I recently discussed weekend shenanigans with a friend of mine who had been to the races. He had attended the meet in a brown checked tweed jacket, sky blue shirt, blue polka dot tie, patterned blue pocket square, light brown trousers and brown brogues. In other words; the race meeting dress code. To my dismay, he informed me that the majority of the racegoers had not aligned themselves with this code. “I could count on two hands” he said … [Read more...]

Two recent questions from blog readers, though touching on entirely different wardrobe items, nevertheless inspired similar thinking. ‘I have a snazzy pair of spectator shoes but I haven’t worn them yet because they don’t go with my suits. What can I wear them with?’ Spectator shoes (or ‘co-respondent’ shoes) are increasingly popular, and the credit for their renaissance should be given to the brave souls who sport them as … [Read more...]

My first silk tie was an old navy and burgundy printed polka dot tie that my father used to wear. He had revolutionised his tie wardrobe as his neckwear aesthetic had altered and I was the lucky recipient of his cast offs. I was very young at the time, only accustomed to the indescribably nasty polyester things that I wore as part of my uniform and consequently rather sceptical about the attractions of neckwear. Needless to say, that viewpoint … [Read more...]

Sapphire & Silver The Sapphire & Silver man frowns at the menu in front of him, hiding his pained expression from the waiter hovering at his table. His lunch appointment, an ingénue with the voice of a husky veteran, is late. After repeatedly flicking his sapphire jewelled cuff to check the time on his vintage Cartier, he huffs impatiently and orders a bottle of Perrier Jouet. Two glasses later and the starlet arrives, red cheeked … [Read more...]

There are little trends which have small, sometimes even humble beginnings. They grow gradually through inventive marketing, product placement and, catalysed by transient cultural association and celebrity endorsement, balloon into blimps that define an era of fashion. Though the process is begun by one, others follow suit very quickly and you have the development of what you might call a ‘we might as well’ trend; Brand X sees Brand Y … [Read more...]