Tag Archives: Dunhill

Cigars, Drake's London, Fragrance, Hermes, Menswear, Preppy, Ralph Lauren

All I want for Christmas

Another year has flown by, marked by new suits and a touch of tweed—a perfect moment to reflect on the year gone by and, of course, plan for the one ahead. It’s been inspiring to see the growing momentum toward vintage clothing, a refreshing shift from the fast fashion that dominates today. Ralph Lauren has embraced this trend brilliantly, buying back vintage pieces to resell to a market eager for timeless style.

In my own household, I’ve revived my Gucci horsebit loafers purchased from Harrods back in 1998. My sons have also raided my wardrobe, claiming treasures like a pair of vintage Fendi aviator glasses and several Hermès ties that have made appearances at social occasions throughout the year.

And so, once again, it’s time to draft my Christmas list for Santa. This marks my second “Dear Santa” note, and looking back at the last one I published a few years ago, I can’t help but notice how little has changed. So here it is—my Christmas list for 2025.

Winston Churchill’s famous “teddy bear” coat an oversized, double-breasted fur coat he often wore during the 1930s and 1940s. It became an iconic symbol of his bold, eccentric style that I very much admire.

1. Geo F. Trumper Eucris Eau de Toilette

This fragrance takes me back to a Mulberry scent I wore in the ’90s. It exudes quintessential British elegance and sophistication. Eucris is famously known as James Bond’s fragrance in Ian Fleming’s novel From Russia with Love—a true classic.

2. Ralph Lauren Madras Shirt

To pair effortlessly with my black dinner jacket and bow tie—juxtaposed against distressed, baggy jeans for that rebellious cocktail of formality and nonchalance.

3. Vintage fur coat.

Whilst we’re planning for the beach, winter is never far away. As I continue my style journey beyond the confines of suits, I’m always searching for new classics that break the traditional mold. At the top of my list for winter 2026 is a fur coat of flamboyant proportions—bold, unapologetic, and full of character. My goal? To pair it with an old Yankees cap in that rakish, sprezzatura style I so admire.

4. Preppy Striped Vintage Watch Strap

To frame my Bell & Ross with Ivy League charm.

5. Socks in a riot of colours

Because socks should never be boring—they’re the punctuation marks of a well considered outfit.

6. Tanqueray No 10. gin.

I absolutely love this gin—it’s a true classic that outshines all others. Perfect for a martini with a twist, and let’s not forget the bottle itself, which is undeniably stylish.

7. A Box of Partagas Serie D No. 4 Cigars
The perfect companion for late-night musings on style and life – my favourite.

8. Winston Churchill-Inspired Spectacles

I love horn rimmed spectacles, whilst I do not need glasses I feel as though the time might be approaching. Super elegant refined and considered.

9. Nicky Haslam Tea Towel – “Things Nicky Haslam Finds Common”

Because Nicky is a legend in style and design.

10. Dunhill Cigar Lighter

Because matches are common.

Any that’s a wrap, “if you can’t do it in style then don’t do it“

Merry Christmas

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Shoes

The art of shoe style

It’s been ages since I posted anything, but the fashion world keeps spinning with new collections and trends constantly emerging.

I’ve noticed the rising trend in recycled clothing, perhaps driven by the cost-of-living crisis following Covid and rebranded as vintage. Ralph Lauren blazers, polos, and tees seem to look even better the second time around. It just goes to show that classic pieces never age.

I recently watched season three of HBO’s ‘White Lotus.’ The storylines are always quirky, and the cinematography is quite inspirational. Season three was set in Thailand, a place I’ve been fortunate enough to visit many times. The beaches are sensational, along with the food and nightlife.

I recall many years ago sitting on a beach in Thailand, smoking a cigar and having a beer. While not unusual, I remember wearing pink Abercrombie shorts, a distressed Ralph Lauren polo, and, of all things, a pair of chocolate suede Crockett and Jones oxford shoes. Thinking back, it seemed a risqué thing to do—wearing my favorite suede oxford’s to the beach, if not outright foolish. Nonetheless, despite the salt, they survived, and to this day, I still have the same oxford’s. I love them and, if I had to take one thing to a desert island, it would be these shoes. Watching ‘White Lotus’ reminded me of these shoes, and it seemed fitting to look back at some of the shoes in my collection, which I dare say are approaching that vintage age. So here goes, my top 10 pairs.

NUMBER 1. Sitting on the beach.

Chocolate suede oxfords

NUMBER 2. Loafers by Salvatore Ferragamo, too beautiful to wear!

Salvatore Ferragamo – Ferraris for your feet

NUMBER 3. Dunhill slip-ons only to be worn with a navy chalk stripe suit!

Alfred Dunhill

NUMBER 4. The finest shoes I own, Crockett & Jones hand grade.

C&J Sherbourne

NUMBER 5. From one end of China to another.

Trickers vintage tramping shoes.

NUMBER 6. Maintaining traditions whilst breaking contemporary style.

Opera pumps.

NUMBER 7. A Races staple with great heritage.

Crockett and Jones Spectator shoes

NUMBER 8. Italian vintage hiking boots – essential pairing with suits and cords!

Italy’s finest.

NUMBER 9. Snuff suede a classic with every look.

C&J snuff suede

NUMBER 10. Belgium loafers something new.

Essential with olive linen

That’s it, a quick fire top 10, not to be confused with ‘that bar’ in Singapore and only the tip of the iceberg of a much bigger collection.

Shoes have the ability to make or break an outfit; they are the single most important item in a wardrobe. Invest wisely, don’t be shy to buy online, trainers are fine, but not every day!

I should have been working, instead I was in the garden making pizza’s and snapping these pics!

If you can’t do it in style – don’t do it!

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Sustainable Style

‘Greed is good’, a classic line from Gordon Gecko in that famous capitalist movie ‘Wall Street’ – but how much do we really need?

An unquenchable thirst.

We are living in unprecedented times, a global pandemic, a war, an escalating cost of living and a general unaffordability of life like never before. Covid enforced isolation, working from home and those hazy afternoons on the veranda have presented the perfect opportunity to reflect. What should I be buying next, what outfit, shoes, fragrance, book, tie, jumper, overcoat, something, there must be something? The need to make a purchase burning away like an unsmoked cigar in the humidor.

Oddly I have come to the conclusion that I don’t really need to buy anything, I’ve everything I need, a wardrobe full of shoes and coats and cords and more cords. Every season there always used to be something new, a look I wanted, a look that takes months of research, googling, late night calls to somewhere far off to confirm an order or check on a size. Somewhere, that I can only read about on Instagram or watch on a youtube clip today.    

I am aware that there seems to be a trend right now to embark on that great wardrobe cull. As they say, ‘if in doubt, chuck it out’. I really don’t subscribe to this at all, not even in the slightest. I’ve never thrown anything out and most certainly never intend to. Each pair of shoes, each tie each suit has a story behind it, like a diary without words, perhaps in the same way that albums or songs are a reminder of a time or place in our lives. Given this, my wardrobe is a story of my journey, one day it will be passed to my sons. Infact that day is coming sooner than I am ready for, as my favourite trousers and jumpers are already vanishing from the closet without explanation.

The wardrobe – when is enough, enough?

So often have I uncovered a piece of clothing that I used to wear, that now for one reason or another has been discarded towards the back of the closet. Each time I have been delighted with my find, whether it be the Gucci snaffle loafers, shawl collar cardigan or Swedish winter coat.

I can’t help but think in these times, that standing back and having a real look through your wardrobe might just provide some hidden gems, not least be a solution to the rising cost of living and thinking about that word that appears everywhere these days, ‘sustainability’.

I’m not suggesting that the pursuit of ultimate style should be compromised by not making those all-important purchases, however what I am saying is that quite often we have the necessary ammunition to dress impeccably without the need to go and buy something new. So often I hear, argh why did I buy that, it’s dreadful, what was I thinking? Of course, not every piece in the wardrobe is going to be a long-lost style shaker, there are some pieces that just no matter what cannot be resurrected.

To avoid this problem;

  • I always think long and hard before committing to a new piece;
  • consider how likely is it that I will wear it when I’m old (really old!!!);
  • can I wear it in both summer and winter?
  • will I always love it not just today, but does it rock?

What I never ever think about.

  • what anyone else thinks!

A label that I am loving right now.

FE Castleberry for his electric mix of colour, textures and fabric. I’ve been thrashing the FE Castleberry designed Kirk Originals glasses this year. Perhaps they will turn into a style gem for my boys in the future.

FE Castleberry has been a catalyst in encouraging me to look at my current wardrobe and to explore how I can combine styles to create a new look. Very inspirational.

If you can’t do it in style – don’t do it!.

Swedish winter coat 2001
Smoking Jacket 1963
Bow Tie Diunhill 2010
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Uncategorized

Belts, Buckles & Gurkhas

One evening late last year, I received a video call from a friend who had recently moved to Hong Kong on a three month secondment. For this young gentleman, this was his first posting abroad and first Asian experience. The call caught me off-guard as it was rather late and to my surprise there was my friend all dressed for his first corporate event. However he had a predicament, which belt should he wear, or should he wear a belt at all? He stood there in his 5 star hotel room bemused, holding a belt up, “which one?” he asked. “Goodness, how fortunate could a young chap be?” I thought. He was about to hit some of Hong Kong’s coolest Soho bars and restaurants, surely the belt predicament was a minor hiccup in an otherwise fabulous night ahead!

So here’s my take on belts.

I have a strict rule that I never ever wear belts with formal suits and only ever wear belts with casual trousers. That is not to say that I am ok with empty belt loops, as to me an empty belt loop kind of looks like you are only partly dressed. Rather than having belt loops on my suit trousers I opt for side adjusters that neatly ensure my trousers remain where they should. Side adjusters result in a very clean line around the waist and give a very polished appearance. This neat little trick is very common in European suits and I can always tell straightaway where a gentleman has most recently lived or worked by weather he has side adjusters on his suit trousers or not.

The Gurkha Trouser.

Currently we are seeing a resurgence in the Gurkha style trouser. The method of keeping the trousers in just the right place is quite ingenious, with two flaps that tie across your middle and do up in a manner similar to side adjusters. The look is outstanding and best suited with higher waisted linen trousers. I’ve provided a photograph of a pair of Gurkha trousers, of which I have two pairs, below.

Belts.

As mentioned, I only ever wear belts casually. However I must say that one of my proudest moments was purchasing a Hermes belt from London’s Bond Street in the 90’s. In my opinion the gold ‘H’ Hermes belt is the pinnacle of belts and looks fabulous with white jeans, not to mention a host of coloured trousers as well.

Over the years I’ve acquired belts from Prada, Dunhill, Ralph Lauren, Etro and a rather large gold double ‘G” from Gucci in Rome that I bought in 2000.

Less label focused these days, I really do love some of Ralph Lauren’s preppy ribbon belts. Again if you wear them tied at your hip, you end up with a super clean line around your waist which I think looks outstanding. I have not been shy to also experiment with some of my older ties using them as belts, the look can be just as cool without the financial outlay.

My tips for keeping your trousers firmly where they should be;

  • If you are having a suit made, always opt for side adjusters, you will achieve a far more polished look.
  • If you are buying a suit off the rack, then some stores will provide a service whereby the belt loops can be removed and replaced with side adjusters.
  • If your suit has belt loops, always wear a belt, I’d opt for an understated belt, rather than an Elvis in Vegas special.
  • Ribbon belts are inexpensive and look super stylish.

If you can’t do it in style, then don’t do it.

  • Hermes
  • Gurkha trousers in linen
  • Gucci
  • Dunhill, Ralph Lauren ribbon belts and Gucci fabric belt.
  • Side adjusters on chalk Stripe
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