The Italian Job - Summer looks

The Italian Job Summer looks is a collection of photos depicting Italian gents within the clothing industry of Italy. Here we can see how those who influence the everyday gent assemble their own clothing for the day. Quite inspirational, the putting together of colours, cloth, accessories  and putting it all together to make an everlasting timeless impression. Why not get inspired by these gents.

Mr. Alberto Scaccione, opted for navy blue double breasted jacket (4X2) with white buttons, collar club shirting - stripped, a tie, glasses in jacket pocket instead of a pocket square, paired with white trousers.

Peaked lapel jacket in dark blue colour, sky shirt and a light trousers, paired with suede tassel loafers

Double breasted jacket, sky blue shirt, navy tie, pocket square, white trousers.

 Mr. Gianni Dal Cortivo seen here in a linen mustard double breasted suit(6X4) blue shirt with contrasting white collar and cuffs, tie, pocket square, two toned double monks.

Here seen in a blue double breasted jacket, light coloured shirt, huge knotted tie, pocket square and grey trousers

Double breasted blue jacket with white buttons, grey trousers, pocket square all paired with a co-respondant full brogue

Here same jacket as above, stripped shirt, grey tie, white linen pocket square

Light blue double breasted jacket (6X4), stripped shirt, tie, pocket square

 Mr. Simone Righi, three button single breasted suit, pocket square, and a brown pique.

Three button single breasted mustard linen suit, stripped shirt, knitted tie (stripped) and a pocket square

Navy blue linen single breasted suit, shirt, grey tie and a pocket square, flower

Single breasted three button linen suit (could be the same as earlier), crisp white shirt, paisley tie with tones of burgundy and blue

All photos sourced from The Bespoke Dudes

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

Sloop loafers spoiled by marinated olive oil

I simply adore the lightness of the Spring/Summer loafers, more the latter, when it is very hot. Over the past days here in Southern Sweden the weather moved from plus 30 degrees celsius to just below twenty and paired with rain. 
So my good intentions whilst hot was to bring out my few Summer loafers out and air them. 
It is funny that I have had the three Sloop loafers as seen below, but only used one pair bottom right and that was like two years ago, as I simply forgot that I did own these three Sloop loafers.

Loafers for the Spring and Summer from top: Sloop (dark brown suede) and Sloop dark brown, bottom: GJ Cleverley (left) and another Sloop (tan) bottom (right) which I have used a few times until I got caught up in rain in 2010 and simply forgot about this.

Here the Sloop, my favourite Summer shoe paired with Gammarelli red socks

 The Sloop with water markings from a down pair in 2010. 

Now, three days ago, I was wearing the same shoe (above Sloop), when in a Supermarket, the trolly behind me had a drip of Olive oil and just happened to end on my right foot Sloop loafer. The trolly lady was apologetic, she was not aware that her shopping trolly had a drip, I offered to clean as she was "so big" meaning pregnant and later offered to push her trolly to her car. I felt good as a Shoe Aristo Cat and a Gent. She was grateful and that made my day, but ended up with a shoe touched by marinated olive oil. Maybe will make a good patina. Hmmm not sure. Looks terrible anyway. May have to discard this Sloop, time will tell.

Photos sourced from me

Saint Crispin's blue loafers for the Spring / Summer

For the day just before blue Monday, I have sampled three pairs of loafers from Saint Crispin's, Viennese bespoke shoemaker. The first two loafers are on the model 533 last and the third on the model 111, both chiseled lasts. 
If I am not mistaken, Saint Crispin's will be having a trunk show next weekend in Stockholm, Sweden. A pity I can not make it for the event. I hope I can get a good feed back from those (I know) who will be to attending the event. Anyway, just before blue Monday, I present you the blue loafers as renditioned by Viennese Saint Crispin's.

Model 533 on the chiseled last in blue calf leather.

 Another model 533 on a chiseled last in blue suede leather. The laces in calf leather.

Model 511 on a SC chisel last in blue suede.

Photos sourced from Pinterest

Dinner Suits at the 2013 Oscar ceremony

A week ago the traditional yearly Oscar nominations took place and I was surprised by the breaking of the rules of evening wear by some of the gents attending the ceremony. I observed lots of blue dinner suits and some very odd pairing of the dinner suit with very untraditional footwear. I am not sure that this "breaking of the rules" is appropriate. Well, less talk and let the pictures talk for themselves.

Mr. Daniel Radcliffe very well dressed for the evening, dinner suit paired with the mandatory cummerbund if not using a waistcoat for a single breasted dinner suit. I am however missing a pocket square on the jacket pocket. Otherwise well done young man.

 Oscar winner actor Mr. Daniel Day-Lewis in a blue single breasted dinner suit, a pocket square and looking best, however he is not wearing patent oxfords, Opera pumps nor Albert slippers, but.....loafers. Now I am 100 percent certain that loafers are not formal footwear nor are they appropriate with a dinner suiting. He was not the only gent mind you.

 Oscar winner actor Mr. Michael Douglas looking good in his dinner suiting, though the traditional rules of dinner suiting wear are broken, just as Daniel Day-Lewis above, by pairing the dinner suiting with loafers

 Oscar winner actor Mr. Dustin Hoffman, opted for a tie instead of a butterfly. Note the length of the trousers a tad long. Hmmm... any local tailor could have fixed the length in a giffy.

Mr. Jamie Fox opted for a very untraditional colour dinner suiting, paired with a black shirt. Hmmm......what is happening?

Is this associated with glamour, Oscars, Hollywood, sartorial men's evening wear? Well not sure, are you? The look is ...what can I say...very interesting.

Mr. Chris Tucker also in a blueish shade single breasted dinner jacket, mandatory bow tie. However Mr. Tucker should have known that a one button jacket, must be buttoned at all times, unless getting sited. Mr. Tucker where is the cummerbund?

Photos sources from Yahoo Movies Gallery

Prince Charles - Britain's best dressed man

Prince Charles has been voted Britain's  best dressed man for a number of years, how so? Look at his impeccable, classy, elegant & stylish dressing from when he was young to his mature years. He did find his own style of dressing. In his younger years the Prince of Wales was a gent of single breasted suits, later he switched to double breasted suits and I think the transformation is elegant. Hail the Prince of Wales.

Below father and son in single breasted suits, white pocket square. Both have their one hand in the jacket pocket. A trademark to be for His Royal Highness Prince of Wales.

HRH Prince of Wales looking dapper after a night club visit. Note the hand in the pocket 

HRH Prince of Wales hand in pocket again, I am starting to wonder what is in the pocket.

HRH Prince of Wales in a dinner jacket, again hand in pocket

Visiting brownies, hand going for the pocket. Brown in town. Yes, can be done, when you are the Prince of Wales and visiting brownies.

A social chit chat with Streisand, note the hand in pocket again

Prince of Wales, dressed in Prince of Wales cloth. Something in that pocket, need to know what that is. Any ideas?

The transition to double breasted suiting, paired with loafers. Perfect.

 The Prince of Waled cycling in a double breasted suit. Love the bike 

 The Prince of Wales in his Camel coat, look at the french cuff on the coat, a detail only on bespoke clothing.

Pictures sourced from www. gq.co.uk

Summer inspiration alá Les Sapeurs (Gentlemen of Congo)

For the coming Summer be inspired by and try dressing sartorially alá the Gentlemen of Congo (Les Sapeurs) style. In one of the earlier blogs, I mentioned the Gents of Congo and their feel and attention to details and colour, men of Sartorial honour.


Well, why not try the below shown blazers and pair them with suede shoes like the ones depicted below. Oh, do not forget to add trousers, braces, belts and socks to pair the jackets. Use some colour to the trousers, so you have the Gents of Congo effect. Good luck Gents and Shoe AristoCats.

Carmina suede loafer

 Linen Summer double breasted blazer, add a pocket square to the breast pocket

 Markowski suede tassel loafer

 Two button single breasted Summer jacket/blazer

 Three button single breasted Summer jacket with patch pockets, add pocket square

Add the Sloop loafer to the above Summer jacket

Pictures sourced from the Internet

Ready To Wear shoes (Septieme Largeur) Part One

I have today decided to give the blog a different angle when talking classical men's shoes, it is not always about bespoke shoes, as there are many good ready to wear shoes offered by a number of company's.

For the topic of the day, I have chosen Septieme Largeur, a French (Ready To Wear) shoe producer. The shoes from SL are Goodyear welted, the leather is fine. Their models are classical, stylish, elegant and worth the investment.
Furthermore SL offers a customised patina for an additional 50£ (Euros) charge to the shoe price. The patina is breath taking, well executed, and Beau Brummel worth. Would Beau Brummel refuse such an offer? I doubt that. So, Gents, .....

Lets go choose a model, add a patina, then we are ready to show style and elegance.

Please welcome Septieme Largeur and hope you will enjoy their wonderful products.

Two toned Adelaide with beautiful patina

Jodpur boot with blue patina

 Green slip-on with patina

 Saddle shoes with two tone patina (1)

Saddle shoe with two tone patina (2)

 Oxford with patina

 Three tier Derby with shades of blue patina

Chelsea boot with red shades patina 

 Saddle shoe with two tone patina

 Jodpur boot with shades of brown patina brown

Below are the normal coloured shoes without the customised patina

(Balmoral with Suede)

 Brogued Balmoral boot

 Balmoral Boot

 More Balmoral boots

 Side view of the Balmoral Boot

 Balmoral Boot detail

Bootie in Suede 

Bootie in calf  

 Bootie top view

Suede loafer view

 Different views of the suede loafer below 

 Sole work of the shoes from Septieme Largeur

I would like to populate my shoe wardrobe with some of Septieme Largeur's models, for example the Balmoral boot(s), the bootie and the Balmoral Oxford. A Chelsea boot with patina will top it off. Again, great shoes at an affordable price. Well done SL.

All photos sourced from: Septieme Largeur Shoes