Wednesday 11 May 2011

Look what we have here...

Remember these poor old things


That's right they are the made to measure tassel loafers that I loved that much I decided to hurt them. Well they always say you hurt the ones you love and that was more than true for this pair of shoes. I took it upon myself to repair the fractious relationship between us both and shipped them off to where they came from Gieves and Hawkes on Savile Row, to see if some counselling would help them. In the form of Dr Justin FitzPatrick, he isn't a real doctor I don't think, the shoes met a shoulder to cry on and take solace from the mean and brutal treatment they had received. The results?


As you can see they look a lot better for a bit of tender loving care and now I am as happy as larry because I practically have a new pair of shoes. Dr Justin will take on any shoes from any brand but he works from his station in Number 1 Savile Row. The services on offer are either the Gieves special shine for £10 or the Gieves milatry shine for £20 which makes your dancers look like they are made from glass (glass I tell you). I went with the special shine as these are loafers and are meant to be informal. With the previous finish being a camel colour and the shoes now looking more like a chestnut shade, there are some patches of mottled effect but to me this gives the shoes a more antique feel. When I went in there a chap had just given him 6 pairs of John Lobb shoes to shine up to a military spec so he has his work cut out.
I am now looking forward to wearing these for the first time. If I only had a special occasion to wear them too? Whats that love we need some milk......

Friday 6 May 2011

All white now.

As I have mentioned in a previous post blazer buttons are great way to put a different spin an outfit. In Wednesdays musing I mentioned I was wearing a navy blue blazer with white mother of pearl buttons and didn't put a picture up. Forgive me as I posted that from sitting on the edge of the bed whilst the better half was walking around trying to find something to wear and I was summoned to iron some clothes for her. After working on The Row my ironing skills are a gift but also a burden sometimes. Anyway here is a close up shot of the point I am trying to make.


The jacket is a navy textured wool from the old Gieves by Gieves and Hawkes range and must be 4 years old now. Originally part of a suit but I wrecked the trousers, naturally, so changed the buttons to these so I had something a little more casual in the jacketing department. The white shine coming through is the lining from underneath as the cloth is so loosely woven it shows through on photos. Trust me it doesn't show through in real life (I know this is real life but you get what I mean).
But look at these....

Hotfooting along Savile Row yesterday afternoon I spotted these two rather eye catching jackets. Not quite so sure about the ties on display here but the jackets are lovely and as we can see white buttons. Note how the white in the shirt links in nicely with the white buttons, but this also could be done with a white pocket square or a white collar and cuff shirt.
I think that Willem Alexander, Prince of Orange could have maybe got away with the one on the right for the royal wedding, that teamed with an electric blue trouser?
Lastly but by no means least here is one of my all time favourite brands, Hackett. I had the misfortune of having to fly from Stansted airport last month and when I got through security and the horror of the departure lounge was thrust upon me, it was with great relief that I noticed Hackett had opened a mini shop there. My forty five minute wait flew by as ohhhhed and ahhhed over the fantastic collection that was in there. I stumbled upon this natty piece

Patch pockets, three button cuff and a notch lapel which all work well and as we can see white buttons. On this shot they have tied in the white button with the white stripe in the shirt and set it all off with the slightly off white pocket square. I love this jacket and might have to go and buy it or do I need another blazer? Yes of course I need another blazer, because a man  can never have to many.
Until next time, toodle pip.

Wednesday 4 May 2011

Flower power

I was feeling a little "I need to be a bit different" at the weekend so I wracked my brains on what to do. Now granted not all people dress like I do, cream trousers and a pocket square would be more than enough for some, but I felt like I had to go one step further. 


The perfect way to cheer up an outfit is a flower in the lapel buttonhole. Some say that a pocket square and a flower is too much but what do they know? Always pick a fresh flower, of course, and something that co-ordinates with the outfit like my white orchid here. This outfit comprises of navy wool blazer with white mother of pearl buttons, white shirt, cream gaberdine trousers, sky blue socks and tan brogues.


Sky blue cotton socks nicely tie in with the mosaic effect in the pocket square in the first shot. The beard is optional of course. I do apologise for this picture it was taken outside a soho pub at the weekend but I thought I should share it with you all. 

Tara for now.

Tuesday 3 May 2011

That wedding those people had

Alright, everyone how are we feeling? Long weekend that one wasn't it? Seems like Will and Cath getting hitched was ages ago but sifting through the style debris one thing that caught my eye over everything else was Mr Beckham's choice of shirt.


Now we all know that Becks isn't shy of getting his "tats" out but isn't it a shame when he is invited to the biggest wedding off the century and finds himself stuck between a rock and a hard place: get his neck tattoos out and face the tut tutting of the landed gentry or wear a high necked wing collared shirt and... well get tutted at by the landed gentry once more. This shirt is more akin to white tie affairs not weddings and although David comes ever so close to pulling it off it just doesn't sit right at a wedding does it? His lovely smily wife would of had a lot of input in this I suspect but that again drags up the "don't let the Mrs dress you, dress yourself" quandary. This whole outfit is Ralph Lauren purple label and not Tom Ford as many thought. Perfect length of the tails on the jacket and spot on break in the front of the trouser. The O.B.E finishes it off nicely as well just a shame about those tattoos and I am talking from experience here.
A last note on how happy his Mrs looks as well, aww so warm and approachable isn't she?