Spring/Summer Top 10 '23: Shirts, shorts and a hairy cardigan

Read MoreApr 28th 2023

It may still be cold outside (in the UK), but it’s late April and time for a write-up of the Spring/Summer pieces I’ve liked from our favourite brands.  If you have any questions about other releases from these brands (or indeed brands not featu...

Spring/Summer Top 10 '23: Shirts, shorts and a hairy cardigan

It may still be cold outside (in the UK), but it’s late April and time for a write-up of the Spring/Summer pieces I’ve liked from our favourite brands.  If you have any questions about other releases from these brands (or indeed brands not featu...

Apr 28th 2023

Summer casual chic: Riviera style Part 2

Read MoreJul 12th 2023

I really enjoyed Tony’s evocative piece last week on Riviera style. The image of the rose-coloured hotel with palm trees cooling its flushed façade, in particular, has stayed with me I also thought there was more to explore. Given how challenging ...

Summer casual chic: Riviera style Part 2

I really enjoyed Tony’s evocative piece last week on Riviera style. The image of the rose-coloured hotel with palm trees cooling its flushed façade, in particular, has stayed with me I also thought there was more to explore. Given how challenging ...

Jul 12th 2023

The practicality of a sweater over the shoulders

Read MoreApr 12th 2023

Wearing a sweater over the shoulders has a lot of negative connotations. But if you can get away with it - because of your style, of where you are, or just because of your personality - it’s incredibly practical. This suit I wore at Pitti earlier i...

The practicality of a sweater over the shoulders

Wearing a sweater over the shoulders has a lot of negative connotations. But if you can get away with it - because of your style, of where you are, or just because of your personality - it’s incredibly practical. This suit I wore at Pitti earlier i...

Apr 12th 2023

A guide to piqué cotton polo shirts

Read MoreApr 4th 2022

By Manish Puri Whilst the recent sun in London has brought a sugar rush of excitement for the warmer days that lie ahead, it also brings a more troubling, recurring question: how do I usually dress for summer? It shouldn’t be difficult to answer. A...

A guide to piqué cotton polo shirts

By Manish Puri Whilst the recent sun in London has brought a sugar rush of excitement for the warmer days that lie ahead, it also brings a more troubling, recurring question: how do I usually dress for summer? It shouldn’t be difficult to answer. A...

Apr 4th 2022

Christmas Gift List 2023: Do not read!

Read MoreDec 8th 2023

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.  So p...

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.  So p...

Dec 8th 2023

Dealing with losing and gaining weight

Read MoreApr 13th 2018

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...

Apr 13th 2018

What I did this summer

Read MoreJun 25th 2012

Not much of an excuse to post this, except to celebrate being on holiday.The nearest I can get is the Rapha gear, which is performing very well. There is some geeky satisfaction in demonstrating that wool (mix, jersey) and leather (shoes) perform bet...

What I did this summer

Not much of an excuse to post this, except to celebrate being on holiday.The nearest I can get is the Rapha gear, which is performing very well. There is some geeky satisfaction in demonstrating that wool (mix, jersey) and leather (shoes) perform bet...

Jun 25th 2012

The symbolic value of clothes: An interview with Philip Warkander

Read MoreNov 2nd 2020

Philip Warkander is a Swedish academic, lecturer at Lund University in fashion studies.  We got to talking recently thanks to an introduction by Dag at Saman Amel, and it was interesting how many of the topics Philip covers - from the value placed o...

The symbolic value of clothes: An interview with Philip Warkander

Philip Warkander is a Swedish academic, lecturer at Lund University in fashion studies.  We got to talking recently thanks to an introduction by Dag at Saman Amel, and it was interesting how many of the topics Philip covers - from the value placed o...

Nov 2nd 2020

Terrycloth blazer and a fish net shirt?

Read MoreJul 28th 2010

At Eden Roc on the blue MediterraneanEsquire, August 1936: "One of the world's most fashionable swimming holes, Eden Roc at Cap d'Antibes, has no beach at all, just steps and all sorts of intricate plateaus that have been cut out of the rocks.Against...

Terrycloth blazer and a fish net shirt?

At Eden Roc on the blue MediterraneanEsquire, August 1936: "One of the world's most fashionable swimming holes, Eden Roc at Cap d'Antibes, has no beach at all, just steps and all sorts of intricate plateaus that have been cut out of the rocks.Against...

Jul 28th 2010

Nicola Cornacchia grey summer suit: Review

Read MoreJun 1st 2020

This summer suit from Sartoria Cornacchia was made for me last year, and I would like to apologise for the delay in covering it. I didn’t get around to shooting the suit until the end of the Summer; events and the pop-up then got in the way; and by...

Nicola Cornacchia grey summer suit: Review

This summer suit from Sartoria Cornacchia was made for me last year, and I would like to apologise for the delay in covering it. I didn’t get around to shooting the suit until the end of the Summer; events and the pop-up then got in the way; and by...

Jun 1st 2020

The guide to shirt collars - and what suits you

Read MoreAug 31st 2020

With the slow disappearance of the tie from the male wardrobe, the shirt collar has become increasingly important. It now bears almost sole responsibility for framing and flattering the face.  However, guides to shirt collars - such as this one -...

The guide to shirt collars - and what suits you

With the slow disappearance of the tie from the male wardrobe, the shirt collar has become increasingly important. It now bears almost sole responsibility for framing and flattering the face.  However, guides to shirt collars - such as this one -...

Aug 31st 2020

John Simons - the shop, the history, the influence

Read MoreJan 25th 2021

In normal menswear - not even classic menswear, but everyday, everybody menswear, everything outside big fashion brands - retailers can often have more influence than designers. People like Charlie Davidson of The Andover Shop, Isabel Ettedgui of Con...

John Simons - the shop, the history, the influence

In normal menswear - not even classic menswear, but everyday, everybody menswear, everything outside big fashion brands - retailers can often have more influence than designers. People like Charlie Davidson of The Andover Shop, Isabel Ettedgui of Con...

Jan 25th 2021

What is French Ivy?

Read MoreMay 31st 2021

By Tony Sylvester “A few years back, I posted a photo of Paul Weller on my Instagram (above). It was taken in 1984 in his Style Council era, where much to the consternation of the Mod faithful, he was constantly tinkering with his attire - alienati...

What is French Ivy?

By Tony Sylvester “A few years back, I posted a photo of Paul Weller on my Instagram (above). It was taken in 1984 in his Style Council era, where much to the consternation of the Mod faithful, he was constantly tinkering with his attire - alienati...

May 31st 2021

If you only had five bags: A capsule collection

Read MoreSep 8th 2021

Five bags might seem like a lot - certainly compared to shirts or ties, as featured previously in this series.  But given you’ll need some kind of suitcase, plus a day bag, and probably a backpack for cycling, walking or sports, five isn’t th...

If you only had five bags: A capsule collection

Five bags might seem like a lot - certainly compared to shirts or ties, as featured previously in this series.  But given you’ll need some kind of suitcase, plus a day bag, and probably a backpack for cycling, walking or sports, five isn’t th...

Sep 8th 2021

Junk clothing and joke clothing

Read MoreDec 23rd 2019

In recent weeks two friends inadvertently coined similar phrases, in relation to what they saw as wrong with clothing today.  One referred to the buying of large volumes of cheap clothes - often plastic, often made in poor labour conditions - as ‘...

Junk clothing and joke clothing

In recent weeks two friends inadvertently coined similar phrases, in relation to what they saw as wrong with clothing today.  One referred to the buying of large volumes of cheap clothes - often plastic, often made in poor labour conditions - as ‘...

Dec 23rd 2019

How to pack for a three-day trip: Video

Read MoreMar 4th 2024

The 'travel capsule' posts we've done are always popular - I think because they are useful for actual travel, but also for anyone looking to build a versatile wardrobe in general. In that way they're one more addition to the 'wardrobe building' serie...

How to pack for a three-day trip: Video

The 'travel capsule' posts we've done are always popular - I think because they are useful for actual travel, but also for anyone looking to build a versatile wardrobe in general. In that way they're one more addition to the 'wardrobe building' serie...

Mar 4th 2024

Hunter, Desii, Tartan: Florence's surprising range of vintage

Read MoreJul 18th 2022

Florence is a surprisingly good city for shopping, quite apart from any menswear shows that happen to be going on.  It’s always been a hub for craft, and even in the city centre you’ll often walk past a little workshop with someone restoring ant...

Hunter, Desii, Tartan: Florence's surprising range of vintage

Florence is a surprisingly good city for shopping, quite apart from any menswear shows that happen to be going on.  It’s always been a hub for craft, and even in the city centre you’ll often walk past a little workshop with someone restoring ant...

Jul 18th 2022

How Florence changed with the pandemic: Abbarchi, Ugolini, Vestrucci

Read MoreAug 8th 2022

“It was really eerie, Simon, with all the tourists gone." “I know that was the same everywhere," says Simone Abbarchi (above), "but seeing the Piazza della Signoria empty made it feel like we’d gone back in time. Like the Medici could just step...

How Florence changed with the pandemic: Abbarchi, Ugolini, Vestrucci

“It was really eerie, Simon, with all the tourists gone." “I know that was the same everywhere," says Simone Abbarchi (above), "but seeing the Piazza della Signoria empty made it feel like we’d gone back in time. Like the Medici could just step...

Aug 8th 2022

My watches - eight years later

Read MoreAug 24th 2022

I buy watches in much the same way as I suggest other people buy tailoring.  I have a small number, of high quality, which meet a range of needs - formalities, colours, and a little extra to keep things interesting.  I went through a period of abou...

My watches - eight years later

I buy watches in much the same way as I suggest other people buy tailoring.  I have a small number, of high quality, which meet a range of needs - formalities, colours, and a little extra to keep things interesting.  I went through a period of abou...

Aug 24th 2022

Bocache & Salvucci, Rome: Bespoke shoes and much else 

Read MoreAug 19th 2022

Bocache & Salvucci was a bit of a surprise when I visited last month.  I’d come across the shoemaker at Jean-Manuel Moreau, in Paris, and had assumed that in Rome I would find a small (because relatively unknown) bespoke craftsman.  What I ac...

Bocache & Salvucci, Rome: Bespoke shoes and much else 

Bocache & Salvucci was a bit of a surprise when I visited last month.  I’d come across the shoemaker at Jean-Manuel Moreau, in Paris, and had assumed that in Rome I would find a small (because relatively unknown) bespoke craftsman.  What I ac...

Aug 19th 2022

Luxury chore coats compared

Read MoreDec 16th 2022

By Manish Puri Not all chores are made equal. Some take longer, some require more exertion, and some involve going out into the cold. On a typical weekend you’ll find me frantically searching for loopholes in the chivalric code so I can cherry pick...

Luxury chore coats compared

By Manish Puri Not all chores are made equal. Some take longer, some require more exertion, and some involve going out into the cold. On a typical weekend you’ll find me frantically searching for loopholes in the chivalric code so I can cherry pick...

Dec 16th 2022

The Merchant Fox: All the casual jackets reviewed

Read MoreJan 23rd 2023

By Manish Puri In between short walks to the kitchen to restock on mince pies and watching Home Alone for the 83rd time (this genuinely may be an understatement), the festive period offers a singular opportunity to contemplate weighty matters concern...

The Merchant Fox: All the casual jackets reviewed

By Manish Puri In between short walks to the kitchen to restock on mince pies and watching Home Alone for the 83rd time (this genuinely may be an understatement), the festive period offers a singular opportunity to contemplate weighty matters concern...

Jan 23rd 2023

Pitti A/W 2023: Too many negronis, too few makers

Read MoreFeb 3rd 2023

By Tony Sylvester It’s been three long years since I last shuffled along the cobbled streets of Florence, winding my way to the Fortezza Da Basso, the medieval castle that hosts Pitti Uomo, the international menswear trade fair. Without stating the...

Pitti A/W 2023: Too many negronis, too few makers

By Tony Sylvester It’s been three long years since I last shuffled along the cobbled streets of Florence, winding my way to the Fortezza Da Basso, the medieval castle that hosts Pitti Uomo, the international menswear trade fair. Without stating the...

Feb 3rd 2023

To whisper with your clothes - or why I’m fascinated by old Italian industrialists

Read MoreMar 13th 2023

By Andreas Weinas This headline might be one of the more confusing ones to have appeared on Permanent Style, but bear with me. Simon reached out to me at the beginning of the year, asking if I wanted to do a piece on PS about something I found partic...

To whisper with your clothes - or why I’m fascinated by old Italian industrialists

By Andreas Weinas This headline might be one of the more confusing ones to have appeared on Permanent Style, but bear with me. Simon reached out to me at the beginning of the year, asking if I wanted to do a piece on PS about something I found partic...

Mar 13th 2023

If you only had five (casual) shoes

Read MoreJun 28th 2023

This is intended to be a partner to the ‘If you only had five shoes’ article in our Wardrobe Building guide, which was all smart footwear. Today’s piece is shoes that aren’t smart enough for a traditional office or - perhaps a better defini...

If you only had five (casual) shoes

This is intended to be a partner to the ‘If you only had five shoes’ article in our Wardrobe Building guide, which was all smart footwear. Today’s piece is shoes that aren’t smart enough for a traditional office or - perhaps a better defini...

Jun 28th 2023