Fresh from the weekend’s Polo, perhaps fresh is not quite the right word as I still feel under the weather after such a fabulous and decadent event. It’s been a while since I posted anything, however I wanted draw on a reaction I received at the Polo to my combination of a very traditional double-breasted blazer and tie along with a distressed camouflage cap. 

One lady commented, on seeing me for the first time, “your hat does not go with your outfit!”. 

I knew what I was doing, it wasn’t a mistake, a last-minute addition to protect my skin from the blazing sunshine, it was carefully planned. In my view what goes and what does not is a perception only. It’s just that people are not used to seeing a particular combination or something different and that does not mean it is wrong. 

Take the Landrover Defender for example, that very British SUV that is so loved across the globe as a both practical vehicle and a super stylish mode of transport. The shape has recently changed after 70 years, there are some that love it whilst others do not. In my view the new Defender looks outstanding, it is different for sure, but just because it is different and unexpected it does not mean that it is not fabulous. This is of course not an article about Landrovers’, however it is an article about being different and breaking the style rules – so here is how I break the style rules.

Using footwear to twist a look.

Snow boots

I’ve been a fan of mixing footwear to smash a look for some time. My Sorrel snow boots are a regular accessory which I love to pair with corduroys and a blazer in the winter. I love the contradiction of the super stylish blazer offset by the casual snow terrain boots.  

Hunter Wellington boots

One of my favourite looks from the past ten years is surely the combination of the infamous Hunter Wellington boots with coloured shorts (pink) and navy linen blazer. I think the reason that this look came about was during the rainy season whilst living in Shanghai. The weather would be dreadfully hot and often very wet, wearing the hunter boots meant I saved my Gucci loafers from the rain but still carried off a wicked look. Oddly I once managed to get into a nightclub in Shanghai wearing this look. 

Hiking boots

If anyone asked me to name one thing that will be a key piece of my winter wardrobe this coming season, then my response would most certainly be hiking boots. I’m not talking about the gortex versions from your local sporting goods store. I am however talking about the most divine, vintage, heavy leather type with the mandatory red laces. I plan to wear these with everything possible except a dinner suit. Watch this space.

Hats

Hats present a multitude of ways to change a look or add a bit of spark. Maybe the hat look has come about via the number of period drama’s right now, whether it be Peaky Blinders or the Crown, hats are huge. 

Most recently I’ve been wearing a lot of caps, which make it so easy to break the traditional look and combine casual with formal and achieve my goal of Sprezatura. Another go-to item that I often wear in the winter is my felt trilby, it’s great to be able to mix a look up by adding a trilby to sometimes a very casual look. 

Ties

There was a recent debate in New Zealand about whether the tie was dead. Several commentators in the fashion industry and in journalism proclaimed that the tie was dead. The tie of course is not dead, it’s as wickedly stylish now as it has ever been. I love to pair a tie with a vintage Ralph Lauren rugby jersey. I love ties, they are such a versatile accessory, but very misunderstood and often missing from many contemporary looks. The result being that many gentlemen look the same, a blur of grey suiting and open neck shirts. In my view this is a very careless look and something I steer well away from.

Blazers

I believe you can wear a blazer with almost anything. My favourite look is to team a blazer with camouflage combat trousers, such a contradiction of what might typically be expected, but it works so well.

Over the past few weeks of summer, I’ve been regularly pairing a linen blazer with wide vintage heavy cotton cream track pants. Again, not a look that might be expected, however the well fitted linen jacket with the almost baggy track pants creates, what is in my view, a super contrast. 

Overcoats

An item that seems to not have the following in New Zealand in the same way as in Europe, is the overcoat. Such a stylish seasonal item that in my view cannot be left out of a wardrobe. I have a double-breasted Harris Tweed overcoat that I love to pair with super casual items. It’s a great contrast and has that period feel to it, think ‘Chariots of Fire’, tweed and casual sports kit, such a wicked combination.  

Whilst these are my own views and looks, I’m pretty happy with my camo cap and double-breasted blazer, you’ll just have to get used to it.  

If you can’t do it in style, don’t so it!

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