Summer looks the American way

Here I have sampled two American gents in their Summer outfits. Mr. Will Boehlke aka "A Suitable Wardrobe" and Dr. Andre Churchwell. Mr. Boehlke who runs a men's blog on classic clothing, is seen here in in light coloured odd double breasted Summer jacket (6x4) - can be part of a suit, cream trousers, crisp white shirt, a dark tie, pocket square and in white bucks. Mr. Churchwell, a three button odd jacket (roll two), pinkish shirt, stripped tie, a Summer hat, boutonniere, a pocket square, white trousers and with a pair of co-respondent Oxford laced shoes (dark brown and white). Both gents pull the classic Summer look in light colours very elegant, stylish and timeless. Well done gents.

Mr. Will Boehlke aka A Suitable Wardrobe

Mr. Will in a gabardine double breasted suit, crisp white shirt, grey tie, pocket square, Panama hat and co-respondent loafers (tan and white)

Dr. Churchwell

Dr. A. Churchwell in a club blazer (navy with bright yellow piping), crisp white shirt, regimental tie (stripped tie), cream trousers, white pocket square, boutonniere and black and white co-respondent loafers.

Photos sourced from A Suitable Wardrobe, Dandy Portraits  and Nubian Prep

Summer looks like Mr. Cary Grant

With the Summer comes the heat, sun-shine and men should opt to lighter colours. Below pictures of Mr. Grant depicts him in a formal Summer attire and a very casual attire. The pictures shows that a gent can still be elegant and timeless even when its hot.

Mr. Grant in a more formal Summer look, light coloured double breasted suit, shirt, tie and a pocket square. Light socks and co-respondent Oxford laced shoes.

A casual Summer look alá Mr. Grant, a tee-shirt, white trousers and loafers. Good looking and timeless, classic.

Photos sourced from Internet sources

Bespoke shoes from Osamu Egewa - Japan

For the day I have sampled shoes and boots from Master Esamu Egewa  from Japan. Some of the shoes have a bit of a twist, splash and dash which I have never seen before. I would like to highlight the wing Balmoral Oxford in brown calf and brown suede, where the lacing is extra covered. Interesting indeed. The black calf and black suede Chukka with the tassel lacings. Another interesting and unique creation. Lastly the button Balmoral boot, nothing strange about it, rather the hide selection, which is a combination of calf and what looks like elephant hide (top part) then it is green(ish).

Well take a peak and judge for yourselves.

Wing Balmoral Oxford with extra closing

 Two toned Balmoral Boot in calf and Calf (upper grained hide in brown)

 Bootie, not sure to name it Chukka, but a bootie in calf and suede with strange lacing.

 Button Balmoral boot in calf and exotic (elephant??) two toned

Co-respondant Full brogue Oxford boot

 Co-respondant full brogue Oxford shoe

 Stitched cap toe Oxford in a nice antique patina

Photos sourced from Master Esamu Egewa 

Bespoke Seersucker Suit for Summer -

How to pull a great Summer look like the gent (Dandy) Mr. Akira Sorimachi below.  The Japanese Dandy is elegantly dressed in a bespoke Seersucker two button single breasted suit, white shirting with a club collar, tie in a dark shade of blue, white linen pocket square, blue socks, co-respondent loafer in brown and white, top it all off, an umbrella. Simple, elegant and so classic an outfit. Well done Sir.

Japanese Dandy Mr. Akira Sorimachi, elegantly dressed in a bespoke Summer suit.

Photo sourced from Bespoke Makers

TYE Bespoke Linen co-respondent shoe

I am fascinated by the Japanese bespoke shoemakers, each time I look at some of their artisanship and craftsmanship, makes me think of the saying "the sky is the limit", which seems not to apply for them. They push beyond the skies into outer-space. 
I have now sampled a bespoke linen and calf co-respondent shoe made by Tye Shoemaker of Japan. Now I thought I had seen it all, but this was the top notch of bespoke shoemaking. So simple, yet refined, classical shoe and beautifully executed. WOW! Stunning shoe. Yes, the sky will never be the limit. 

Linen and calf bespoke co-respondent Oxford shoe by Tye Shoemaker

Photo sourced from Bespoke Makers

Saskia Wittmer bespoke shoes - Florence

The men's bespoke shoe industry (artisanship) is mostly dominated by men, all most in all continents (Europe, The Americas, The United Kingdom and Japan). However that does not mean and say that there are no women in this industry. Most famous and known is Madame Olga Berluti from Berluti, then we have Madame Deborah Carré from the duo CarreDucker based in England (the other member being James Ducker), Sweden 
has two ladies (Carina & Asa) in the shoemaking field. WS Foster & Son has currently Emma and Emiko, the latter from Japan, maybe in the near future both will venture into their own brand of bespoke shoemaking. 

When thinking of Florence in regards to bespoke shoemaking, names like Hidetaka Fukaja, late Stefano Bemer, Antonio Mannina and Roberto Ugolini comes to mind, now add Madame Saskia to the list. Madame Saskia Wittmer,  a Berlin born, moved to Florence and a student of late Stefano Bemer, runs the Saskia house in Florence (Italy).

Madame Saskia window and logo display in Florence (Italy)

A beautiful rendition of a co-respondent full brogue in brown and white

A full brogue Oxford in antiques polishing

A quarter brogue Oxford with a cap toe medallion

A classical black Oxford with a punched cap toe

A strapped loafer in exotic hide and the apron in white linen

Display 

A whole cut Oxford in black calf hide 

A Balmoral wing tip Oxford in calf and suede

Photos sourced from MerciMeLord, News about shoes and Necessities

Co-respondent shoes (Spectators) by Master Cliff Roberts of Northampton

It has been a while that I mentioned something from Master Cliff Roberts from Northampton (England), the one man bespoke operation. It so happened I was on my Face Book account and I realised that I am outdated with what is happening or taking place.
Long story short, I found these two lovely co-respondent (spectators) by Master Cliff Roberts. Both shoes are Adelaide Oxfords, the burgundy and white in a squared chisel toe last and the black and white in a round toe last.

According to the story, the co-respondent shoe was a John Lobb design from 1868, made for the cricketing sport, but first became popular in the 1920's and 1930's (think The Great Gatsby, Gangster's of the time Al Capone and Jazz musicians). What an era.

It is also claimed that the popularity of the co-respondent was due to the HRH Duke Of Windsor (HRH The Prince of Wales) when he wore a tan and white co-respondent pair of shoes during a visit to the USA in 1925 and further popularised them as golf shoes in 1937.

The co-respondent comes in a many varieties such as full brogue Oxfords, Adelaide Oxford's, Derby's, Norwegian split toes and can also be constructed as loafers or slippers. The DNA of the co-respondent is that it comes in two colour combination for example, black and white, brown and white, tan and white etc. Originally  the co-respondent was constructed of willow calf and white buck or reverse calf suede. The white part was sometimes made from mesh material, to offer better ventilation in hot weather. So what does it tell, the co-respondent must be part of the Summer shoe arsenal for any gent who cares, just a bit.

HRH The Duke of Windsor kicking rugby in a double breasted suit paired with co-respondent shoes. Cool aristocrat gent. 

Much talk and .....let us see the rendition of the co-respondant by Master Cliff Roberts. 

The co-respondent, an Adelaide Oxford shoe in dark brown (burgundy) and white, punched cap toe with a medallion, a soft chisel squared toe last. A real good looking shoe from Master Cliff Roberts. I like the colour combination. Well done, as always Master Cliff.

A black and white co-respondant (Adelaide Oxford), punched cap toe on rounded last, just beautiful.

Photos sourced from Master Roberts FB profile