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.

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!

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

NUMBER 5. From one end of China to another.

NUMBER 6. Maintaining traditions whilst breaking contemporary style.

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!

NUMBER 9. Snuff suede a classic with every look.

NUMBER 10. Belgium loafers something new.

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!

polo, Uncategorized

It’s Polo season

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.

Women’s wear.

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.

Finally

It’s worth highlighting that I am not sponsored in anyway by any brand, these are my thoughts as to what I see as stylishly fabulous.

The Polo season is fast approaching, it’s the sport of kings and if you’re going dress like you mean it.

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

Drake's London, Four in hand tie knot, Hermes, man1924, Menswear, Ralph Lauren, ties

The Barber & Oscar Wilde

*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.

The 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.

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