Loafing around on the long weekend

The sun is out and due to the Royal wedding, the weekend is extra long. So why not loaf around in style with a pair of loafers?
These slip ons are designed for comfort and are definitely more convenient than the lace ups when slipping on a pair. There are a type of moccasin adapted by the Norwegians and became a hit in America. The Spaulding family in New Hampshire started to make them and called them loafers after an Esquire feature of Norwegian farmers in a cattle loafing area.
Although these are the more casual of the pack they can make the grade with decorative vamp designs and with fuller bottoms which give more scale and stature.

The Plain loafer – no decoration on the front.

For his plain fronted  loafer, Udeshi found one of the last few remaining workshops where the  calf suede uppers of the shoe were still sewn by hand using waxed linen thread, the way it should be, which provides sufficient strength but flexibility. This enabled him to create a comfortable loafer which was soft enough to wear without socks but durable enough to take several summers and not  fall apart in one weekend.. The loafers come in black, chocolate, tobacco and purple suede and retail for £295. They also come in kangaroo leather which is soft, supple and thinner , thus perfect for a lightweight summer shoe to be worn without socks. www.udeshi.co.uk

 Or visit his stand alone shop at 8 Davies Street, London W1K 3DW. Tel:020 7495 1333

Zanacco adds a leather string to their bow with their calf leather Dante loafers in vegetable  Indian Red (£365.00) www.zanacco.com

Zanaccco prides itself on being 100% made in Italy, and being the first eco-luxury shoe brand for men.  The shoes are all handmade by local craftsmen from Vigevano. This is the home town of Jasmine Zanacco who wants to inject life back in to the place which once was known as the shoe capital of Italy. And eco-friendly luxury materials are used such as vegetable tanned leather, water based glue and biodegradable oils.

 

Angelo Galasso adds texture and structure to his leather loafers with the square perforations and the chocolate brown colour graduating from mid to a darker tone around at the toe caps. £520 . 8-10 Hans Road London. 0207 584 3978

Black Tie Event - The Overcoat

You still need to look the part when you arrive and leave, so no parkas, trench coats, anoraks or other casual coats.
The chesterfield is the traditional formal overcoat, but other dressy long overcoats in a dark colour are acceptable. The formal scarf is white silk with tassels.

Oliver Sweeney Enfield cashmere coat

Oliver Sweeney has a simple but high quality navy pure cashmere chesterfield coat (no velvet collar) named the Enfield after the vintage motorcycle. Price at time of print £795.00. More details on their website: www.oliversweeney.co.uk

Udeshi Astrakan coat

Udeshi has a more flamboyant overcoat again in the chesterfield style. The Astrakan coat was inspired by a coat worn by a prominent 1960s “gentleman” gangster, and the collar and lapels are covered in astrakan (Persian lamb) imitation. The coat is cut with a fly front and unusually double vents – which allows more comfort and easier access to the back trouser pocket. Price at time of print £1475. Check out there website for more details www.udeshi.com

Ede & Ravenscroft scarf and overcoat plus tuxedo

For the above scarf and overcoat check our www.edeandravenscroft.co.uk

Remember, Black tie events are where you guys can look suave and sophisticated in monochrome – leave the glitz and colour to us ladies – dressed in the right attire you don’t need it.

For overcoats and scarves on Amazon:

Black Tie Event - The Dress Shirt

Always choose white and buy an actual dress shirt, a normal shirt will not do.

M&S PR Shots

The better made formal shirts will have a bib front i.e. a double layer of fabric at the front where it is exposed by the jacket and ending just above the waist. The bib can be plain, pleated or in the traditional Marcella pique pattern.

Wearing studs instead of the top 2/3 buttons of the shirt is traditional and good quality dress shirts will have eyelets to accommodate them. However if the buttons are pearl then this is also acceptable.

Simon Carter jet dress studs

. Simon Carter has a set of 5 clear or jet studs you can add to your shirt.-  http://www.simoncarter.net

What style of collar?

Before WWII, stiff shirts with winged detachable collars were common, but now the modern dress shirt for black tie events is softer with a classic turn down collar and French cuffs. Although in the US they favour the semi-stiff shirt with an attached wing collar, in the UK a wing collar is usually for white tie events only.

Collar styles for black ties are the spread (more formal) and the semi–spread, because both suit a bow tie. 

Spread (wider distance between the collar points.). The spread collar suits slim men or men with long thin faces as the horizontal line of the spread balances out the vertical line of the face.

Udeshi extreme cutaway collar

Udeshi extreme cutaway is their signature collar style and sweeps back as far as possible without it disappearing altogether. Price at time of print is £185-  http://www.udeshi.co.uk

Eton dress shirt

The more rounded face should go for the semi spread as the horizontal line of the collar is not as prominent. If you have a very round or wide face go for the longest collar tips you can find on a semi spread collar as these create vertical lines which will balance more with your face.  Eton shirts have moderate cutaway and classic point collars with longer collar points. Price at time of print £110-£130

Cufflinks should be monochrome and if wearing dress studs should either match or harmonise with them. 

Angelo Galasso cufflinks

 Go for stylish mother of pearl such as these Angell Galasso silver cufflinks (stockists: 8-10 hans Rd, London SW3 1RX 0207 584 3978) or ...

Simon Carter cufflinks

....these understated onyx bars from Simon Carter.

Article seen in Eclipse Magazine 
http://www.eclipsemagazine.co.uk/NewEclipse/Joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2031:look-smokin-in-black-tie&catid=48:mens-fashion&Itemid=74

Dress shirts on Amazon: