An apology.... of sorts.

What can I say? I know I know it has been far to long but you can rest assured that I have plenty to tell you all. My excuse... wait, wait in fact my explanation is I started a new job a few weeks back and haven't had a moment to myself to think let alone write something down.
I managed to be fortunate enough to be whisked off to Athens on my second week at work (very lucky I know) and with it being quite an iconic company that I now work for it was of course time for an outfit or two too dazzle my new employers. Here is one of the looks I went for......

The shoes are from the previous blog and are now in need of another shine. Shirt is from one of my first ever posts on here and is a made to measure number from my second best brand Gieves and Hawkes. Jumper and trouser's from our friend across the water Ralph Lauren, blazer was made by a good friend of mine who should be launching his own label but needs some encouragement (don't worry I am on it). Last but most certainly not least the holdall is by Tods, my favourite purchase of all time and has been through a lot with me over the years.

As you can see I was not exactly dressed for the beach so I striped down to the chinos and rolled the cuffs up and went for a little dip. The water, unfortunately, was colder than Redcar beach in the middle of January so I wasn't in there for long!

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......

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.

Family values

We all have our style influences and icons don't we? Steve McQueen, Prince Michael of Kent, Del boy are the obvious ones but one of mine is a lot closer to home. Kenneth, Kenny to his pals, is my Dad and as you can see he is a pretty jazzy dresser and he's always taught me the rights and wrongs of men's style. I knew all along I had parents different from others when I used to play football and see all the Dads and Mums line up on the touchline to watch their young boys kick lumps out of each other. Most sets of parents had the cringe worthy (can't believe I am about to write this word on my blog but here it goes) fleece on over the top of the Middlesbrough home shirt, this stands for both Dads and Mums by the way, but not my folks. Oh no I had my Mother in a bright canary yellow raincoat and Father in a blazer, flannels and tassel loafers. To say they stood out does not really come close.
So here is my Dad just this morning reading the paper (the sport pages of course and Middlesbrough got a good away point at Ipswich on Tuesday night so he was in fine form today) wearing his Gieves and Hawkes cotton trousers, Crockett and Jones dessert boots, Hackett cardigan and Brooks brothers oxford sky blue shirt. I think its fair to say he knows how to put a look together. Well done old man.
Mum, I will do a post for you soon enough as well seen as you and Dad are two of the four people who actually read this blog.
Viva la parents.

You'll regret it.

And I already am. My Gieves and Hawkes made to measure tassel loafers are dying, literally, on my feet. I ordered these beauties for the beginning of last summer and to be honest I didn't really get in to them back then but already this spring they have become invaluable which is what I am regretting.
I am a man who isn't afraid to say I like my loafers worn without socks. Yes there you are I have said it and I think all loafers (in the warmer months) should be worn without socks. Now I know the purists of you out there will be gasping with the horror of the sweat that will be pouring into my lovely leather loafs which is no good for them at all but I do use shoes trees (when I remember to put them in and don't just pull my shoes off getting into bed after a few sherbets) and this improves the condition of the whole shoe but look...

Tragedy, cut down in their prime.

they are looking a sorry sight already, no?  I am going to try and breathe new life into these by getting the lovely young chap who does the shoe shining in Number 1 Savile Row (I have forgotten the fella's name) to give them a thorough going over and sorting out. Now here is the clever bit. As you can see these shoes are camel colour I however would now prefer them to look a rich tan so I am going to get our shoe shine supremo to see if he can take the colour down a few notches and give me back, fingers crossed, a new pair of shoes. Well sort of.
I will, of course, get the results of this ground breaking experiment up on here for all to see.
Wish me luck.

A follow up

So no one would take my picture at the wedding on Saturday with me in my Gieves and Hawkes made to measure electric blue mohair three piece (something about being to ugly it was offensive to such a beautiful day). The wedding was this spell bounding young ladies (clicky thing here) and the Mrs and I had a lovely time. As you can imagine there were some fantastic outfits on show and we didn't disappoint. Here are some close up shots of the suit I sported.

The horn buttons lift the suits colour.

Yes I know there is drink stain on here thanks for pointing it out.

Worn with a white Hackett shirt it really did look rather good.

The suit got a lot of compliments and I am glad that I made the changes to it. The Double breasted waistcoat is a great variation on the three piece suit and it something you don't see very often so it adds a bit of individualism to the whistle. Of course I am extremely fortunate to be able to order personal tailored suits but if you are ordering them then at least have a bit of adventure with them. Personal tailored suits are there to be played with so don't hold back and let your inner designer go.

Here is the one you hear so much about, my Mrs (shrinking violet she is). So with her dressed like that and me in electric blue and yellow we sure did stand out but then isn't that what its all about?

Toodle pip.

Freshen up

I am pleased to say that this weekend me and the Mrs will be attending a very special wedding. Two splendid people who we are very fond of are tying the knot and it will be an occasion to savour. Bravo to the two of you and we wish you all the best in the world.
Now thats the slushy bit over with I need to sort out something to wear. I have decided to go tried and tested but with a few tweaks here and there. Here it is....

Electric blue mohair suit from Gieves and Hawkes. I got this way back when I was just starting out in my career and its been with me through thick and thin (buying meetings, formal warnings you know that sort of stuff). When I originally ordered the suit it was to be a fun play on the navy three piece suit and it worked very well. The double breasted waistcoat gives it the wow factor and of course the colour is quite eye catching. I have decided though that as spring is here and as I don't wear black shoes anymore the buttons are going to have to be changed to something more in keeping with a wedding. I have just got back from my tailors and he is going to change the buttons to a mahogany horn for me and taper the trousers so it looks a little more contemporary. You can tell how old the suit is by the pleats in the trousers! 

I will post some pictures when I get it back tomorrow. 

Until then.......