supremely comfortable and stylish, if you like a more classic / robust shape than B&L and something more substantial than the Polperro. I have a lovely biscuit coloured pa...
Connolly: Style and fashion meet on Clifford Street
July 14th 2017Connolly, 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...
Baudoin & Lange sagans – my colour
July 7th 2017For the past year - ever since they were first launched here on Permanent Style - I have been wearing Sagans by Baudoin & Lange regularly and consistently. But it has only been in the past few weeks, as the temperature has soared and I've b...
My desk
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Hey Bolaji, Yes, I've written comprehensively about moths here. This desk also opens up into a flat surface - you couldn't work on that angle...
Brand round-up: Rubinacci, CQP and Carl Friedrik
July 3rd 2017A slightly smaller set of reviews in the brand round-up this month, with more focus on the details. Rubinacci suit carrier, £1200 therake.com/brands/rubinacci/bags First up is this leather suit carrier - or garment bag - from Rubinacci, being ...
Brand round-up: Rubinacci, CQP and Carl Friedrik
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Sure Nathan. I haven't tried Carl Friedrik I'm afraid, so can't speak to them. But I do hope those influencers are talking about them after bashing them around on a few journeys, rather than just new. I use Rimowa, which...
Stivaleria Savoia: Bespoke shoemaker, Milan
June 23rd 2017Stivaleria Savoia is an old Milanese bespoke bootmaker ( stivaleria means bootmaker, and it was founded by craftsmen who made for the Savoia, or Savoy, cavalry). The designs are classic and practical, and unlikely to set any Instagram feeds alight. ...
Stivaleria Savoia: Bespoke shoemaker, Milan
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Well, as most of the bootmakers in Italy, Stivaleria Savoia was forced to shift the majority of its production to shoemaking. But its shop and lab are still up and running and in very good shape. For saddles, bridles etc...
My Corthays – colours, issues and pleasures
May 1st 2017I've always had a problem with Corthay shoes. Not so much the style - while many of the designs and colours are too brash for me, I've consistently found interesting light and dark browns to keep me interested. No, the big issue has been the last ...
My Corthays – colours, issues and pleasures
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Thanks Simon, appreciate it....
Style Guide – the partners shoot
April 24th 2017The Style Guide has been wonderfully received so far - at the launch events in London and New York, but also online and through personal messages. Thank you all. There are a few things I realise I haven't emphasised so far. One is that we proudly d...
Style Guide – the partners shoot
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Lots of things I think. Grey and navy as shown here, plus cream or white, and black. More tonally similar colours, like dark brown, might be Ok if there's some other contrast, such as a white shirt underneath...
Skoaktiebolaget and Stoffa in How To Spend It
April 15th 2017He looks pretty suave doesn't he? Got a good lean on. Patrick at Swedish shoe shop Skoaktiebolaget recently posed for an article of mine, above, in How To Spend It magazine. (A supplement of the Financial Times, and arguably the top luxury publicat...
Skoaktiebolaget and Stoffa in How To Spend It
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Hi Simon, Have you considered writing for publications like Gay Times or Attitude? Both publications are aimed mainly at men and could increase your audience (and income). Best regards Joel...
Super Trunk coming to London
March 28th 2017Good things are happening in London at the moment. There was our pop-up shop, of course; the new Drake's shop looks amazing (do visit if you haven't already); and an increasing number of artisans are coming to London. The latest development in thi...
Super Trunk coming to London
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It's a brilliant idea and with a great line up ...we're only sorry that we can't be there but we're both in New York teaching. Great to see Sarah Nelson from A Fine Pair of Shoes taking part in the discussions in the eve...
Baudoin & Lange, Luca Faloni, Hanger Project...
March 8th 2017Over the past 10 days I have generally prioritised writing about new brands in our Savile Row pop-up shop. But there are also new developments at makers you will be familiar with - Baudoin & Lange, Luca Faloni, Begg and the Hanger Project -...
Baudoin & Lange, Luca Faloni, Hanger Project...
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I don't hang my knits, and in general it's safest to fold them (heavier ones can lose shape if hung for long periods). I've also never really invested in hangers (see piece here). However, I would recommend Nakata hanger...
Building a wardrobe: Bespoke shoes
February 15th 2017As the last post on building a wardrobe - focused on Neapolitan tailoring - proved popular, I thought I'd do a second looking at shoes. But rather than look at my whole shoe collection, which numbers more than 40 pairs and would take a long time to ...
Building a wardrobe: Bespoke shoes
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Thank you, and yes you're right. Today I would have had a loafer or two in there, more dark-brown suede, and I would have had a more subtle boot than that chelsea. Overall though, I would also keep bespoke mostly for mor...
How great things age: Cleverley Russian-reindeer ...
January 11th 2017On Permanent Style we have always pushed the intelligent, considered acquisition of a quality wardrobe. This has many advantages. But it also has a large disadvantage: it removes, or at least makes less frequent, the unique adrenaline hit of retail. ...
How great things age: Cleverley Russian-reindeer ...
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No, though it did always seem like a lot! Then there were also various modern reproductions which muddied the waters somewhat...
Saint Crispin’s: Relasting, boots and US ac...
December 23rd 2016The ability - or more perhaps significantly, the willingness - of Saint Crispin's to re-last a pair of shoes is a key part of their attraction. Having a personalised last is great, and arguably better value than bespoke, but as with bespoke it can ...
Saint Crispin’s: Relasting, boots and US ac...
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Hey Wes, 1) Yes 2) Two...
