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Crockett & Jones: the factory, the shoes, the people
Last week I was in Northampton visiting a few of the shoemakers, particularly Crockett & Jones and the new Gaziano & Girling factory. I have never owned any Crockett & Jones shoes. But I...
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The bespoke leather jacket: Part 3
This was the third and final fitting for my Gieves leather jacket. There had been one in between this and the first fitting, but only a few minor adjustments were made. Then, for the final look, Davide...
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Drake's buys Rayner & Sturges
I recently had my first opportunity to chat to Michael Hill about his takeover last month, with Mark Cho, of the Rayner & Sturges shirt factory (above). Rayner & Sturges is the last independent...
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The Dutch auction at Le Noeud Papillon
Despite years of buying bespoke clothing, and therefore steadily fewer if more expensive clothes, I have never lost a taste for the retail fix. There's nothing like the thrill of making an...
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Satriano Cinque and Solito back in September
The Italians, frustratingly, don't tend to visit in the summer. Then again, there would be little point as their workers are usually on holiday for a month, so little work would be done on the order at...
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The rise of the polo shirt
This past weekend I wrote a piece for the FT on polo shirts, which you can see here. Mentioning John Smedley, Orlebar Brown, Lacoste and others, it is hopefully an interesting update for anyone...
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Should I change from Turnbull & Asser to Kiton?
Hi Mr Crompton,I'm a fan of yours (Permanent Style, The Rake) from Singapore. I've been agonising over my shirts for some time and would like to ask your advice. I've been wearing bespoke T&A for...
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The bespoke leather jacket: Part 4
The hardest thing about having my bespoke leather jacket made over the past couple of months has been not seeing the raw material. With a bespoke suit, you are fitted in the actual cloth and gradually...
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Interview in Vestirse Por Los Pies
Vestirse Por Los Pies interviewed me recently on how I started blogging, the future of social media and my life outside menswear. Do not be put off by the slightly awkward English introduction - the...
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Gaziano & Girling bespoke: new adelaides and fitting process
These are my latest Gaziano & Girlingbespoke shoes, waiting to be made ready for a fitting (hopefully next week). They are a St James style (semi-brogue adelaide) in vintage cedar. Interestingly,...
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Is a bespoke suit made entirely by hand? - Reader question
Dear Simon,I was talking with a local bespoke tailor to sound out what they offer and how much handwork goes into their garments. Obviously everything is struck and cut by hand on premises, but he told...
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The bespoke leather jacket: Part 5
The finished leather jacket. This bespoke project from Gieves & Hawkes has progressed quite quickly compared to tailoring, but it still feels like an age since Davide and I first conceived of the...
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The bespoke leather jacket: Part 6
Following the post earlier in the week on my finished leather jacket from Gieves, here are a few of the construction and design details. There is no hand stitching, as on most leather products, other...
View ArticlePermanent Style collaborations
Someone pointed out recently that some Permanent Style collaborations – with La Portegna, for example, or Passaggio Cravatte– have ended without any news as to how they went or the product was...
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Dressing for the summer, and the kids
I’ve been on holiday the past two weeks in the south of France; apologies for the tardiness confirming some comments. For those interested in more casual dress, here is something from last week, with...
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How to wear T-shirts, jeans and much else
I write about why casual clothing is complicated, so much more so that suits and ties, in my latest column on We Are The Market, which you can read here.There is also now a nice homepage with links to...
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How to tie your tie
Dear Simon,Ties and their lengths are causing me some problems. I have bought several ties recently, all from Drake’s, but realise that they are slightly too long. Being 5’6’’ I know I am not the...
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Repatinating shoes with Carreducker
I love my brown Cleverleys– the first bespoke shoes I owned – but I’ve never been that happy with the colour. Cleverley are good at many things, but patination is not one of them. George Jr has looked...
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A good tool for removing pilling from sweaters
I’m not great at looking after anything apart from shoes. Suits I brush down occasionally, but certainly not after every use, and knitwear rarely gets much of a look-in. In an effort to change this I...
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Stefano Bemer bespoke event at New & Lingwood
As I mentioned earlier in the year, Stefano Bemer shoes has been relaunched following Stefano’s sad passing and the subsequent tribulations. This is great news for anyone that was a fan of the man, his...
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