This remarkable book takes a very personal but supremely expert look at the best of high quality menswear. The author, Simon Crompton, is well-known for his Permanent Style blog and he's used the expertise he's acquired over years of wearing and collecting quality menswear to identify the best of tailoring and men's accessories.
His introduction contains a thought that is also a central theme to my blog here. Crompton makes the point that menswear branding has become all-powerful, with labels blinding men to genuine quality. He hopes to encourage men to seek out and buy based purely on quality rather than name. The attraction of this approach to the man who prefers to seek out the best for himself, rather than be a slavish follower of fashion, is obvious.
It is likely to be the already converted who will buy this book, but hopefully more men will be diverted from irrationally following labels to seek out products really worth buying and owning. Buy the book here: The Finest Menswear in the World: The Craftsmanship of Luxury
Grey Fox
ReplyDeleteThank you for an interesting review of Simon's book. I read his blog daily and have met him on occasions. However, my only reservation would be that one needs to be a millionaire to keep up with his collection rate! On the other hand your recommendations are a lot more in keeping with a more realistic income. So please keep them coming.
Best regards,
Snapper
Would agree with the previous comment. His blog is a diverting read but only in the same way that one would flick through a magazine about luxury sports cars whilst waiting to see the dentist. Despite the impression given by the Rake-obsessed hordes of the blogosphere, most British men do not wear high-end bespoke, nor do they live in London. The average income in the UK is about £25k per annum, meaning the concept of trailing down to London to spend £5k on a suit would be a complete anathema to 99% of men.
ReplyDeleteThanks snapper and Anon, it's intersting to read about high end stuff and there's always the 'suit for life' argument - one suit for £3000 rather than 15 for £200 each. Anyway, as you say snapper, I try to achieve a balance of price to quality in my search for style but it would be lovely to own a Savile Row or equivalent suit one day.
ReplyDeleteGF
As someone who has just bought a unworn handmade 3 piece suit off e-bay for 15 pounds (yes really) beautiful cloth, made by a well established tailor in Yorkshire. Remember there are other ways! I have 2 Gieves and Hawkes, 3 Paul Smith's Jaegar, Crombie, Daks Kilgour and several other beautiful suits from individual tailors (some of which operate around 'the Row'). Bespoke no, perfect fit no; by the way picking up a wool and silk Boateng from an Oxfam for 5 pounds was a particularly good day. Go on its fun and very rewarding :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks Anon - what an excellent way to buy into top quality if on a budget!
ReplyDeleteGF