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.

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.

Showing your colours

Middlesbrough home kit from this season.  

An extremely good friend of mine emailed me earlier this evening asking if it was bad form to wear your  football teams (soccer for you lot over the pond) shirt to a match which is taking place tomorrow. Now I cant really see the attraction in dressing the same as everyone else sat around you but that then is where the unity from a football match comes from. The whole "we are in this together" attitude is what makes the worlds favourite sport just that.
I emailed my mate and told him that a football shirt would just not do. As I have already mentioned in a post last month red doesn't suit me which is a pain when our teams home kit is as red as a Boro lass straight off the electric beach (Boro means Middlesbrough the team we support and electric beach is a sun bed for those of you not in the know). I mean its bad enough these chaps get paid a small fortune to persue a hobby but to make us all dress in the same cheap nasty material is taking the biscuit in my eyes. A subtle nod to your team is more than enough. I suggested a red jumper from Hackett and an outfit built around that. This shows whose corner you are in but also means you can enjoy a few drinks after the game with your pals and not look like a 9 year old boy on their way to a 5-a-side football party.

What I would be wearing instead.

Out of the two items posted here I know which one  I would rather be wearing even though red isn't my colour (have i ever told you that??). So I guess my point is that going all out and donning the replica home shirt is a bit to far and naff but showing your support of the 11 lads out there is a must so always fly your colours high and proud but do it with a bit of panache eh lads? You never know you might just start something off.