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.
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!
The Polo season will soon be upon us. Such a majestic and fabulous sport that goes hand in hand with sensational style. Polo is widely known as the sport of kings and there is no doubt that polo events are always associated with decadence.
Black Friday sales are all over the internet right now and what better time to sort your Polo look for the new year season. But what to wear? Here’s my take.
Polo days in London
During my time living in London, I was fortunate enough to have attended several prestigious Polo events on the Smiths Lawn in the Great Windsor Park, including the Queens Cup and Cartier International Polo Days. Pimms, white jeans, La Martina, polo boots, ponies, chukker’s, Hermès, beating sun and style, all spring to mind when I think back to those heady days.
My polo style back then in the late 90’s always included white chino’s, a blue oxford cutaway collar shirt, mandatory Hermès tie and blue blazer all paired with the infamous horse-bit Gucci loafers. My style in these days was influenced by James Hewitt, famous for his relationship with the late Princess Diana and someone who was always in attendance at the Polo, not least a regular in many of my favourite bars along Fulham Road.
Today the London days seem an age ago, however I still carry those fond memories and regularly draw on my memory bank of style from those times as I plan my New Zealand polo outfits.
Dressing for the Polo
Polo style is more casual than races style, however that doesn’t mean looks are any less stylish or sophisticated. To me Polo style is more daring, I love to mix bright colours along with traditional pieces to create that all important sprezzatura look.
My last polo look included mixing bright pink lightweight corduroy trousers with a more formal six button double breasted blazer, cutaway collar shirt along with a vintage Ralph Lauren tie, camo cap, and suede tasselled loafers. My goal was to introduce a look that challenged the conventional by matching a very formal blazer with loud corduroy’s.
For this season’s Polo in Christchurch’s so English, and so beautiful Hagley Park, I will again look to mix colour with tradition. This year I will be wearing high waisted linen trousers in what Ralph Lauren describes as resort orange. These will be paired with a cutaway collar shirt and preppy tie and a blazer; the colour and style will be determined nearer the time. During the Black Friday sales, I have managed to secure some super fab two-tone loafers from Duke + Dexter, and these will be a key part of my look.
Great style should always be complemented by great fragrance. I am connoisseur of fine fragrance and in particular those fragrances that have base notes that include Oud. Oud is a divine fragrance that has a rich woody, smoky, leather aroma to it, it is a favourite as it is very masculine and old world and works perfectly with my looks. Over the years I have worn many fragrances that have a heavy Oud influence, including Leather Oud by Floris of London, Oud Wood by Tom Ford and Bois dAscese by Naomi Goodsir. Recently I have been wearing a new luxury New Zealand fragrance by Frater called Dynasty. Frater, describe Dynasty as ‘the scent of empires. The opening melds costly saffron and aged leather with the celebrated oil of oud Assafi, the most expensive perfume ingredient in the world’. I must say it’s been a joy to wear, and it will be a part of my look for next year’s Polo.
Whilst I don’t tend to write about women’s wear, I do want to call out these fab mules from Kat Maconie. I came across them last week at an event organised by Christchurch’s Shoe Curator, a store that is really bringing something new to New Zealand that is so needed. I’m a firm believer that shoes are the most important aspect of a wardrobe, shoes have the power to both make or break a look, from a women’s perspective you surely need nothing else.
A tie should always be firmly done up and well knotted – always!
It’s been a while since I published a post. I’d been thinking for some time on what next. I take inspiration from a range of daily experiences and through my broader international links and subject matter sources. Rather than writing a piece on what I’m wearing, planning to wear, or what to expect at the next Pitti Uomo in Florence, I have decided to address the topic of ties. Two incidents have inspired me to write on this topic. The first, a Facebook memory that appeared on my page from a few years ago where I shared that fabulous quote from Oscar Wilde, “a well-tied tie is the first serious step in life.”
The second event occurred during my monthly trip to my barber for a tune-up. On this occasion I noticed with surprise that my barber was wearing a well tied tie. He remarked that he’d just acquired a new barber’s coat that looked great with a tie. I must admit it was a sharp look and reminded me at first of what I might expect if I was getting a cut in Milan. How fabulous that would be, perhaps he’d have served me a Negroni cocktail too – one can only but wish! Nonetheless, this experience highlighted just how powerful a tie can be and really what a great accessory the tie is. However, sadly it appears to be losing ground in our current environment of ‘dress for your day’ and general casualness.
Why wear a tie?
I would say that I tend to wear a tie almost every day, aside from the weekend. The dress code in the corporate office I work for is a typical “dress for your day”. So, in response to that, I wear a tie every day. My expectation is that every day should be fabulous and that I’m going to dress for an occasion even if I have nothing planned. There’s always the chance that a random invite will appear, an afterwork drink, an exhibition at a gallery or the launch of a European car, there’s always something. I believe you should always be prepared and never ever underdressed. To my mind a well tied tie, sets the gentleman apart. There’s certainly the perception of a gentleman who wears a tie as perhaps a person of professionalism and integrity. Although I dare say that there are wearers of ties who do not exhibit these traits. However, on the whole the tie really does make its mark if tied properly and contrasted with an exceptional shirt and suit/blazer.
Casual and Formal Ties
I see a clear difference in what I describe as casual ties as opposed to formal ties. Sure, they are both ties and to many people a tie is formal accessory that should be worn only on formal occasions. However, in my view the tie can be worn in a casual way without appearing overly stuffy and this is down to pattern of the tie and what it is worn with. Firstly, the pattern. Striped, military or club/school tie patterns are what I describe as casual ties. They can be worn in a variety of ways and right now my preference is with a striped or checked shirt worn underneath a vintage rugby jersey, to give that fabulous American preppy look. This look has been a Ralph Lauren staple for years, and it’s one that I regularly draw on.
I have two other favourite go-to label’s right now – namely Drake’s of London and the relatively new player in casual menswear, Man1924 of Spain. Both labels offer great casual menswear that brings new meaning to the word casual. The looks that both offer, are relaxed and often supported by casual ties that really stand these brands out from the rest. When it comes to formal looks and ties, I tend to go for block colours such as navy or burgundy, particularly if I’m wearing a pin-striped or houndstooth suit or blazer. In terms of patterned ties, the pinnacle of ties in my view is the Hermes tie. The Hermès tie is very distinctive through its quirky patterns on the finest of silk and unique in the way the knot appears when tied properly. Right, now I think there is a clear return of floral and paisley patterns that are quite striking particularly when tied with a heavy or large knot.
Above all things, the knot of a tie is the most important, a badly tied tie or an undone tie can really spoil a look, so it is worth practicing in order to get the knot just right. I typically tie a four in hand knot and strive for that very important dimple just below the knot. See the following link on how to tie a four in hand knot. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FZxwm47rTvk
My tips for wearing ties
Ties are a fabulous accessory when worn correctly, always and I mean always wear a tie firmly done up and well knotted
Learn how to tie a tie correctly, as bad knot can really take a gentleman’s look down a peg.
Gimmicky ties are a definite no-no.
An investment in a great tie is money well spent, Drake’s have great end of season sales where some fine pieces of silk can be acquired for a fraction of the normal price.
On Friday evening as I was watching my eldest son play field hockey I became involved in some friendly banter with the team manager, as we stood mildly freezing on the side line. Mr X, the team manager, a British gentleman, over the course of our humorous conversation remarked he was old, but not as old as I! This of course got me thinking about age and style. So here goes my thoughts on growing older in style.
The Style journey
To my mind, the look of a fabulously stylish older person is one that has been carefully curated through a life of experiences and an understanding of what works and what doesn’t. This does not of course mean that younger people are not stylish, it just means that younger people are at the beginning of the never ending style journey. You can’t buy style, although it is clear that some people think that it comes in Gucci or Louis Vuitton head to toe, which of course it does not.
My personal style is one that has evolved over many years. There was definitely a period when I was caught between a classic British style and a more modern look, heavily influenced by Prada amongst others. Those were my younger days and I once recall buying a Prada tracksuit-style top, then promptly returning it a few days later. Another time I recall phoning the Prada store in Milan in search of some fur lined loafers. Thank goodness none of these items ever took up a permanent space in my wardrobe. However, it does show that the style journey is an evolving one.
A friend asked the other day how old I was. To be honest, I wasn’t sure. It took a while, however right now I am 52 soon to be 53. Is that old? Well it’s older than 25, however I believe that I am definitely cooler than when I was 25 and I can still probably beat my 14 year old son in a running race. I must say that I am very content with being 53, in fact I actually look forward to being 60. I can’t wait to see how my wardrobe might look in seven years’ time. I think that as I’ve gotten older my style has become more defined, I know what works and what doesn’t. The idea of fur lined loafers is long gone. If you are a younger person reading this, don’t fear if you haven’t yet found your style. That is ok, your time will come! I know this because I believe my time is now, yes, at 53 almost. I look forward to many fabulous years to come of tweeds, double breasted suits, loafers, cigars and fine fragrance.
What to wear if you are older than 25.
By the time you are older than 25, it is most likely that you will have an idea of what works for you. In an earlier post I talked about the importance of dressing for yourself and believing that you looked fabulous. This is still the case when you are older. I think that problems can arise when a gentleman perhaps dresses in a way that is not who he is, forgetting that style is a journey. Instead of applying what he has learnt across his life, he opts to hit the reset button. Pause the evolving style journey and let’s start again!
We’ve all seen the super skinny jeans and hip trainers really rocking on younger guys, however I’m not a fan of this look on older men. In pursuing this look the older man is, in my opinion, sending a clear message that he has not found his style and has therefore looked to return to an earlier stage of the style journey. I think this is also reflected through the ever increasing trend right now of cosmetic modification in order to achieve that younger look. I think this reflects the misinformed view that older people don’t look great. Well, they do, some of the most stylish men on the planet are older and cooler. These gentleman have recognized that great style is not about trying to appear younger, great style is the product of a journey, an ongoing journey.
Whilst I don’t want to get in to the women’s style debate, I also believe that this concept applies to very stylish women. Some of my most stylish female friends are older, in fact much older. However, rather than trying to stop the journey they have curated a look that is so outstanding. These ladies looks’ are punctuated by classic and timeless pieces (bangles, scarves, fragrance and hairstyles that ooze appeal and style) and are worn with confidence. If you know me on a personal level and you are wondering, “is it me?” Well the answer is invariably yes, you know who you are!
The looks of these ladies are truly beautiful and a clear example that beauty is ever-growing and not an age thing. I am not one of those people that simply suggest that older people are attractive simply because they are wise and experienced. Whilst this may be true, I am however a visual person and to me the style that older people exhibit is a look that I very much admire and aspire to.
I entitled this paragraph, what to wear if you are older than 25, yet to provide a generic list of items would in my view not be consistent with the thought that everyone is different and therefore everyone has a style. The answer lies in unlocking and discovering what your particular style is. You should therefore wear what suits you and what makes you feel great, rather than simply following a stero-type that an advertiser is promoting.
Older style.
I wanted to share on this post, some photographs of people who are older than 25 and whom I think their style is second to none. I find these people very inspirational and their influence has been fundamental to my own style journey. I’ve also included photographs of women whom I find particularly stylish. Just for good measure of course! Enjoy.
Royal Ascot has begun this week and as Tatler announces, the first ever Royal Ascot at Home. The world’s most famous and prestigious week of flat racing begins for the first time ever behind closed doors. This of course hasn’t stopped the flood of fabulous suits and outfits appearing across social media and even Tatler, that famous British style bible, has revived old photographs of the royals at this special week of socialising and style. Whilst I won’t be attending Royal Ascot this year (no one will – aside from jockey’s and horses), it has led me to think about New Zealand’s own race week in November and what I might wear. Before I embark on a discussion about race-day attire for men, I felt it worthwhile to share this story of days gone by.
Wishing the candle out
I recall an amusing experience of once being invited to a Bank training course at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Singapore. In those day’s my decision to attend a training course or not, was led by the quality of hotel restaurant and the lunch, odd may it seem to those not familiar with the banking scene and 5 star hotel lunches. I was dead keen to attend this course, primarily because the Mandarin Oriental was also the home to the infamous Morton’s Steakhouse, Friday happy hours, were serious events to attend. Not only did Morton’s make the best Martini’s but the complementary steak sandwiches were perhaps the finest I had eaten anywhere. Anyway, back to the training course. For the life of me, I cannot recall what the training course was about, but I do recall an audience of about 30 people listening intently as the trainer announced that through the power of mind it is possible to force a candle flame out. The trainer instructed the group of 30 to sit in a circle, in the middle of the circle she placed a chair and on it a candle that she then lit. We were told that if we concentrated on the candle and nothing else we could as a group, force the candle out through mind power. So we sat down, participants from Manilla, Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo, all wishing, eyes closed, wishing for the candle to go out. One eye open, had it gone out? No, but it was definitely flickering, can’t be the air-con!!! Yes, was it really happening???? Then after about 5 minutes of wishing and hoping, the trainer leapt up, and clapped the flame out. With the immortal words, “See, if you just think about something, nothing will ever happen, you actually have to physically do something to make a change” How fabulous, what a ridiculously cool example. So to that end, race week is some 5 months away.
I dare say most people would not have given a thought to what to wear, maybe some have, but now is the time, don’t just think about what you might wear, clap the candle out and start planning and trying on some looks. I have a friend who runs an outfitters in Christchurch where I live, and he has told me that he never does well during race week because gentlemen tend come in at the last minute asking for suits to be made, which he simply can’t deliver due to the short notice, so now is the time! Whilst Southern Hemisphere racewear is less formal than Royal Ascot, there are still some outstandingly well-dressed gentlemen at both the New Zealand Race weeks in Canterbury and in Australia through Melbourne cup week.
What am I wearing to the Races in 2020?
Over the years I have tended to stick to linen double breasted suits in a variety of colours, I have a basic template that I stick with. I try and keep it simple but by doing the simple things well I hopefully achieve a sharp and super stylish look. My shirts are always white, my tie well done up with a small dimple and suit double breasted, well fitted in a block colour with a huge white pocket square., This is my look and this is what I’ll be wearing this year. I never ever go for gimmicky accessories, canes, gloves or anything else that is simply not consistent with contemporary sharp menswear.
What would I advise?
I think the starting point should be to spend some time researching race looks in order to understand the options. Everyone has a style that suits them best, I don’t believe that you can buy style, splashing the cash on Gucci head to toe may not necessarily equate to a great look. Your look should be one that you feel comfortable in, such that you feel fabulous, it should not put a gentleman outside of his comfort zone.
To last year’s New Zealand cup, I wore an outrageous head piece from my close friend Suzi Meares of Seventh and Figg. I wanted to prove that I could wear something feminine yet still appear masculine. The goal was to balance the hat with a very strong suit in order to break the boundaries of traditional style. Whilst undoubtedly there were critics, I did not mind as I believed in my look and in the strength of the hat in order to achieve a great look. So my message is most importantly about confidence, confidence is most critical to style.
Right now, the world has been turned upside down following Covid 19, budgets are tighter than usual so if you’re on a budget this is what I would do. First-up, step back into your wardrobe and assess the suits that you own. I believe that any suit can be adjusted to achieve a special look, i.e. a slight tapering of the jacket in order to get that hourglass jacket shape and side adjusters added to the trousers for example. I typically wear bright white crisp shirts that lead to a sharp look. If on a budget a great place to buy is through London’s TM Lewin online store, the shirts fit well and are great value for money. Of course there are an array of high end versions, from Turnbull and Asser through to one of my favourites right now, 100hands and the Italian Shirtmakers Santillo 1970.
I also believe that a great tie can also completely change a look, as such it’s well worth spending a little extra on a tie. Whist there are many many tie manufactures, I am very fond of Drakes of London as a tie-maker and my ultimate tie is from Hermes. Don’t be shy to shop online and for Southern Hemisphere gentleman, make the most of those great Northern Hemisphere sales to sort your tie for the races.
In assembling a look, your shoe choice is perhaps the most critical, bad shoes will ruin your look. Go, home, watch the Cup on your TV if you have bad shoes. Summer time is a great time to wear loafers, I just love them, if you are on a budget and you buy nothing else this year for the races, then invest in some great loafers. Whilst I have many pairs of loafers, from Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo, Crockett and Jones, to New and Lingwood, the pair that I love the most right now are from Berwick1707. Fabulous and highly affordable. Find these at Last and Lapel in Singapore and online.
In summary your look could be this;
Navy suit, fitted with side adjusters
Crisp white shirt
Drakes tie
Loafers from Berwick 1707
Don’t wish the candle out, now is the time.
Below I have posted some photos from those fabulous race days of the past, I’d like thank those super friends for making each event a stylish day to remember.
Winter has arrived in the Southern Hemisphere, which is a season that I am very fond of. Winter provides the opportunity to wear more clothes than normal, heavy coats overlaying ‘T’s and lighter kit and of course smashing it in a hat. So here goes, my view on hats and coats.
Hat people
Being an observant person that I am, I have noticed that for some people hats are their thing, the hat makes them who they are and they are very rarely seen without a hat. To me these are the hat people as they’ve unlocked a secret that works for them. I’m sure most people can think of at least one friend who is indeed a hat person. One lady that I know springs to mind, she will of course know who she is if she’s reading this blog. There are numerous celebrities who are clear examples of hat people. Namely, UK DJ and ex-Culture Club front man, Boy George, singer and super cool dude, Pharrell Williams and superstar footballer David Beckham is an occasional hat person in my view. All of these gentleman absolutely smash it in a hat.
Hat Styles
Just like pocket squares and shawl scarves, hats can take a look to another level, the key is what hat, how and when to wear it and finally wearing the hat with supreme confidence. Confidence is key, confidence is an attribute that all hat people exude in abundance, they know they look fabulous and therefore wearing a hat is no problem, there’s definitely no fear. The key is to believe. I wouldn’t say I’m a hat person in the strictest sense, I do love hats and am proud to own a ‘Rollable Rambler’ from one of London’s most famous and historic hat makers Lock Hatters in St James’, I also own a fabulous brown trilby from Bates in London. Both are winter hats that I regularly wear with a range of looks. My weekend go to hat is a peak cap that I bought from Hackett in London, I love to wear it with a vintage sweatshirt and red cords, it’s a super look as it combines traditional style with modern relaxed pieces to achieve that effortless cool look that I am always chasing. The hat that is very popular right now is the page-boy cap, thanks to Peaky Blinders, I bought one of these a few years ago from Cordings in Piccadilly and love the soft charcoal tweed that again works well with a more casual relaxed weekend kit.
Hat Tips
I know what they say, you must never wear a hat inside, well I’m going to counter that, I believe that you can wear a hat inside and in fact you must if underneath you have a bad case of hat hair. Keep it on if that’s the case.
I also think that you can get away with a hat indoors if its part of your look rather than simply on your head in to order to keep you warm and dry or to keep the sun from your face.
Know your hat size – hats don’t just come in one size, the fit is important.
Coats
Coats are an essential item in any gentleman’s wardrobe. Although I never quite understand why it is that this very important item is quite often overlooked by southern hemisphere gentlemen. It could be that it is a climate thing, coupled with the outdoors lifestyle of southern hemisphere gentlemen, hence coats tend to be more practical as opposed to pieces of outstanding style. I would say however, that a great coat is perhaps one of the best investments anyone can make. Not only will you be warm on those cold winter days, but from a style perspective, a fabulous coat will take you to another level.
My Coats
I have a range of coats, all of them with a story to tell and all have been great investments. My current go-to coat that I can pretty much wear with anything is double breasted and made from Harris Tweed. I had this tailored and modelled it on a coat that Prince Charles once wore. It’s possibly the warmest coat that I have ever owned and looks sensational with heavy suits and also on a more casual basis with jeans and my favorite corduroys’. I love the fact that I can wear this heavy piece of tweed against a casual backdrop of ‘trackie-bottoms’ and still really rock it. I used to believe that if you owned a Rolex watch then no matter what you wore, you still appeared invincible. Well, I believe this double breasted coat has these very same qualities.
In terms of other coats, I also own very traditional duffle coat (Paddington style) that I purchased from Mulberry in London. This works well with a roll neck jumper and helps me achieve that very preppy British look that I love.
Coat Tips
Invest in a great coat, it may be costly, however you will get years of wear from it if you choose wisely.
In my view sporting coats are just not stylish in any form, they are practical and that is it. My rule is to never ever be seen in a sporting coat, unless I’m on the field of course!
As I’ve just come in from standing on the sideline watching my son play field hockey in what I can only describe as Baltic conditions, I am grateful for my double breasted Harris Tweed coat that has kept me warm. As I stood on the sideline I thought of this article and my mind wondered to that divine Teddy-Bear coat that Winston Churchill used to wear, one-day I will own one of these fabulous coats.
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.
The Global Style Pilot 