I am often surprised by the number of friends and acquaintances of mine who admit to owning, though rarely using, a jacket constructed of denim. I am a monumental hypocrite in this regard, as I still own one bought earlier in my youth; one which I enjoyed wearing with smart black trousers, a white shirt, a slim black tie and black loafers. Though not an offensive aesthetic in retrospect, it is fair to say that I have moved on – in both age … [Read more...]

“You look like Inspector Gadget!” one friend cried as the other shuffled into his cream trench coat, flashing the Burberry check lining. I always remembered this put-down as it reminded me of the frequent misfortune of iconic association; like those who hear Rossini’s William Tell Overture and think of ‘The Lone Ranger’ or those who point to my bow tie and say ‘Hey! Doctor Who!’ Some wardrobe items, when abused by popular … [Read more...]