A Fashionable Man and his Dressing Room...

I must admit that I am pretty traditional when it comes to clothing, or at least very preppy. I tend to wear a conservative style with a contemporary twist. I am usually slightly over dressed at most parties, but then one can always dress down when one gets there, and I wouldn't want my hosts to think that I hadn't made an effort.

I have always wanted a dressing room. Not just a walk-in closet, but a proper room in which everything required to turn one's self out impeccably was found. A place for everything and everything in its place. In our plans I am designing a very masculine space. Elegant wooden paneling, Edwardian restraint. Brown leather. And a full length mirror (there is nothing crueler than having to dress for a party without one).

Above and Below: Very masculine walk-ins.

Above and Below: I Love the wide shallow drawers. Perfect for storing shirts, ties, belts, etc.

Above and Below: The top shelf is always a useful place to box up things which from season to season that might not be worn often.

Not a fan of the minimal style above, but it is a definite style

More examples of cabinetry work...



Excellent examples of fine cabinetry work...






Above and Below: Light and Dark


One also needs a place to sit...



Above: Not exactly masculine, but I love the ottoman. Maybe in brown Croc or suede, like below:

Men probably have more shirts in their wardrobe than any other garment. Therefore it makes sense to have some way to store and find them. I have to have mine organised by colour in my wardrobe, otherwise I wouldn't be able to find the shirt I wanted if I was in a hurry.

Cabinetry for each shirt is a very stylish way of seeing at a glance what you have

It needs to have room not just for suits, shirts, trousers and shoes, but all those myriad of other little accessories that add the finishing touch to a gentleman's life...

Waistcoats, Hats, Canes, Gloves....

Luggage...

although you do need the right car with a rack to take your luggage away for the weekend...

(which makes it an essential accessory to the weekend wardrobe!)

Then you need room for

Umbrellas...

A nice silver tray for spare change, mobiles, iPods, lighters, spent collar studs and cufflinks...

Neck ties...

Aside: Here is a quick guide to four basic tie knots...

Cravats...


Which, again, are no mystery to tie...


...if you follow the simple diagram below...


Bow ties...



There is no excuse for wearing a pre-tied bowtie.
For those who don't know, here is how One ties one:


If you can't tie a bow tie, you'd be better off wearing it around your neck untied, than persisting with a pre-tied. It would have more style...




Summer Blazers...


Aside: Someone who pulls off the preppy look so well is Gossip Girl's Chuck Bass (Ed Westwick)...




Scarves...



Belts...


Glasses...

Jerseys and Vests...








(They'd look more like NZ Rugby players if they were covered in mud and battered and bruised)


Shoes...


Slippers...

Braces...

and the smaller accessories like watches...

Pens...

Cufflinks...

Pocket Squares...

and to complete the look, a fresh boutonniere...

(probably not pansies, unless that was the message you wanted to send)

Charles' boutonniere is stylish, but I'm not sure what is roosting on Camilla

Boutonnieres can be as large or as small, as trad or as chic as you wish, but they are definitely an accessory where less is always more








Tip: Pheasant feathers make a great pocket accent with tweeds.
Peacocks feathers are a little trickier.

Some very good websites and blogs on men's fashion:

The Fine English Company

James Smith's and Sons

Men's Flair

Sartorially Inclined

Ivy Style

Unabashedly Prep

Fine and Dandy

GQ UK

Ask Men

Man of the Cloth

The Sartorialist

Ralph Lauren

The Cloakroom

A Suitable Wardrobe


Most of all be yourself, be confident and remember - Fashion is what One wears oneself. What is unfashionable is what other people wear - Oscar Wilde.