O’Mast
On the way to London for the screening of O’Mast, a documentary about Neapolitan tailoring and the old school charm of apprenticeships. Should be a good one.
Benedict Froggatt | web log
Well-dressed
I’m reading Adolf Loos’ Why a man should be well-dressed. Although the writing comes across as dogmatic in places and borders on the downright snobbish in others, if you take his ideologies with a pinch of salt you have a pretty nice set of guidelines for the modern gentleman. A few quotes from what I’ve read so far:
“An outfitter keeps everything in stock belonging to menswear. Not an easy task. For every article he sells he takes the responsibility for the appropriate distinguished look of the buyer. In a well-run gentleman’s outfitter one can expect to be able to choose an item completely at random and not end up with something not in good taste, i.e. not correct.
A true gentleman’s outfitter cannot make any concessions to the needs of the masses. The excuse that one has to cater to all tastes should never cross the lips of a leading outfitter. Errors of judgement should be unthinkable, and if one should happen to occur, it is his duty toward his customers to remove the offending article from his premises immediately.
…
He is principally a dealer. His relationship with craftsmen is similar to that of a collector, or the director of an art gallery with his artists. They too have a duty to select the best from among the wealth of objects that latter have created. This is enough of a task to fully occupy the mind and soul of any person.”
Paul Smith cashmere knit tie. Particularly like the detailing in the mid-section. Only I’ll know it’s there, of course, but maybe it’s better that way… a little bonus just for me.
New Paul Smith tie and Ovadia & Sons flannel trousers (back from the tailor’s two days before Christmas).
Crappy cameraphone quality, apologies.
Ovadia & Sons fall plaid wool tie.
Knots like a beaut.
I’ve been eagerly awaiting the arrival of these in the post. Ovadia & Sons lambswool flannel trousers in heathered blue, lambswool cargo trousers in light grey and a burgundy/deep green plaid wool tie.
These pictures don’t do them justice — the blue has a fantastic richness about it that pops out (in the best sense), the cargo’s texture is visually gorgeous and the colour combination on the tie is perfectly balanced. That’s just visually speaking — the trousers are remarkably comfortable and oh-so soft to the touch. Can’t wait to get these back from the tailors and start wearing them about town.
I have a lot of time for the Ovadia brothers. In my opinion they’ve been consistently bringing out superb, well considered products over the past year. My congratulations, keep up the great work and thank you!
