

Every year from the first of November to the end of May I wear a cellular cotton vest under my shirt for warmth. As my dad wears exactly the same model there’s no point pretending that there isn’t something ageing about wearing a vest, which is clearly something that pre-occupies Silvio Berlusconi. (more…)

January 5th, 2010

Buff used to mean one thing in relation to a man’s appearance, and now it mainly means another. Anyone familiar with Ian Kelly’s superb biography of George ‘Beau’ Brummell will know that buff waistcoats and trousers formed an important part of the wardrobe of eighteenth century dandies, and, as a colour, it still has relevance today. (more…)

January 4th, 2010

It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when velvet jackets returned to the mainstream of men’s fashion, but they have and the velvet season will soon be upon us. (more…)

November 5th, 2009

Last weekend I was going to a big dinner party in the country and I gave my outfit some considerable thought – particularly with regard how to balance the broad stripes on my Drakes tie with the small check on my Frank Foster shirt. The actual packing process was rushed, to say the least, but no matter, all the necessary elements made it into my bag. (more…)

October 27th, 2009
Style, The bespoke column, Trendwatch

Esquire’s Style Editor explains the long and arduous journey that culminated in him taking his bow tie on to the streets this week: (more…)

October 15th, 2009

Scott Schuman’s acclaimed Sartorialist blog is very simple in concept, and all the better for it. Schuman (above right), AKA The Sartorialist, goes around the world taking photographs of eye-catching people (above left), most of whom work in the fashion trade. We met him when he was in London last week. (more…)

October 6th, 2009
E. Tautz is the new ready-to-wear label from Patrick Grant, proprietor of Savile Row house Norton & Sons. There’s a lot more to be said about it, and we’ll be saying it in our forthcoming interview with Grant which will be online next week – in the mean time here’s a charming, almost Pythonesque film made for the brand by the artist Quentin Jones.

October 2nd, 2009

From the middle of October, Prada will be entering the made to measure shirt arena with its new personalisation service, available in their Bond and Sloane Street stores and on the ground floor at Harrods. You’ll be able to choose from a range of fabrics, three body shapes, six collar types and five cuff variations, as well as having a say in pocket and pleat detailing. Prada says shirts will take about 4 weeks. From £240 (www.prada.com; 020 7647 5000)

September 24th, 2009