HERE COME THE BOYS

FRESH FROM SETTING MILAN ALIGHT, WITH THAT PRADA STUNT HIGHLIGHTING AN ALL-ROUND STUNNING PERFORMANCE FROM MILANESE MENSWEAR , THE BOYS ARE BACK IN TOWN. IN DE VILLE. SO I'M SIGNING OFF FOR A BIT TO RESUME MY POST AS PARIS REPORTER-AT-LARGE-OF-SORTS, COMME D'HAB, FOR NOTION MAGAZINE. IN MY ABSENCE, DO CHECK OUT THE INTERVIEW I DID RECENTLY FOR FINNISH MAGAZINE FLINGLY, IN WHICH I WAX LYRICAL ABOUT DIANA VREELAND AND MOHAIR.

PHOTOS BY TOMMY TON AND STREETFSN. I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH THE IMPORTANCE OF THE CORRECTLY-KNOTTED SCARF WHEN IT COMES TO MALE DRESSING. CASE IN POINT BEAUTIFULLY ILLUSTRATED IN THE SHOTS ABOVE. 

CHURCH'S ENGLISH SHOES

Next time the rain comes pouring down and you're caught in town without an umbrella, take an opportunity to seek shelter in a luxury store you've never been into and admire the beautiful things inside. That's what my siblings and I did one dark sodden morning in Edinburgh, when we paid a visit to Church's. We may have not looked like the most promising customers, dripping rainwater all over the carpet and trying not to steam up the polished mirrors, but we had the run of the boutique to ourselves - not to mention the impeccable service. Church's ENGLISH shoes are now joint-owned by Prada, and interestingly, investment firm Equinox, and while the firm is based in Milan, the Northampton factory still manufactures an estimated 5000 pairs of these incredible shoes a week, 140 years after Thomas Church and his son's started their family business. At £300-£650 a pair, these are the kind of shoes  you hold in your hand and they enable you to see into your future. We left with a pair of socks between the three of us, but I recommend you go, just to slip your foot into one of those impressive leather shoes and feel what luxury feels like. 

Hand dyed and woven wool felt 'shoe bag'.

Not Church's English shoes, rather Topshop's Brazilian shoes - a Christmas sales present to myself.

WISHFUL FASHION WEEK THINKING

A VOGUE UK EDITORIAL INSPIRED BY BLOGGERS. I DON'T KNOW MANY ANY BLOGGERS PERSONALLY WHO GET TO CAMP OUT IN LUXURY HOTELS, EAT BREAKFAST IN BED AND SELECT FROM 'HOT-FROM-THE-CATWALK PIECES' EVERY MORNING DURING THE INTERNATIONAL FASHION WEEKS, BUT ONC CAN DARE TO DREAM. FASHION IS AT ITS BEST IN FANTASY, AFTER ALL. I'VE BEEN DOING FASHION WEEK FOR THREE YEARS NOW AND IT'S STILL VERY MUCH A COMMUNAL EXPERIENCE. FOUR TO A ROOM, 2 ON THE COUCH AND ONE ON THE FLOOR, SLEEPING WRAPPED IN A FUR WEARING ODD SHOES AND HALF-INSIDE YOUR FRIEND'S SUITCASE, WAKING UP SPOONING A PIZZA BOX. THEN THERE HAVE BEEN THE NIGHTS I'VE ESCHEWED THE GROUP CAMP FOR A NEW ADVENTURE ; NOTABLY THE TIME ONE YEAR AT LFW WHEN I WOKE UP IN CAMBERWELL ART SCHOOL STUDENT HALLS. OR ANOTHER TIME, IN A 25 ROOMED ARTISTS' WAREHOUSE IN NORTH HACKNEY. OR IN A PARKED CAR IN DEVON. NEEDLESS TO SAY, DESPITE SUFFERING A 100 POUND TRAIN TICKET, I WAS BACK AT SOMERSET HOUSE FOR 2PM.