Gaziano and Girling - Cherry coloured Adelaide

I have for the day sampled a Gaziano and Girling creation in cherry colour to honour the yearly natural event the blooming of the cherry blossom trees that occurs in Japan between end of March and mid April. The celebration is called Hanami - deriving from Hana (flower in Japanese) and Mi (to watch - verb).

Celebration of Hanami in Japan photo from Child friendly news

The Gaziano and Girling creation in cherry colour(wing tipped Adelaide Oxford). The below will be suitable to complement the Hanami celebration.

Photos sourced from Gaziano and Girling and Child friendly news

Il Corno Blu - Japanese Bespoke shoes

As you may know by now that I have this fascination about Japanese bespoke boot and shoemakers, and I have not touched on them for quite some time. Today I have sampled a few creations by Il Corno Blu (not sure if it is a collaboration of different bespoke shoe artisans or one man's work). 

The first depicted light brown or Tan coloured quarter brogue punched captoe Oxford is from Il Corno Blu (Yutaka Seigaku), never have I seen a classic simple oxford renditioned so immaculately and perfectly as this creation from Master Yutaka Seigaku.

Bespoke quarter brogue punched Oxford laced shoe from Il Corno Blu (Yutaka Seigaku)

 Sole details of the shoe - just simple, adorable, perfect, classic and timeless

The below shoes photos all sourced from Style Forum and creations of Il Corno Blu.

A black stitched Oxford, simple, classic and elegant.

 Il Corno Blue Ready To Wear offerings, if wishes were horses, then I would be begging to ride and be a jockey on these below RTW offerings. So simple and refined yet classic and elegant. Need to pop up in Japan for a cup of tea.  

 A line up of the usual suspects from Il Corno Blu

 I am not sure what hide is the strapped loafer made of, but it is appealing to my taste, same as the tan below loafer and above the monk strap

Pictures sourced from Style Forum and The Shoe Realistic Blog and Style Forum.

Longing for Spring - Scarpe di Bianco - Spring loafers

It is still very cold here in the Nordics, as a matter of fact we had snow fall over the week and it is biting cold. It is supposed to be Spring. Well...no need to complain as matters could be worse. 
Just to warm myself in the colours of Spring and looking forward to when I do not need a heavy coat and boots for venturing out, I found these two lovely Spring/Summer loafers from Scarpe di Bianco and I want to share them with you and at the same time I wish you a pleasant weekend.

Blue loafer from Scarpe di Bianco with a monogram on the toe cap. I like this blue shade. Just lovely.

The below brown shades suede loafer reminds me of the SW1 loafer I mentioned on this blog, the colour is just perfect for the Spring/Summer period.

Photo sourced from Scarpe di Bianco.

Crockett and Jones - Spring offers 2013

Looking for a pair of suede loafers to replace my worn down Crockett and Jones Cavendish in Polo suede, I came to some lovely suede offerings by Crockett and Jones of Northampton, England. 

The Crockett and Jones Cavendish tassel loafer in Polo suede has been my companion for at least six to seven Summers and was my favourite summer footwear. Now that is worn down and ready for the trash bin, I lament it. Sentiment, sentiment and crocodile tears. Okay, let us see what Crockett and Jones has to offer this Spring/Summer.

Chukka boot in Purple, Ocean, Bottle Green and Mushroom suede. Wow! Lets bring the linen suits out for the Summer and add some colour with these babies. 

A three tier Derby in mid blue suede. My mouth is watering already.

 An old friend the Cavendish tassel loafer in Polo Suede and ....

Cavendish in Bottle Green. Wow! The apron in white stitching. Uh!

All photos sourced from Crockett and Jones

Accessories - Gentleman's Cufflinks

Before I never paid much attention to a gent's cufflinks, which is the one of the few accessories a gent can use when dressing up and show a bit of jewellery and be a "peacock" without raising an eyebrow.

From Wiki: "A cufflink (also cuff link or cuff-link) is a decorative fastener worn by men and women to fasten the two sides of the cuff on a dress shirt or blouse. The forerunner of today's shirt first appeared in the early 16th century, its ruffled wristband finished with small openings on either side that tied together with "cuff strings".  To read more follow here .

A few years ago (six to seven years) I started paying attention to cufflinks, bearing the memory of my father & grand father using cuff links to tie/fasten their shirts (mostly made of gold or silver). I personally do not like gold. Back then I thought what a job and time to use just getting the shirt fastened, why not settle with buttons, quick and simple. But I was wrong back then as a kid, as I did not know better. 
Most of the cufflinks I see today are rather boring, nothing unique, nothing standing out and setting a statement ......I mean simple in design, eye catching, unique, classic, timeless and stylish.

In my quest I started looking for exquisite and unique in design cufflinks to complement my dress shirts. Not so long ago I encountered "Exquisite Trimmings" a web based operation by Shaya Green who offers "exquisite cufflinks" and other accessories for men/gents and I was thrilled. My favourites became the offers from N. H. Sartoria. I ordered three pairs and I am waiting with anticipation to see them in real life. Okay too much talk and no pictures...... view & judge yourself. 

N. H. Sartoria samples of cufflinks from Exquisite Trimmings.

All photos sourced from Exquisite Trimmings. 

When things get too much

Today I sampled the below photo from The Sartorialist and I have to admit that too much is happening on the photo. Well ...in short not pleasing to my eye and not very sober or classic, perhaps trendy and fashionable meaning the whole attire as it is.
But have to admit that the Camel coloured coat with black velvet collar is perfect, but those studded black gloves and the studded black briefcase...Hmm.. ehhh not to mention the leopard neck scarf followed by the coat's pocket used as a storage room, however the items neatly organised. Well some people can pull the looks and getaway with it. Well not my cup of tea as depicted, could settle for the coat though...What is your opinion?

 Photo sourced from the The Sartorialist.

Keeping traditions - Men's Full evening dress code

In the last blog I made a hint to traditions, which gives me the perfect opportunity to touch on the ultimate formal men's dress code for formal events/occasions from a Western man's perspective and secondly an opportunity to respond to a reader regarding his comment on Mr. President Obama's choice of white tie for inauguration in January 2013. I am at no means a subject matter expert on the named issue(s), but a quick research shows that men's formal dress code clothing has being in one way or another regulated and has strict rules. So when breaking the rules of formal dress codes at least make an effort to know the rules.

There are are Four (five) formal dress codes for a Western gent. At the top which I will name number One is the White tie event, full evening dress. Two - is the dinner suit, Three is the morning coat, Four is the Stresseman and lastly Five the suit which most men own and know what it is. So to keep if formally I will say five. For today I will focus on the White tie - full evening dress attire rules/codes.

1. White tie event (full dress, evening dress or full evening dress) is worn to ceremonial occasions such as state dinners (in some countries), very formal balls (for example Viennese balls)and evening weddings.
As evening dress, white tie is traditionally considered correct only after 6:00 p.m.
Formal full evening dress is strictly regulated (not legally but by tradition not changed since 1870's) and strictly consists of the following:

• Black (traditionalist preference) or midnight blue dress coat( evening tailcoat) with silk grosgrain or satin facings, horizontally cut-away at the front
• Trousers of matching fabric with one wide or two narrow strips of braid down the side seams. Trousers are worn with braces and no belts.
• White plain stiff-fronted cotton shirt, which is closed with studs
• White stiff wing collar, detachable or stand up collar
• White bow tie (not pre tied) made of cotton marcella
• White low cut waistcoat (vest) made of cotton marcella, covering the trouser waist line
• Black silk socks or stockings
• Black court pumps with black silk bows or highly polished black Oxfords with least ornamentation (brogueing) or paten black shoes.

Accessories to the attire:

- Cufflinks for the shirt, if not using studs

- Pocket square- (white linen) and or boutonniere

- Pocket watch - strictly no wrist watches

- Black silk Top hat 

- White gloves

- White sil scarf

- If and when it is a cold evening, the overcoat must be a Chesterfield coat, Inverness cloak or Opera cloak.

Full evening dress as renditioned by Knize of Vienna (city known for its formal balls and strict dress code). Note that there are only two colours in this formal dress attire, black (for traditionalist) and white. Nothing else. I think so should it be.

HRH Prince Philip of England in full evening dress

Full evening dress as worn by US President John F. Kennedy to his inaugural ball

US President Reagan in full evening dress for inaugural ball. Probably the last US President who wore a full evening dress to the inaugural ball at the White House 

Much dispute and talk has been going on regarding the 2013 inaugural ball of US President Barack Obama for his second term. The US President's choice of evening dress was half heartedly a mixture of eh.....you decide. Some people argued that he wore a similar attire when getting married some 20 years ago, so it was a combination of the inaugural celebrations and marking the 20th anniversary of his marriage. I am not going to go into the flap pockets of the supposedly dinner jacket. I will get there once we touch on the Dinner suit.

Hmmmm... I also found out that white tie (bow tie) with a dinner suit is common for American marriages. Odd tradition anyway. Either we stick to tradition (enforce it) or ...leave it and not invert in between. The below is neither fish nor fowl.

I will not say a word about the bulgy sacking trousers. 

Photos sourced from various Knize, Wiki other Internet sources.