If styled right, a cap is a wonderfully useful accessory. Not as formal as a fedora, yet not as casual as a beanie, it can bridge a greater range of outfits than any other hat. When the temperature is in single figures, and your lack of hair makes a ...

This is perhaps best seen as an exercise in combining summery, pale colours. The challenge is being light and pale overall, while retaining enough contrast between shirt, jacket and trousers, both in colour and texture.  The starting point is the...

It doesn’t feel like over three years since I covered Musella Dembech, but apparently it is. Of course, there was the Young Tailors Symposium in the middle of that, which featured Gianfrancesco Musella, but I haven’t written anything exclusi...

I had this tweed jacket made by South Korean outfit B&Tailor over the past 18 months, using Robin Petterson - a Swede who does their fittings in London and at home in Stockholm. Unfortunately, although the end result isn’t too bad (just a cou...

It was really lovely being back in Hong Kong last week, after a few years away. The talk we Lorenzo Cifonelli and I did at Attire House worked well - more a conversation than an interview, with Lorenzo asking me questions about other tailors, and t...

Last week I explained why I find the knit polo shirt to be such a fundamental part of my summer wardrobe.  This week, I’m using that polo and a pair of cream linen trousers as the basis for three different looks - three different ways of doing ...

A few week ago, Drake's asked me to try out their made-to-order tie service, which has been given a new digital home on the website. The prime question is, of course, do you really need a MTO tie? It didn't even feature on my list last year of the ...

Last week a reader stopped me on the street. He asked me why a certain tailor, who will remain nameless, hadn’t yet returned to London for his next fitting – and wasn’t answering emails. I understand why he asked me. I had introduced him to the...

  Last August I began this project with Davide Taub, head cutter at Gieves & Hawkes, to create a bespoke gilet that could be buttoned into a variety of jackets. I think it’s fair to say the project has been largely, but not entirely successf...

  A quick reminder that our Permanent Style squares - unique, stylish, luxurious, and pictured above - are still available.So far just over half have been sold, and there is stock available in both the navy and 'natural' colours. Begg is still offe...

Hi Mr Crompton,I'm a fan of yours (Permanent Style, The Rake) from Singapore. I've been agonising over my shirts for some time and would like to ask your advice. I've been wearing bespoke T&A for about 10 years and I regard Steven Quinn as a friend. ...

A reader recently asked me what hat I wear during the winter. It breaks down into three options: The trilby A ‘proper hat’, as many people seem to refer to it, a trilby or fedora is the default option with tailoring. I have worn Christy’s, Ba...

I have worked around the corner from PA Crowe for over 10 years, yet it was only two months ago that I really became acquainted with them. Why? Partly because I discovered Graham Browne early on - the bespoke tailor only slightly further away that I ...

 My last 'reflections on bespoke' post back in January was very popular. Readers seemed to respond to the assessment of bespoke commissions with the wisdom of hindsight, and I have to say I sympathise.Here, then, are five more, with the items selec...

 UPDATE: A few people have asked for contact details to make appointments. The event is being hosted by The Armoury - it's [email protected] and [email protected]. (Zach is taking appointments and measurements for Saint Crispin's.)  I go...

  Wow. Over 400 emails in the past five days. Four hundred requests for first editions of The Finest Menswear in the World, often with wonderful notes of appreciation – not just for personalising this book but for Permanent Style in general.I nev...

 *Stock is now very limited. For the current position please check the Shop page*   I’m pleased to say that the next batch of our Friday Polos - handmade in Naples and designed by us here in London - is now ready.Thank you to everyone that pre-o...

Every Pitti Uomo for the past  two years, we have held an event to bring people together with a unique group of the finest craftsmen in the world.For the next instalment, we will be returning to last summer's focus: bespoke tailoring. But whereas t...

The end of a conversation about people parading into Pitti. About its silliness. About therefore, naturally, the Ministry of Silly Walks. Fuller Pitti coverage next week - our Young Tailors Symposium on Wednesday, which was wonderful, and some gre...

Hi Simon,Your blog has been extremely useful as a body of knowledge, thank you for it.Would you mind commenting on navy and how it is worn? It seems to be over-used, or used in the wrong setting.I often see men wearing navy jumpers with dark indigo j...

Note: General Eyewear now has a store in Soho as well as the Camden HQ - details here. Choosing a block of acetate is not something I’d bet most people have done in their lives. And it’s tricky. Looking at a slab of coloured plastic, and imagin...

As promised last year, the Permanent Style watch cap is finally available - it’s on the PS store, price £69 plus VAT, in navy or grey. It’s a collaboration I’ve been building to for a long time. As far back as 20XX, I bought a cashmere wat...

I’ve always found that an oxford shirt fills a very specific gap in my wardrobe. Smart enough for almost any sports jacket - from cashmere to corduroy - it is also the perfect partner for jeans. It might bridge formal and casual perhaps better tha...

One of the things I enjoy most about Permanent Style is the comments from readers.  It’s like each article is a new thread in a forum, with subject raised and then comments, experiences and questions all following, vastly enriching the article?...

  The Mont Blanc leather facility is in an industrial park just outside Florence. All the big names of fashion are here. Gucci is across the road, Prada a few blocks down. Only Hermes from among the top brands is missing.Mont Blanc used to made it...