Secret London: Clifford Street



Perfumer H Clifford Street

Clifford Street, a London gem so discreet I can never quite locate it, just got more inviting.

If you ever need some respite from the madness of New Bond Street and Regent Street, just look for the wee street opposite the Dior flagship on Bond. Here you’ll find Morris’s café for a cuppa (and occasional sighting of Bill Nighy), Connolly’s leathergoods and fabulous oversize knits, Adret’s relaxed-yet-always-refined contemporary menswear, and all manner of gentlemanly ready-to-wear finds at Anderson & Sheppard Haberdashery (in a past life this was the rather more flamboyant Mr Fish). (more…)



Armani, Armani, Ar-Ar-Armani



Alessandra Carlsson Beri Smither Harue Miyamoto for Emporio Armani by Peter Lindbergh 1989

Before The Row, Lemaire and Brunello Cucinelli, there was Calvin, Donna and best of all, Giorgio. A fabric meister, rigorous deconstructor (before Margiela), uber-minimalist yet (contrary to expectation) anti-perfectionist, Giorgio Armani is the godfather of what we now call ‘quiet luxury’.

Fantastic Man has a, well, fantastic deep dive on the man himself in its latest issue, as well as a mention of Made In Milan, Martin Scorsese’s 1990 mini-documentary, that gives us a delicious glimpse into Mr Armani’s influences and philosophies. (more…)



Perfect pairing: office cowboy



Office Cowboy style Giedre Dukauskaite

On my radar: executive realness with a side of rodeo swagger. Niche I know, but I’m feeling the office cowboy vibes courtesy of Giedre Dukauskaite.

Maybe it’s the tension between corporate conformity and wild west rebellion. Whatever, I think the combination of power tailoring (I just copped this blazer), plus subtle saloon bar details – the belt*, the boot*, the shirt styling* – is one worth getting involved in. (more…)



Bottega Veneta x ASAP Rocky pre-Spring 2024



Asap Rocky Bottega Veneta pre-Spring 24 1

Bottega Veneta just dropped an ad campaign featuring ASAP Rocky in paparazzi photo mode. As in, the brand licensed actual pap images of him out and about wearing Bottega from Getty Images and stuck its logo on top.

Controversial, but I think it’s genius. Probably because it’s so unexpected from Matthiu’s Blazy’s straight-laced Bottega. But also because it fits with Bottega’s recent on-the-street vibe. (more…)