Usually Christmas isn't the best of times for me. While you lot in the UK and US are opening your prezzies I'm in my office, surrounded by miserable co-workers who you could quite easily associate with the words "face", "badger" and "arse". This last Christmas, however, I was able to go back to the motherland. Excellent! But it presented me with a little-encountered problem: what to pack for a cold-weather holiday. When I go on holiday it's … [Read more...]

Choosing the correct tie for the day ahead is a regular part of my morning routine, and one that I like to spend a little (but not too much!) time doing. Colour and pattern are important, but there are a number of other factors that contribute to getting a tie to look just right: The Width One of the less well known facets of dressing well is the art of keeping ties, shirt collars and suit lapels in proportion. A suit with wide lapels … [Read more...]

There was once a time when most businessmen's attire was dictated by dress codes. These codes were not necessarily written, rather they were an accepted part of a profession's identity. Before the financial and political crises of the 1970s City bankers and civil servants were proud to sport bespoke suits, bowler hats and brollies. Nowadays, many professionals the world over wear the same uninspired business-casual uniform – an open-necked … [Read more...]

Most men have at least a couple of double-cuff - also known as French cuff - shirts in their wardrobe, and at least one set of cufflinks to go with them. For some, cufflinks project an air of stuffiness or formality that limits their use to special occasions like weddings, or to management types who revel in the art of power dressing. For others, they represent an opportunity to experiment and add flair to their ensemble. For those who want to … [Read more...]