Rome: A sartorial city guide
The ancient forum, at the heart of Rome By Andrew Borda. Rome is often a first port of call for visitors to Italy, due to its history, beauty and climate. I’ve had the great fortune of spending a lot of time there over the past three years, an...
Rome: A sartorial city guide
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Thanks Andrew. I am conscious that Rome is very big. To give you some context, I love Italy and have been there almost every year for the last 20 years. I am now visiting it several times a year (Naples, Palermo and a bi...
The rules and how to break them: Your socks shoul...
Well, hello there. Welcome back to our series on the menswear ‘rules’, where we explain why these conventions exist and as a result how they should be broken. The key is not to follow any rule blindly. Instead, see these rules as advice ...
The rules and how to break them: Your socks shoul...
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Anyone found a similar and more durable version of the 2 colors yet? I truly dislike pure cotton socks, but I really love the idea of only having 2 colors to choose from....
Stefan Brandt: Superlative jersey but not my style
A friend recently put me in touch with the German brand Stefan Brandt, which makes clothes out of an exclusive, extra-fine cotton jersey, as well as supplying it to fashion brands. The founder, Stefan, is obsessive when it comes to quality. He set u...
Stefan Brandt: Superlative jersey but not my style
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Thanks, no no plans, cotton jersey was the focus as that seemed to be the main point of innovation and uniqueness...
My socks are from TM Lewin
My old editor used to have a phrase I don’t see around much in journalism anymore – the ‘tail fin’ headline, intended to describe a headline that was mostly there for show, in the same way as a tail fin on a car. Today’...
My socks are from TM Lewin
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Thought I’d add another longer term review - I decided to give the Corgi cotton/wool socks another go, and now wear them regularly. The main shortcoming is still there - they slip down at the heel very easily; which is...
Seoul: A menswear shopping guide
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 shop with a di...
Seoul: A menswear shopping guide
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Just answering my own question re footwear sizing here as a public service as am currently travelling in Seoul. Parlour's friendly staff sadly advised that their entire shoe range (including JM Weston, Alden, C&J) is...
Christmas Gift List 2023: Do not read!
Permanent Style reader, this is not for you. This is intended for your wife/husband/partner/child/dog, in an attempt to help source a Christmas present for someone who, let’s face it, is very fussy in general but particularly about clothing. ...
Christmas Gift List 2023: Do not read!
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I haven't had Dent's for a while so hard to say, but I think they'd be similar to Trunk, yes...
Autumn/Winter picks 2022: J Press, RM Williams, A...
L’Impermeabile gilet, at John Simons £435 This lightly waxed gilet, particularly in the pale beige colour, is reminiscent of the Eddie Bauer style that has become popular in recent years. It’s 100% cotton on the outside though, whi...
Autumn/Winter picks 2022: J Press, RM Williams, A...
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It looks OK Jake - a little short perhaps, a little plain, and I guess not the highest quality from J Crew, but probably a decent option. Hard to say much about fabric or shape just from images...
Tailoring for travelling: tough, comfortable, plain
In our recent articles on menswear destinations in Rome, a couple of readers asked about the outfit I was wearing for beating around the hot city. The individual pieces should be pretty familiar: cotton double-breasted jacket from Ferdinando Carac...
Tailoring for travelling: tough, comfortable, plain
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So I guess the pair I pick for the trip is mostly about which is the most versatile and so useful for different outfits, rather than caring too much about a small point of fit. In terms of avoiding relegating trousers li...
Subtlety and drama: The appeal of the purple sock
Today’s article - a debut for someone I’ve long admired, Jason Jules - is an excellent example of why I like having these contributions on PS. I rarely wear contrast-coloured socks these days, particularly purple. But it’s still a...
Subtlety and drama: The appeal of the purple sock
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Personally I'd only wear black. But, if you were going to wear colour then better in a sock or boutonniere than a cummerbund or bow tie...
Autumn/Winter Top 10: Wax, Ivy and secateurs
This year’s A/W Top 10 list includes a sprinkling of new names, but a lot of familiar ones too. I don’t think this is unexpected or unwelcome. The world of classic, crafted menswear is not large, primarily because men still don’t ...
Autumn/Winter Top 10: Wax, Ivy and secateurs
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I did briefly, you're right, but ended up giving them back...
What would I buy from Massimo Dutti?
When is it worth buying the best possible quality, and when can you economise? This, of course, was part of the subject of my book The Finest Menswear in the World , which examined what constitutes ‘quality’ in various categories of clo...
What would I buy from Massimo Dutti?
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This is a Spanish brand born in the end of the XX century. It chose an Italian name just to sell better abroad, convinced that even iniciated fashionists think that good taste is only Italian. Today, there are so many go...
Spring/Summer Top 10: Chores, shirts and sweats
1. Drake’s bright-red suede chore jacket £1195 I’ve been asked a few times over the years about these suede chore jackets from Drake’s. Personally I tend to prefer blouson styles, and chore coats in cottons, particularly vint...
Spring/Summer Top 10: Chores, shirts and sweats
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Thanks for the reply! Yeah, then it's not what I am looking for unfortunately. The search continues!...
Inside the Bresciani sock factory, Spirano
Following on from our recent article on Loro Piana, here is one more extract from my book The Finest Menswear in the World . It explains why Bresciani makes some of the finest socks – and importantly, what we mean by ‘the finest’ o...
Inside the Bresciani sock factory, Spirano
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I'd say that polyester does make them last longer, yes, and I'd be fine with it unless I had issues around breathability with my feet, or comfort with that level of polyester. Bresciani is a higher level of quality, but ...
The Winter Top 5: End, GRP, Real McCoy’s, B...
Anonymous Ism socks, via End £30 The online version of End is a surprisingly good source for classic clothing. Although it’s still dominated by street wear, and the new shop off Carnaby Street is entirely trainers and hoodies, the websit...
The Winter Top 5: End, GRP, Real McCoy’s, B...
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Thanks John, interesting to hear. There's a piece coming up on gilets and vests (featuring this piece as part of it), so good to get your thoughts there as well...
Bespoke socks, at Mes Chaussettes Rouges
Do most people need bespoke socks? No. Most people are fine with simple small, medium and large sizing. And when you get into proper sock sizes (10, 10.5, 11) everyone is catered for. Do they need specific colours, or materials? Well possibly, but ...
Bespoke socks, at Mes Chaussettes Rouges
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10-4, thank you!...
My new favourite underwear: Hamilton & Hare ...
*My experience of this underwear in the months since has not been as good, and I would therefore not recommend it as highly. I experienced quality issues with both the waistband and the material* Long-time readers may remember The Underwear Project ...
My new favourite underwear: Hamilton & Hare ...
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Take a look at Randies. They are a relatively new company but I find the quality excellent - great fit and their ‘nut sack’ is a clever invention that supports and gives easy access....
Christmas gift list 2018
It’s that time of year again. The TV adverts that started a month ago should have been a warning. Below is my Christmas gift list for 2019. It is not a comprehensive list of the best menswear gifts right now. It’s certainly not related i...
Christmas gift list 2018
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Good point, no in a medium now. Though that is partially preference and partially me getting a bit bigger. I take medium now...
No Man Walks Alone A/W: Frank Leder, Monitaly, So...
It’s been over a year since I last had the chance to browse the stock at No Man Walks Alone and write one of these pieces, for which I blame a lack of travel to New York. It is possible to select a few favourites online, of course, particularl...
No Man Walks Alone A/W: Frank Leder, Monitaly, So...
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'No man walks alone' - possibly not the best brand name during the current Covid 19 outbreak. We are all walking alone now! They will need to rebrand....
Sartoria Pasinato cavalry-twill suit: Review
This suit from Vicenza-based Sartoria Pasinato has turned out very smartly, with a clean fit and very sharp line. Part of this is a result of the cloth, which is a cavalry twill from Vitale Barberis Canonico (584, 440g). Twills like this (covert is ...
Sartoria Pasinato cavalry-twill suit: Review
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Just look at the prices of a good MTM today. https://www.permanentstyle.com/2025/07/who-are-my-favourite-made-to-measure-tailors.html...
Brand round-up: R. Culturi, Mes Chaussettes Rouge...
1 R. Culturi There are many brands launching ties or handkerchiefs online these days, given it’s an easy area to try and express something new - and the lack of sizing makes it relatively easy to sell online. One that was shown to me recently ...
Brand round-up: R. Culturi, Mes Chaussettes Rouge...
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I owe MCR an apology - they replied very quickly to my complaint and reassured me that although my password was shown in the email, the email itself was encrypted. So all-in-all a good response....
James Smith & Son umbrellas, London
The following is an extract from my book Best of British: The Stories Behind Britain’s Iconic Brands , published by Prestel. Dedicated copies are available to buy here – James Smith & Sons Two or three times every day, ...
James Smith & Son umbrellas, London
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Thanks Charles, I didn't realise that about the different synthetic canopies...
Viccel over-the-calf socks
For the past month I have been testing Viccel socks, a Turkish manufacturer that pretty much only sells through its own website. If they tested well, I hoped Viccel would be a good value alternative for over-the-calf hosiery. There are several goo...
Viccel over-the-calf socks
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I don't, sorry Nicolay...
New colours of the Perfect Socks
UPDATE: Bram is now offering free shipping for all orders of three socks or more, which include one Diamond Rib pair (our design above). Go through to checkout on the store and the shipping charge will be removed We had such a lovely response to...
New colours of the Perfect Socks
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They do not. Quel dommage....
The Perfect Socks – Permanent Style x Willi...
About 50% of Permanent Style collaborations never come to fruition. The quality’s not right, or the cut, or some other aspect just can’t be perfected. Often the lead time proves to be too long. It makes you realise how difficult...
The Perfect Socks – Permanent Style x Willi...
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Thin merino would be ideal from an odour and longevity perspective, but they might sweat a bit too much for you. Perhaps try and pair and see? If they don't work, you might actually be better with fairly normal cotton (n...
William Abraham socks in HTSI
My latest column for How to Spend It is on the innovative Bram Frankel, creator of sock brand William Abraham. I continue to be impressed by Bram ever since I first helped launch the brand back in February. He is doing something truly original in m...
William Abraham socks in HTSI
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Hi Joseph, For year round, you'll need cotton. For style, generally the best at staying up is ribbed. And the best company for me is probably Bresciani, but most high-end sock makers are quite similar. If they're below t...
