Buying affordable luxury
Last month, a reader asked for some recommendations of “affordable luxury”. By this, I think he meant items that weren’t necessarily that expensive, but were nonetheless luxurious. The best (a little) money could buy. Buying the best you can a...
Buying affordable luxury
Last month, a reader asked for some recommendations of “affordable luxury”. By this, I think he meant items that weren’t necessarily that expensive, but were nonetheless luxurious. The best (a little) money could buy. Buying the best you can a...
The knit polo shirt: My Summer staple
Over the next few weeks on Permanent Style, I’ll be setting out the pieces that form the foundation of my smart/casual summer wardrobe. We’ve covered the smart (read tailored) side of summer dressing in quite a lot of de...
The knit polo shirt: My Summer staple
Over the next few weeks on Permanent Style, I’ll be setting out the pieces that form the foundation of my smart/casual summer wardrobe. We’ve covered the smart (read tailored) side of summer dressing in quite a lot of de...
Richard Burke: Style hero
There’s this one outfit worn by the character Richard Burke in Friends, played by Tom Selleck, that has stayed with me for years. It’s in the penultimate episode of series six. Richard comes to Monica’s restaurant to try and win her back. He ...
Richard Burke: Style hero
There’s this one outfit worn by the character Richard Burke in Friends, played by Tom Selleck, that has stayed with me for years. It’s in the penultimate episode of series six. Richard comes to Monica’s restaurant to try and win her back. He ...
How a shirt should fit
Learning how a shirt should fit you can take surprisingly long - as most fans of bespoke try far fewer shirtmakers than they do tailors. Once learned, however, the lessons are fairly simple. They are becoming particularly clear to me as I complete my...
How a shirt should fit
Learning how a shirt should fit you can take surprisingly long - as most fans of bespoke try far fewer shirtmakers than they do tailors. Once learned, however, the lessons are fairly simple. They are becoming particularly clear to me as I complete my...
The Permanent Style readership survey (with prize)
*Note: The competition is now closed, and the winner will be announced soon. Please feel free to carry on filling out the survey, but you will no longer be entered into the competition* Permanent Style has always been about the readers. Word of mou...
The Permanent Style readership survey (with prize)
*Note: The competition is now closed, and the winner will be announced soon. Please feel free to carry on filling out the survey, but you will no longer be entered into the competition* Permanent Style has always been about the readers. Word of mou...
The Christmas Quiz!
**UPDATE: The answers to the quiz are now listed at the bottom of this post. Don't peek if you want to try it out yourself first! The winner of the competition was Mathias Olsen. Well done to him.** This is a spot of fun for Christmas Day. It should ...
The Christmas Quiz!
**UPDATE: The answers to the quiz are now listed at the bottom of this post. Don't peek if you want to try it out yourself first! The winner of the competition was Mathias Olsen. Well done to him.** This is a spot of fun for Christmas Day. It should ...
Introducing: Escorial Tweed
Today, the question I get more than any other is: what cloth should I use for a sports jacket? Selecting cloth for a jacket is not easy, at least once you’ve gone beyond the navy blazer. Compared to a navy or grey suit, there's a dizzying range o...
Introducing: Escorial Tweed
Today, the question I get more than any other is: what cloth should I use for a sports jacket? Selecting cloth for a jacket is not easy, at least once you’ve gone beyond the navy blazer. Compared to a navy or grey suit, there's a dizzying range o...
The Anthology bespoke tailoring: Review
This is my first suit from Hong Kong and Taipei-based tailor The Anthology. Launched in 2018, The Anthology was created by the combination of London-educated Buzz Tang (below) and Hong Kong tailor Andy Chong, using a workshop in mainland China. T...
The Anthology bespoke tailoring: Review
This is my first suit from Hong Kong and Taipei-based tailor The Anthology. Launched in 2018, The Anthology was created by the combination of London-educated Buzz Tang (below) and Hong Kong tailor Andy Chong, using a workshop in mainland China. T...
Artisan of the Year 2021: Whitcomb & Shaftesbury
Best artisan 2021: Whitcomb & Shaftesbury I decided to give my Artisan of the Year award this year to Whitcomb & Shaftesbury because, looking back on recent commissions, they have so consistently delivered on quality and value. Those are ...
Artisan of the Year 2021: Whitcomb & Shaftesbury
Best artisan 2021: Whitcomb & Shaftesbury I decided to give my Artisan of the Year award this year to Whitcomb & Shaftesbury because, looking back on recent commissions, they have so consistently delivered on quality and value. Those are ...
A guide to brands of unstructured jacket
By Manish Puri Whilst soft tailoring is hardly a new concept, there’s something about unstructured tailoring that feels particularly in sync with modern life: it’s indisputably more casual, reframes imperfections as characteristics, is lighter in...
A guide to brands of unstructured jacket
By Manish Puri Whilst soft tailoring is hardly a new concept, there’s something about unstructured tailoring that feels particularly in sync with modern life: it’s indisputably more casual, reframes imperfections as characteristics, is lighter in...
Reader profile: Andy
This is Andy. A long-time reader and customer, Andy had led, shall we say, an interesting life. Currently a hydrographic surveyor, he has also been a pilot, a mountaineer, and dabbles as a model (fashion and life). He is passionate about clothing, ...
Reader profile: Andy
This is Andy. A long-time reader and customer, Andy had led, shall we say, an interesting life. Currently a hydrographic surveyor, he has also been a pilot, a mountaineer, and dabbles as a model (fashion and life). He is passionate about clothing, ...
New Cifonelli jackets
No visit to Paris would be complete without dropping in on Lorenzo Cifonelli and seeing what weird and wonderful things his mind has inflicted on tailoring recently.First up was the yak jacket. I wrote about this back in February on The Rake, but I h...
New Cifonelli jackets
No visit to Paris would be complete without dropping in on Lorenzo Cifonelli and seeing what weird and wonderful things his mind has inflicted on tailoring recently.First up was the yak jacket. I wrote about this back in February on The Rake, but I h...
Graham Browne in New York: fittings
Three fittings awaiting a customer Last week in New York it was a real pleasure to meet the five men who came for appointments with Graham Browne. They varied from the established customer (there to try on a tweed jacket and two suits) to the complet...
Graham Browne in New York: fittings
Three fittings awaiting a customer Last week in New York it was a real pleasure to meet the five men who came for appointments with Graham Browne. They varied from the established customer (there to try on a tweed jacket and two suits) to the complet...
It's time for overcoats
Right, it’s definitely overcoat weather now. It’s dropped below 10 degrees in London during the day and a scarf and hat just won’t cut it. Of course, this is entirely the wrong time of the year to start thinking about a bespoke coat. Seasons s...
It's time for overcoats
Right, it’s definitely overcoat weather now. It’s dropped below 10 degrees in London during the day and a scarf and hat just won’t cut it. Of course, this is entirely the wrong time of the year to start thinking about a bespoke coat. Seasons s...
How to dress like Bruce Boyer 2: Q&A
Following the almost embarrassingly positive response to last week's post on Bruce Boyer (embarrassing for Bruce that is, not me), here are his answers to your questions. 1 - Are your suits, jackets and shirts mostly bespoke? Almost...
How to dress like Bruce Boyer 2: Q&A
Following the almost embarrassingly positive response to last week's post on Bruce Boyer (embarrassing for Bruce that is, not me), here are his answers to your questions. 1 - Are your suits, jackets and shirts mostly bespoke? Almost...
Stile Latino grey double-breasted coat
For men who - for reasons of economy or laziness - want a coat that will go with everything, this might be the perfect candidate. But that doesn’t necessarily mean I’d recommend it.It was made for me by Stile Latino, the Neapolitan brand foun...
Stile Latino grey double-breasted coat
For men who - for reasons of economy or laziness - want a coat that will go with everything, this might be the perfect candidate. But that doesn’t necessarily mean I’d recommend it.It was made for me by Stile Latino, the Neapolitan brand foun...
Am I effeminate? Am I vain? Reader questions on style and its context
It’s taken a while to get to these remaining questions from our ‘You are the interviewer’ post (thanks again for those - some great questions in there). Hopefully I’ll be able to get through them all over the Christmas break. Today, we’...
Am I effeminate? Am I vain? Reader questions on style and its context
It’s taken a while to get to these remaining questions from our ‘You are the interviewer’ post (thanks again for those - some great questions in there). Hopefully I’ll be able to get through them all over the Christmas break. Today, we’...
Best Brand 2018: Drake's (or, how to expand a brand)
Best Brand of the Year: Drake's Runners up: Stoffa, Private White VC The Permanent Style award for ‘Brand of the Year’ was understandably the hardest to define of our five awards - launched a few weeks ago. People can like brands for many r...
Best Brand 2018: Drake's (or, how to expand a brand)
Best Brand of the Year: Drake's Runners up: Stoffa, Private White VC The Permanent Style award for ‘Brand of the Year’ was understandably the hardest to define of our five awards - launched a few weeks ago. People can like brands for many r...
Dealing with losing and gaining weight
I've been on holiday for the past two weeks, swimming every day, and have noticeably lost weight. I'm tightening the side adjustors on my trousers where I didn't before. It reminds me how frequently readers ask about such fluctuations in weight, a...
Dealing with losing and gaining weight
I've been on holiday for the past two weeks, swimming every day, and have noticeably lost weight. I'm tightening the side adjustors on my trousers where I didn't before. It reminds me how frequently readers ask about such fluctuations in weight, a...
Dege & Skinner tobacco-linen suit: Style breakdown
**This article is an extract from our book 'Bespoke Style', which sold out in less than a month last year. A new print is ready and will be on sale soon. If you would like early access, or are interested in stocking the book, please email Support@Per...
Dege & Skinner tobacco-linen suit: Style breakdown
**This article is an extract from our book 'Bespoke Style', which sold out in less than a month last year. A new print is ready and will be on sale soon. If you would like early access, or are interested in stocking the book, please email Support@Per...
Editing Instagram: Dressing for different walks of life with @UrbanComposition
Great as Instagram is, a definite flaw is its lack of an effective archive. There’s no way to search old images, so unless you save an image yourself, you can't find old pieces or browse effectively. Just as important a frustration - for me - ...
Editing Instagram: Dressing for different walks of life with @UrbanComposition
Great as Instagram is, a definite flaw is its lack of an effective archive. There’s no way to search old images, so unless you save an image yourself, you can't find old pieces or browse effectively. Just as important a frustration - for me - ...
Is bespoke worth it?
A reader recently commented that, as a newcomer, he struggled to see why he would get into bespoke tailoring - given the number of negative experiences I often report. It made me realise that I rarely set out the case for bespoke (both for and agai...
Is bespoke worth it?
A reader recently commented that, as a newcomer, he struggled to see why he would get into bespoke tailoring - given the number of negative experiences I often report. It made me realise that I rarely set out the case for bespoke (both for and agai...
Michael Browne bespoke coat: Review
Permanent Style prides itself on honest reviews of clothing. Please be reassured that this policy continues in this piece on Michael Browne. Despite the fact that there are basically no negative points. There's just hardly anything bad to say (othe...
Michael Browne bespoke coat: Review
Permanent Style prides itself on honest reviews of clothing. Please be reassured that this policy continues in this piece on Michael Browne. Despite the fact that there are basically no negative points. There's just hardly anything bad to say (othe...
Nicholas Templeman bespoke shoes: Introduction and fitting
Nicholas Templeman is a bespoke shoemaker, an ex-John Lobb lastmaker who now works out of his home in North London. We've been working on a pair of derby shoes for the past year, and they're near completion. So I thought it would be good time to writ...
Nicholas Templeman bespoke shoes: Introduction and fitting
Nicholas Templeman is a bespoke shoemaker, an ex-John Lobb lastmaker who now works out of his home in North London. We've been working on a pair of derby shoes for the past year, and they're near completion. So I thought it would be good time to writ...