Hackett AW13

Jeremy Hackett may not be in many peoples good books this Christmas after his comments published in the Sunday Times accusing the British tailoring industry of being untrustworthy and the textile industry of not being able to provide his 'Essential British Kit'. However there's no denying the rise and rise of the Hackett brand in more recent years, and with the old boy as the archetypal ambassador they have positioned themselves as a forerunner in the British #menswear revival.

Since 2005, and the appointment of american Michael Sondag (former Tommy Hilfiger) as Creative Director, they have gone from a fairly poorly judged suitor popular with football casuals and rugby fans to a well tailored heritage embodiment with a growing sartorial collection for the more distinguished buyer and the inclusion of a broader more eclectic collection i.e. tartan, tweed and fair isle, for those outside the big cities.

This winter the recent inspiration of classically styled film and TV bears heavy in the collection with an emphasis on a character, the 'leading man'. Problem currently is that you need a film stars bank balance to support a Hackett laden wardrobe.

Photo Source: Hackett

A Last Minute Buyers Guide to Christmas

With the last weekend before Christmas approaching fast you may find yourself in a bit of a conundrum and stuck for ideas of what to buy for those close to you.

As a steadfast champion of the last minute rush I thought it wise to put together a brief list to help those in need.

1. Edition Scotland

www.editionscotland.com

2. Walsh

www.walshcasual.com

3. Alfie Douglas

www.alfiedouglas.com

4. Drakes London

www.drakes-london.com

5. Sanders

www.sanders-uk.com

All British brands and all made on home soil, keep our best of Britannia going strong this festive period.

Merry Christmas!

Tying Your Tie

Today signals the start of the Drakes sample sale at the factory shop which runs until Saturday.

Drakes is a company renowned the world over for the quality of their neckwear, and for those more formally inclined there's no better British purveyor.

For those hell bent on wearing bow-tie's this season there's not a lot worse than a clip on fob off so make sure and take a look at this video as demonstrated by Ethan Desu of The Armoury, Hong Kong. This is down to a fine art form and probably the closest to convincing me to invest in a bow tie as there has been:



You can also see the rest of The Armoury gang and company tying their tie's here.

Alfie Douglas

In recent years it feels as though there has been a shift in London particularly, from the motorised to the more economical, in all walks, from travel to production. As travel is concerned those able bodied or practically allowed will use the transport network or a trusted set of pedals in favour of the expense of an engine bearing commodity.

Subsequently it would seem there has been a marked rise in the number of carries to be seen sported by men.

Alfie Douglas is a brand incorporating a collective of designers making British, leather accessories. The designs are classically inspired with brass, nickel and copper fittings, flat head rivets, bridle handles and in beautifully tanned leathers with reinforced components to strengthen stress areas.

The range of products is extensive, from phone cases and wallets, to satchels and backpacks.

Below are a number of bags from the current collection, but you can see more at www.alfiedouglas.com