Trouser colours to wear with odd jackets
March 14th 2014Men increasingly wear separate jackets and trousers. It is an inevitable result of more casual office wear, and dressing down more generally. But separates are hard. Men are not used to combining them effectively, and although I see more nice jacke...
Trouser colours to wear with odd jackets
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Hopefully you shouldn't need bespoke just to get belt loops, but yes you might need MTM or MTO or do a fair bit of shopping around. I think the Civilman can be nice with casual jackets, yes. If you like that fit and high...
Consider a charcoal tie
March 12th 2014Conservative accessories are a great thing to master. First, because the acquisition of unusual clothing – such as cord suits or purple jackets – requires something effective to balance it. And second, because dressing extremely conservat...
Consider a charcoal tie
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I'd recommend pure wool actually today - cashmere hasn't held up that well....
A bespoke tour of Paris – Corthay, Cifonell...
March 4th 2014Read my one-day guide to bespoke operators in Paris in the latest article for Essence Lifestyle. Pictured, Pierre Corthay in typically playful mood.
A bespoke tour of Paris – Corthay, Cifonell...
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Your beautiful photos conjure memorable prose: "The French term for window shopping is 'leche-vitrines'--licking the plate glass. This requires perfect leisure, and our breakfast had used up most of the morning. Still we...
Postcard from Paris
February 11th 2014I was in Paris last week for a couple of articles, as well as visiting the usual suspects. Here in a green raincoat from Hermes with brown leather collar detail. Because green is the third colour. Traveller trilby from Lock & Co; Alfred Dun...
Postcard from Paris
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It's beautiful, but as with most designer brands, only available for that season I'm afraid......
How Pitti is changing
January 13th 2014In my report on Pitti Uomo for Essence magazine I examine the manufacturers – such as Begg, Merola and Bresciani – that are becoming brands in their own right. Read it here. Pictured: Pino Luciano of Neapolitan tailors Orazio Luci...
How Pitti is changing
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That's a good question Alfred. I'll use it as a post sometime soon if that's ok? Simon...
Pictures from Pitti Uomo 2014
January 12th 2014A few of the pictures of me from Pitti this year. Above, in brown tweed Caliendo jacket (more on that in a couple of weeks), Anderson & Sheppard flannels and Ralph Lauren madder-like orange handkerchief. Tweed such as this goes well with lot...
Pictures from Pitti Uomo 2014
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There would need to be more contrast in texture, yes. Try charcoal plain-weave or fresco perhaps...
The English Gentleman in the War Rooms
January 8th 2014The latest installment of the English Gentleman show, which took place last night in the Churchill War Rooms, was an absolute triumph. The underground command centre, well-known to boys and history students in the UK, provided a highly atmospheric ba...
The English Gentleman in the War Rooms
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These suits are incredible, even though they are inspired by a time drawn 60-odd years ago I would love to wear absolutely any one of them. It just shows that real men's style does not change that much. Well done to all ...
The Rake opens London Collections: Men
January 7th 2014This is probably the busiest week of the year. I tend to avoid the fashion shows, but there are now some great tailoring events in the calendar – including The Rake’s party at Claridge’s on Sunday night and the English G...
The Rake opens London Collections: Men
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I know Harry, yes. Not the others though...
How to wear colour
December 30th 2013Although I still like writing practical pieces, I don’t do as many as I used to. One reason, I think, is that it’s easy to feel that you are giving the same advice over and over again. As I looked through old posts in the process ...
How to wear colour
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Not sure where you read that Jonas? Brown and green are often great together...
Cifonelli jacket, D’Avino shirt and others
December 23rd 2013A reader asked what I was wearing at the dinner of Parisian Gentlemen last week. Fortunately, a profile photo was taken that day at the intellectual property conference I was speaking at – the reason I was in Paris in the first place. In t...
Cifonelli jacket, D’Avino shirt and others
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Here are some more pics of Simon's DB: http://dirnelli.tumblr.com/post/69709009635/simon-crompton-shows-you-how-the-cifonelli-bespoke...
Tortoiseshell and kidskin
December 16th 2013As someone who has spent too much of the past year redeveloping a website, I take my hat off to Will, who has accomplished a much more fundamental redesign over at A Suitable Wardrobe – melding the blog with the ASW store. One of the hardest th...
Tortoiseshell and kidskin
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Thought I'd replied but must have not come through. My first ones were great in terms of fit, but a tiny bit too long in the thumb, especially given the slight downwards slip when walking. This was rectified as part of t...
Chittleborough & Morgan suit – at A�...
November 29th 2013For those that were interested in the Chittleborough & Morgan suit I wrote about last week, here are some more images. The photography was done by new online luxury magazine Essence, for whom I wrote a short piece on Anderson & Sheppa...
Chittleborough & Morgan suit – at A�...
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Around a year ago. And no, not in the immediate future....
Green is the third colour
November 25th 2013Navy and grey are the kings of colour. They should be your first choice for almost every item of clothing – suit, jacket, trousers, overcoat, knitwear, even ties. Navy in particular for jackets and ties; mid-grey or charcoal for trousers. The c...
Green is the third colour
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Ice Cotton is a branded yarn, a high twist I think...
The style of cycling
November 8th 2013Cycling has to be the most stylish sport in the world. It has such an elegant, innate rhythm, plus a deep design heritage, a unique culture, and some of the most beautiful settings in the world. I sat down recently with three of the leading lights at...
The style of cycling
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Probably not worth it Andrew, unfortunately....
The likely lads
November 7th 2013Last night there were two store opening parties: Kent & Curwen on Savile Row and J Crew on Regent Street. And while neither will get fans of luxury menswear that excited, there were good things at both for those on a budget. K&C might...
The likely lads
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It's a shame K&C doesn't have an online facility to purchase their clothes. I think they are missing a trick, as they say...
How to buy good-value clothes
October 25th 2013Dear Simon, I’ve been reading Permanent Style for many years now, but recently went scurrying back through older posts for advice. Having decided I should go straight to the source, I write to you today. In the last few months I’ve fo...
How to buy good-value clothes
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It is rather sad to see TM Lewin go from our city high streets as of late but apparently continuing online....
How to wear separate jackets and trousers
October 2nd 2013In an age where suits no longer dominate the workplace, more and more men are wearing separate jackets and trousers. But while the dress code is more relaxed, the outfit is suddenly more complicated. There is much broader range of cloth, colour and p...
How to wear separate jackets and trousers
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I know what you mean, it's certainly more common in those places, but it still stands out by virtue of being so tonal (as well as when it's pale overall for example) compared to ones that aren't I find...
Me in Dartmoor; Michael in suede; Thomas joins G&...
September 23rd 2013These photos were taken at the Gieves party for Rose Callahan’s book I Am Dandy last week. Michael ( Browne, Chittleborough & Morgan) and I were rather underdressed, perhaps deliberately so, for an evening of fops and costume drama. Mic...
Me in Dartmoor; Michael in suede; Thomas joins G&...
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much obliged Simon. A...
How to wear T-shirts, jeans and much else
September 3rd 2013I write about why casual clothing is complicated, so much more so that suits and ties, in my latest column on We Are The Market, which you can read here. There is also now a nice homepage with links to all my previous articles, including the sockless...
How to wear T-shirts, jeans and much else
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Gotcha. Have a look in the 'casual clothing' category at the top of the site, and/or have a search for T-shirts, jeans, sweatshirts. You'll find lots of interesting stuff, eg here on what makes a quality sweat. Yes we ar...
Dressing for the summer, and the kids
September 2nd 2013I’ve been on holiday the past two weeks in the south of France; apologies for the tardiness confirming some comments. For those interested in more casual dress, here is something from last week, with my youngest hiding her face wisely from the ...
Dressing for the summer, and the kids
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Nice hat. I am having a Brent Black hat being made right now. Looking forward to it especially after seeing yours....
How to buy fragrance – the perfumes
August 2nd 2013Following the recent post on how to buy fragrance, this is the second installment – the brands I like and some suggestions of ones to look for. First, though, a reader asked about the difference between molecular and natural ingredients. Natura...
How to buy fragrance – the perfumes
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I absolutely love Chanel Égoïste!...
How to dress in hot weather
July 25th 2013The remarkable heat in London over the past two weeks has led to a few questions from readers as to the best way to stay cool in tailoring. Here are my top five tips. 1 Wear linen Linen is a wonderful cloth: breathable and cool to the touch. Although...
How to dress in hot weather
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Yes, having spent some time in the tropics. Put up with the heat and learn to enjoy it. Long trousers, long sleeve shirts and a hat actually keep you cooler by keeping the sun at bay as well as helping prevent sunburn. H...
How to buy quality perfume
July 17th 2013If men are scared of colour, pattern and real trousers then they are terrified of perfume. If they sometimes turn to fashion brands for reassurance in their clothing, they do so constantly with fragrance. It is much-misunderstood and misused. B...
How to buy quality perfume
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Be careful when buying perfume. I decided to venture into the perfumes department of House of Fraser yesterday and went to the Creed stand. I fear to say that some of the Creed scents seem to smell different, eg. Aventus...
Bright clothing suits the sun
July 5th 2013When it’s sunny, wear white. My latest column for We Are The Market considers the problems with wearing elegant, summer clothing when the British weather is inconsistent, to say the least. The key is to not miss an opportunity. Today there is u...
Bright clothing suits the sun
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Dear Simon, thank you very much for your advise. I followed your recommendation and ordered a navy light cloth summer jacket with half lining, patched pockets and ivory coloured buttons. I choose blue, cause it seems to ...
Ralph Auriemma takes on Paul Stuart
June 3rd 2013One of the greatest pleasures of going to New York is visiting Paul Stuart. It might be the only great men’s store left in the world. It is not a chain (five stores doesn’t count); it only sells its own clothing; and its scale makes it de...
Ralph Auriemma takes on Paul Stuart
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A lovely DB navy jacket, pale-grey flannel trousers, blue shirt and pale-grey tie. Very nice....