Summer Jackets 6: Two from Oliver Sweeney

Oliver Sweeney is in my good books. Its use of an older model for the current spring/summer advertising campaign shows a creative, confident and cool approach to menswear. This is a brand that sees its clothes on men of whatever age and is not afraid to be open about that. I like its products and attitude and urge you to support them.

Oliver Sweeney Beaumont Redwood cotton blazer £295
Shirt, Dundas
Chinos, Spoke London
Egyptian cotton summer socks, Pantherella
Shoes, Cheaney

We were sent two jackets to try for this feature. A neatly-tailored cotton unlined blazer and a navy water-repellant cotton and polyacetate cycling jacket with reflective trim, action back and a number of details such as an attachment for a bike light; ideal for that ride across town for a meeting. Both were nicely-made and well-designed.

Try Oliver Sweeney's new store in Henrietta Street, Covent Garden, London if you are visiting the capital. There's much to see, enhanced by delights like a bar, interesting collaborations and a display of vintage watches for sale.

Oliver Sweeney Langton navy cycle jacket £295
Jeans Made in England, Quantock
Trainers Made in England, Norman Walsh
Socks, Pantherella

Cycle jacket back detail

Suppliers

Oliver Sweeney
Dundas Shirts

Spoke London

Pantherella

Cheaney

Quantock

Norman Walsh

With infinite thanks to:

Styling - SartoriaLab

Photography - Nick Maroudias

This feature is not sponsored.

Oliver Sweeney SS15 and ageless menswear advertising

I make no apology for featuring Oliver Sweeney in successive posts; this is an editorial decision prompted by my approval of their advertising campaign for their spring/summer 2015 collection. Not only does it contain clothes I'd like to wear (from a brand I previously associated only with shoes), but they also have selected a model with a good show of grey hairs.

The model is in his fifties (he's Glenn Campbell, a stylist and presenter in his fifties and isn't a professional model) make the shots ageless in a way that gives me, an older man, some idea of how the clothes could look on me. At the risk of becoming tedious on this point, I feel that many brands are losing out by ignoring the older man; we are a demographic that is increasing in size, affluence and interest in style. Advertise to us and we will abandon our cardigans and slippers and buy with enthusiasm.

Readers will recall I wore one of their coats in my recent spring coats shoot (click here). Well done Oliver Sweeney. (Incidentally, this isn't a sponsored post).

Oliver Sweeney - map print brogues for spring/summer

With summer drawing near, here are some shoes for the traveller. These longwing brogues from Oliver Sweeney use a printed map fabric in their construction. Each shoe is different as each uses a unique section of the fabric. They are Goodyear welted construction and have a lightweight Finproject white commando sole, making them a versatile travel companion.

 Clopton brogues £229.00 from Oliver Sweeney. Also available as an informal sneaker.

Oliver Sweeney Welburn Derby shoes

Always on the lookout for shoes that are classic but different, I liked these Oliver Sweeney Welburn derby shoes immediately. Goodyear welted, with storm welt and double sole, the design was based on the favourite shoes of the granddad of one of Oliver Sweeney's cobblers-in-chief. 

Made with buffalo leather and with a contrasting scotch grain quarter panel, I've found them comfortable and weather-proof in these damp days of winter.

The design speaks to me of wind and rain-swept fells and moors, they look good with tweed, but go well a grey flannel suit or blazer and chinos. Have as look at some of the interesting designs from Oliver Sweeney here. Price £229.

Friday Favourites: men's boots for winter

Winter means a man needs a pair of boots, comfortable, warm, robust and reasonably weather-proof. Here are a few I like. From the high street on a wet day to muddy winter walks on rock or mud, I've selected boots for most needs except the high mountains. Priced from £85 to £400, these are classic styles for all ages.

Loake Dovedake

These are the boots I wear regularly. Made from Loake's last 024, a last they use for their Chester and Otterburn brogues which I also own and which fit me well, I knew they'd be comfortable before I acquired them. I wear them around town or for muddy dog walks. After gentle drying, mud-removal and a good wax, they come up like new.

British-made, they are available from Loake outlets or their website £235.

Trickett Grey Paw boots

I like the look of these from Trickett, who always seem to find interesting and well-made designs. They're made in Northampton, are Goodyear welted and come with a crepe sole, in a British tanned Brown leather and presentation box. 

Iain Trickett told me,

'They are a mixture of all things I like about boots, Kickers, Red Wings and Clarks Wallabees. Perfect for winter and go with any outfit. We are short on words around these parts, we prefer the goods to speak for themselves I guess!'

 The Trickett Grey Paw boots cost £180 from Trickett England.

Oliver Sweeney Danby boot

From Oliver Sweeney, these buffalo and country grain hide boots cross the town/city divide by effectively combining black and brown in a robust Goodyear-welted construction with a bellows tongue.

They have a rubber commando-type sole and look good on city or village streets. From Oliver Sweeney £259. I own a pair of shoes to a similar design which I will review shortly.

Grenson Marcus

For those looking for a boot for wear in town, the Grenson Marcus black chukka is ideal. Elegant, yet suitably boot-like to be warm, comfortable and reasonably dry (they have leather soles) on draughty city streets, these could be worn with a business suit or jeans.

These boots are in the Grenson G:Two Collection; designed in England, made to high standards in India and checked and finished back in England. This enables them to sell a high quality shoe at a more accessible price. I applaud Grenson's openness about the origins of these lovely boots. We see too many brands fudging the issue of origin to suggest British manufacture when a product is actually assembled abroad and finished in the UK. Grenson also make shoes in England. Grenson Marcus £195 from Grenson.

Vandra High boot by Lunghans

From a favourite supplier of mine, Lissom & Muster, these are a single-layer, high shaft, shell boots with a padded top edge that is made from Tea Green Nubuck Leather giving a stable and reliable boot with a modern design. Being unlined, they are for use for layering on warm or cold days. For genuine tough use. Lissom & Muster has a small but beautifully-curated collection of outdoor clothing.

From Lissom & Muster, priced £213.75 with 24% off at present.

Aigle and Nigel Cabourn collaboration Le Godiot boots

Like the Vandras above, these boots are serious bits of kit, as you'd imagine from a collaboration with Nigel Cabourn, whose products are often based on robust military or outdoor clothing of a very practical design.

Manufactured from rubber with leather uppers, these are made in France by Aigle, cost £400.

M&S Collection leather hiker boots

I like the slightly retro look of these leather hiking boots. They are probably more suited to wet and muddy winter walks than the high fells and mountains, but look robust and comfortable. 

Made to M&S's usual high standards and available from Marks & Spencer stores or online.

Rockport

From the Rockport Heritage Collection, I like the robust look of these Umbwe Trail boots. They contain ADIPRENE® by adidas Sport Technology in the heel which provides shock-absorption and comfort. With a Vibram sole and Hydro-Shield waterproofing, these boots will stand up to most lowland walks and trails.

The waterproof construction is guaranteed to seal out moisture - even in heavy rain, sleet, or snow. This style is priced at £150 and is available online now at Rockport and elsewhere.