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Showing posts from category: clothes for Spring and Summer

Shorts suits: are you man enough? Suits from Universal Works

Tuesday, 21 July 2015

I try to be adventurous on the blog, often pushing my comfort envelope in my search for style. Shorts suits tend not to get a good press, so I thought I'd rise to this challenge to see what the fuss is about. After some preliminary nerves (a sixty-year old in shorts) we had good time photographing this feature, appropriate for clothes associated with summer sun and fun. I'm grateful to Universal Works, who supplied the suits, Sarah Gilfillan of Sartoria Lab, who styled it, and Nick Maroudias, who not only did the photography, but was persuaded to model as well (links below).

Universal Works blue woven Ikat jacket and shorts & khaki twill jacket and shorts

Comfortable, stylish (possibly), fun (certainly) and ideal for travel and work in the sun, I have to admit to being a convert. See Universal Works for their jacket and matching shorts combinations. For other suppliers, see below.

With many thanks to:
Nick Maroudias, photographer

Sarah Gilifillan, of Sartoria Lab, personal stylist

Grey Fox's accessories:

Sunglasses - Oliver Peoples

Shoes - Clarks

Seersucker shirt - Portuguese Flannel

Socks - Pantherella

Panama Hat - Marks & Spencer
Pocket squares - Age of Reason Scarves and Cravat Club
Belt - Worcestershire Leather Company

Spring & summer knitwear from Realm & Empire, made in Britain

Sunday, 10 May 2015

The recent spring cold snap shows how true is the old saw, 'Ne'er cast a clout 'til May is out'. Whether 'may' refers to the month or to may blossom is unclear, but the truth is that, in the UK anyway, spring and early summer can't be trusted and a warm layer should always be on hand.

Realm & Empire's lightweight knitwear is made in the UK in merino or lambswool. Below is the denim-coloured Mona merino cardigan, inspired by the Duxford cardigan which I wrote about here, but made lighter for spring/summer use.

Realm & Empire Mona Merino Cardigan £120

Below is the Digby merino waffle crew which can be worn over a shirt or base layer. Available in denim blue or silver grey, it's designed and made in Leicestershire to be a versatile and lightweight knit for warmer weather (link to buy below).

Digby merino crew in denim blue or silver grey (below) £100

All are ideal with jeans, summer trousers or even shorts with deck shoes, Converse or canvas shoes. Available from Realm & Empire or various stockists.

Oliver Sweeney - map print brogues for spring/summer

Friday, 13 March 2015

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.

Good Day Sunshine shirts: Made in London for the winter sun

Wednesday, 17 December 2014

For those lucky enough to be chasing the sunshine this winter, there is an interesting range of luxury cotton shirts available from Good Day Sunshine shirts.

They are designed and made in London, England from 100% American Supima® cotton, which is woven into a cool, lightweight pique fabric in Switzerland. The extra-long yarns of Supima® cotton result in a more luxurious, softer and yet durable fabric.

They are nicely-cut, with a tailored fit. The long-sleeved version features a two-button cuff; useful for wearers of larger watches. The lightly-lined shirt-style collar looks good under a jacket, without appearing too stiff or formal. The hem is longer at the back and the side vents and slimmer fit help the shirt fit comfortably and neatly.

Also available with a short sleeve, this is a versatile and very wearable shirt, ideal for the beach, the poolside, or equally fitting around a dinner table. It goes well under a lightweight jacket, suit or blazer and is designed to stay smart even after a long flight or journey. Minimalist in look, it can even be worn with a tie.

I don't think that this is a shirt for warmer climes only. I've been wearing mine very comfortably in the chill of a London winter. The detail of the shirt is remarkable; it's good to come across something into which so much care, thought and skill has gone; giving a true mix of polo and formal shirt. This is a shirt that deserves to be noticed.

If James Bond was after a shirt for his foreign adventures, surely it would be this one. Available in several colours, see Good Day Sunshine for more information or to buy.

Travelling light - what does a mature man of style require for his summer journeys?

Tuesday, 5 August 2014

Travel light. The older man setting off on his travels doesn't want to be laden down with unnecessary luggage. Here are some ideas for the grey fox setting out unencumbered on a summer journey. For the British gentleman of style, most (but not all) of my selected items are Made in Britain.

All images (except top left) Grey Fox

Essential and useful is a shorts suit. Lightweight and wearable on the beach, the lakeside restaurant or for soaking up culture in the Uffizi. From Dashing Tweeds (30% off in August).

Take a few good quality basic items, suppliers listed below -

Keeping well-manicured is essential before hitting the casino - so here's an air safe manicure set from Czech & Speake which conforms with international hand luggage restrictions.

And finally, a stylish bag to fit everything in. From Tusting, this Harold Chellington dark blue leather holdall is made in England and, like its owner, can only improve in appearance as it ages -

Suppliers

Dashing Tweeds

Monsieur London (Fair trade straw hat from Ecuador)

See the relaunched Czech & Speake website.

Summer brogues, linen suit, Panama hat - a look for summer

Monday, 19 May 2014

A few weeks ago I was invited to suggest a list of summer brogues for Shortlist, a free London style magazine that's handed out on the streets or available online. I have to confess that I wouldn't wear all the shoes I selected; I felt I should cover as wide a range of tastes and styles as I could. However, my favourites were the white Nubuck shoes from Jigsaw, pictured third down in the scan below.

In the Shortlist piece I suggested matching the shoes with a linen suit, vivid pocket square and Panama hat. It seemed a perfect summer look - smart or smart casual. I hoped to put together the look using Jigsaw products, but, in the end, wasn't able to do this - instead I found a variety of linen suits and matched them with some favourite accessories from Monsieur London, Age of Reason scarves, Arthur & Henry shirts, Shaun Gordon ties and Sanders Shoes (who make the Jigsaw shoes) - links below..

The summer suit look (left hand image, New York Times)

The suit doesn't have to be cream or white, of course. I've selected one made in London by SEH Kelly from Lancashire-milled linen. Below I give links to other suppliers of linen suits of a wide range of colours, styles and prices. When you come to check prices, you'll notice that SEH Kelly's suit is nowhere near the most pricey; so let's forget the myth that British-made menswear is expensive.

Links
Fair Trade straw hat from Ecuador - Monsieur London

Arthur & Henry fine stripe blue shirt ethically made from Fair Trade cotton

Lawrence blue pattern silk tie from Shaun Gordon

SEH Kelly suit - linen from Lancashire, buttons from the English Midlands, tailored in London

Age of Reason & Grey Fox collaboration pocket square

Sanders Made in England Nubuck shoes from Sanders Shoes

A summer suit needs colourful socks -

Socks from London Sock Co

For a choice of linen suits at different prices and colours, try the following (some sell as separates, so search for jackets and trousers. Some sites, like Hackett, are not easy to search, so persevere):

Oliver Spencer.
Boss.
Nicole Farhi (available as separates, as far as I can see).

How to dress a man for summer - The Women's Room Blog give us the female perspective

Thursday, 15 May 2014

I'm very grateful to Jane Kellock of The Women's Room blog for allowing me to reproduce this highly authoritative woman's view on summer wear for men. It's always good to know what presses the buttons of the fair sex when we throw open our wardrobes and muse over what to wear. For more wonderful advice for the older woman visit the blog, where you can see this post in its original form.

[Note: Grey Fox takes no responsibility whatsoever for the views contained below (brogues without socks? Sheesh!) Enjoy...]

Jane Kellock writes - As the weather begins to warm up (she says optimistically) and our thoughts turn to summer dressing, I thought it might be time for a few words of advice for the men in our lives, on how to approach the coming months.

Middle-aged men can have a hard time when it comes to dressing, particularly in the summer, as it can be tricky to find the right flesh to fabric ratio, length of shorts, appropriate footwear and most importantly, age appropriate look. As you know, we don't like too many rules when it comes to clothes, but there are certain things which are clearly wrong when it comes to middle-aged style and unless you are married to David Beckham or an Italian, most of our menfolk need a little guidance as they age.

David Beckham, while not strictly middle-aged, is the perfect example of a man who exudes style from every orifice. While some women might find that level of self awareness and grooming unattractive in a man, in my eyes, he can do no wrong. He gets both casual and formal completely right and has clearly passed his innate sense of style onto his boys.

David is also one of only a handful of men that can carry off a vest and unless your partner/brother/dad is a Beckham body double, South American drug dealer, or pro skater Jason Dill, a vest is to be avoided at all costs. Tommy Lee may be able to cavort on Venice beach with Pamela Anderson and look good in a vest, but the majority of British men will look more Eddie Yates in Hilda's living room after a long shift on the bins.

So just what should M.A.D [middle aged dads. GF.] bear in mind when putting together the essential summer wardrobe? Simple neutral colours such as black, white, grey or navy and perhaps even pale blue are fine. Pastel and bright colours are not. Stripe combinations ditto.

Keeping it clean and simple from either Margaret Howell, Uniqlo or Gap, avoids awkward fashionable (not fashionable) colour choices. Football tops or sportswear (apart from when doing actual sports) are unacceptable - always ditto flip flops, unless they are poolside and, even then, a more covered up pool slide is a more attractive option. No man (apart from my husband - but that's another story) has nice feet and no-one wants to see them ever - especially not at work!

Shirts again should be kept simple and clean. Pastels and bright colours are acceptable here, however, but only in checks or gingham. Stripe pastel shirts (along with ironic ties and socks) are too "Wolf of Wall Street" should be avoided. Bright coloured trousers and shorts are a tricky one unless you are the super cool (young) hipsters in the top image, European, or the posh bloke from Googlebox (God, I love that programme).

Bright shorts are easier to pull off on holiday [sounds fun, GF.] and bright trousers are fine if you are a lord or live in the country, but generally navy, black or stone narrow-leg trousers and tailored shorts work best. Shorts should be narrow, but not tight (therefore gay, which is fab, but not on the father of your children) and on, or just above the knee - any shorter is venturing into Joey Essex territory and we all know how wrong that would be!

For a modern look, a rolled up trouser leg, no socks and a Grenson brogue says contemporary smart casual, but still manly. Denim should be detail free and clean. High quality Japanese selvedge denim (Albam, APC, Margaret Howell) is ideal, but if you can't persuade your man that £200 is good value for a pair of jeans, Uniqlo dark wash work equally well.

Knitwear also should also ideally be high quality and simple, ditto sweatshirts - in fact the general rule of thumb for successful middle-aged male dressing is "less is more". There really is nothing more ageing than a man who likes a pint rather than the gym, wearing all the latest Top Man trends in one outfit. We call them "Brighton Dads" in our house, which is probably a bit mean. But you know the sort. Worked in advertising but recently it's been all about viral online marketing, spends more time in Shoreditch House than is good for his relationship and favours Opening Ceremony sunglasses, Obey t-shirts, mid calf length Abercrombie shorts and accessorised with a Palace skateboard at weekends.

With many thanks to Jane Kellock of The Women's Room - GF.

Jackets and blazers for spring and summer

Saturday, 26 April 2014

For spring and summer wear, the unstructured jacket, with linen, cotton, silk and even lightweight tweed or flannel components, is ideal. The absence of lining makes it lighter and cooler. Its informal shape means you can take it off and throw it over one arm without worrying about creases; they're all part and parcel of wearing lightweight jackets and, in my view, improve the looks.

Image origins not known - please get in touch if this is yours

Most jackets follow the conventional structured approach, with a lining and internal pockets - the fit is generally looser, thicker and more formed than the unstructured jacket, which has no (or only half) lining, fewer pockets (where do you put the lining? There will instead be external patch pockets).

Being unlined, the fit is usually closer, slimmer and more casual. It will follow the curve of the shoulders more closely and move with the wearer more easily. One of my favourites is an unlined tweed jacket bought at a Ralph Lauren sale. So comfortable is it that I wear it around the house like a familiar old cardigan.

Image from Esquire

Nothing looks better for semi-formal or casual wear on men of any age than a blue unstructured blazer, cream or khaki chinos or jeans, a pale blue denim shirt, suede brogues or desert boots and a red polka dot pocket square (and some red socks). Add formality with a knitted silk tie in a plain or lightly spotted primary colour.

Shortly I'll answer a reader's question about where to find unstructured jackets at all price levels.

Hackett half-lined linen Delave blazer from here

Cobalt blue and orange - putting sizzle into spring and summer

Saturday, 19 April 2014

I've mentioned cobalt blue and orange before - but separately. Both have been seen more frequently over the last year or two. But how about putting the two colours together?

Deji George

Orange and bright blue work well together, as can be seen from the pocket square above from the interesting new brand, Deji George (about whom more here) . At opposite ends of the colour wheel, hot and cool, they positively crackle and pop when next to each other. Here's a selection to put sizzle into your spring and summer.

If you have any favourite orange/cobalt blue in your wardrobe or collection, let me know - I'm happy to do a follow-up post. Hmm... how about a bright blue blazer with orange chinos?