Nobis: Quality Outerwear from Canada

Canadian brand Nobis was founded in 2006 and uses premium technical fabrics to make stylish outerwear. The brand’s founder, Robin Yates (previously at Canada Goose) is personally involved in testing products, sleeping out on frozen lakes and riding skidoos across the tundra in Nobis jackets - commitment indeed. I, in my turn, have tested the Nobis Jamison, a premium duck down-filled shirt (below), in the rugged uplands of England's Lake District, braving fresh air and wild garlic in the cause of impartial review.

I was introduced to the brand when at Pitti Uomo in January and was impressed by the quality of construction and well thought out details.  While lesser brands make do with lesser quality materials and design, Nobis tell me that they use Sympatex and Embrace membrane fabrics to ensure waterproofing, windproofing and excellent breathability. 

The shirt was tested on slightly warmer days than I would normally wear it. While climbing a hard slate-strewn track I quickly warmed up, but found the breathable fabric prevented me becoming too sweaty. Once on the fell, a cool breeze cooled me down, and the insulation kept me warm and comfortable. The shirt is lightweight and oozes quality in its construction.

The range uses features such as zipped underarm vents, super-strength magnetic fastenings and seam-sealed construction to ensure thermo-regulating properties and enable these enormously heat-efficient jackets to also be practical in an urban arena. As well as technical fabrics, Nobis uses ethically-sourced duck down and furs purchased from responsible, sustainable suppliers, as well as ensuring that every piece is machine-washable, which eliminates the need for environmentally-harmful dry cleaning processes.

For more product information see here. You can find Nobis products online here or in UK retailers like Harrods, Harvey Nichols or matchesfashion.com.

This is a sponsored post. I was lent the jacket for review and all views expressed are mine.

EDG London: Men's Accessories Made in Britain

With Father's Day approaching and summer events like the Investec Derby and Henley, which require some careful sartorial thought, coming up soon, I've been working with EDG London to show how their products can be incorporated into a stylish outfit. 

Rutland tie and cufflinks

Designed by business founder and artist, Natalie O'Hara (for more information see my previous feature here) EDG London's cufflinks, bow and neck ties, pocket squares are made in Britain and add a colourful, stylish and distinctly individual look.

Roxburgh French blue neck tie

Style their products with a soft-coloured summer suit or blazer and jeans/chinos, linen shirt and loafers or sueded oxfords. Ideal for work or with a smart casual for a summer event, they bring a splash of colour to a look.

For more about EDG London, see here.

Photographer Paul Harries.

This is a sponsored post, made in collaboration with EDG London.

Billy Tannery: An Exciting Enterprise Launching Today on Kickstarter

In the week of Meet the Manufacturer, that celebration of British manufacture, it's good to bring news of the launch of Billy Tannery on Kickstarter (links below). Another new enterprise from Britain's exciting new wave of young entrepreneurs, Billy Tannery is, as its name suggests, a brand which makes products from kid goat leather tanned in their small-batch tannery or ‘microtannery’.

Image Grey Fox

Founders Jack Millington and Rory Harker (both aged 28) discovered that a growth in demand for goat meat in the UK had coincided with the decline of the British leather industry, leaving thousands of British goat hides going to waste. In response they have collaborated with ethical goat meat supplier Cabrito to use leftover hides to produce premium vegetable tanned kid leather in their new tannery near Northampton. 

Billy Tannery is launching a range of luxury kid leather bags and accessories that are designed and handmade in Britain. I recently had a preview of some of these products and can confirm that they are beautifully designed and made. The first range of Billy Tannery products launches on the crowdfunding site, Kickstarter, today, 24th May 2017. 

Please get behind another exciting young brand whose vision is to design and manufacture here in the UK. Our support is needed, especially at a time when the UK, Brexit bound, needs more than ever to promote its own wares. Here are the web links:

See Billy Tannery on Kickstarter to support them as they launch.

See Billy Tannery for more information.

Meet the Manufacturer.

Cabrito Goat Meat Ltd.

This is an unsponsored feature. If you'd like to support Grey Fox Blog please email me here.

Top Hats: Vintage & Modern from Oliver Brown

With less than two weeks to The Investec Derby, or maybe a wedding coming up, you may be in need of a top hat. The top hat is worn at many of the prestigious racing events around the UK and is obligatory at The Investec Derby if you are a guest in the Queen's Stand. It's also worn at weddings and various ceremonial occasions. 

Getting ready for The Investec Derby

In my capacity as a style consultant for the Investec Derby I've been looking into the story of the top hat with the help of one of London's largest suppliers, Oliver Brown, whose well-stocked shop is in Chelsea and online here.

Modern top hats are made of rabbit fur felt and, while this makes a beautiful hat, it can lack the deep black, highly polished finish of a silk top hat. And here the story gets interesting, so I'll let Oliver Brown take up the tale:

"During the nineteenth century, the top hat [was] made with a unique fabric called ‘silk plush’ which has a long nap, giving the hat its high shine. This was stretched over a hard gossamer shell. [However] in 1968 the only factory that produced silk plush ceased production [and] today there is a finite supply of silk top hats in the world. Their stunning lustre, shape and lightness are the height of beauty and elegance".

Oliver Brown do offer a 'melusine' fur hat to attempt to reproduce the shine of the vintage silk hats. I suggest you visit them to compare the vintage top hats in their collection with their modern offering to see what you think. The vintage hats are pricey, particularly in larger sizes (head sizes seem to have been on average smaller in those days) but if your budget allows you will have found a true investment. 

Vintage top hats from Oliver Brown

Oliver Brown offer a refurbishment service for both vintage silk and more modern top hats, see here.

I'm pleased to own a vintage silk top hat, which I hope to have cleaned and polished and I look forward to wearing it at The Investec Derby. For more advice on what to wear at The Derby, see my videos here.

This is an unsponsored post.

The Tweed Run 2017 and Cordings of Piccadilly

I was invited to take part earlier this month in The Tweed Run, that annual tweedy/vintage bicycle ride around London, by my friends at Cordings* who sponsored the event.  Here are a few images in case you'e looking for tweedy/vintage inspiration to replace those Lycra shorts:

With Hillary of Cordings. I'm wearing all Cordings except the vintage Fair Isle jumper (image Cordings)

A very dapper gentleman. Image Grey Fox

Am I allowed to show smoking on a family blog? Fine 'tache if I may say so, Sir! Image Grey Fox

Tweeders and tweedlets crossing Westminster Bridge. Image Grey Fox

A handsome couple on The Tweed Run. Image Grey Fox

*Cordings is one of my favourite menswear suppliers. The original store has been on Piccadilly, London for decades. Stocked with tweedy and country goodies, and much more besides, it combines a comforting old-school approach to service (and store decor) with products that veer from very contemporary to heritage menswear.

My favourite pieces are their genuine heritage rubberised cotton mackintoshes (made in Scotland), the Cordings x Grenfell Shooter jacket, their tweed suits, pocket squares, colourful well-fitting chinos and.... well, you get the idea. Visit their lovely new website here or, even better, make the journey to their Piccadilly, London or Harrogate, Yorkshire stores.

I was a guest of Cordings, Piccadilly.

Here And Now: London Portraits by Niall McDiarmid

I first met photographer Niall McDiarmid in the very early days of the blog when he kindly photographed me in Richmond upon Thames. Niall's unique style of street portraiture captures personality and colour with great skill. For the past few years he has been photographing people on the streets of London (and many other cities and towns in the UK) and a selection of his London work is shown in a striking outdoor display outside The Museum of London from 18th May to 15th October 2017. 

The exhibition is free of charge. The launch night (open to all with no charge) is Friday 19th May 2017 from 7 - 10pm. 

I am privileged and delighted to have a portrait of me in the exhibition. Niall took it on Milford Lane, Aldwych, London in September 2015 (below).

See Museum of London. To further appreciate Niall's work please visit his website or see if you can track down one of his excellent but now (I believe) out-of-print books. I've mentioned his work in the past on the blog here.

Lamler: British-Made and Designed Outerwear

I came across Lamler earlier this year at London Fashion Week:Men's. My eye was caught by founder Helen Plummer's vision of well-made, well-designed but practical, British-made waxed cotton coats. Her intention is to produce limited runs of each design, so your coat will be a rare beast. 

I like the Lamler product and concept very much. I will be trying a coat soon and will show it on Instagram where you can follow me for more style coverage. Lamler are now accepting pre-orders on their website. Please have a look here and consider supporting a creative British brand.

This is an unsponsored post.

The Chap Relaunches (and Grey Fox Contributes)

Eighteen years after it was founded on a shoestring, The Chap, Britain’s favourite gentlemen’s journal, relaunches this week (on 17th May) with the aim of 'changing gear and broadening its horizons'. Alongside changes in design, it becomes a quarterly journal, double its former thickness but with the same page size as previously.

The extra 72 pages have been devoted to more in-depth sartorial features and longer features on topics previously eschewed in the Chap, such as art, politics, sexual politics and social history. The main interview in the first quarterly edition is with actor Richard E. Grant, who discusses the making of Withnail and I on the 30th anniversary of the film’s release.

The sartorial coverage is only part of the offering, but includes a new column by Grey Fox Blog (yes, me) for the older chap (actually for anyone as the content isn't age-related) and a column at the opposite end of the sartorial spectrum from a 22-year-old Nonbinary Chap; an interview with dandy designer Joshua Kane, a photo feature on retro-stylish new fashion label Simon James Cathcart, polo shirts, Hutton Desert Boots, workwear and knapsacks, plus a feature on Chester Cordite, the tailor bringing film noir suits back into style.

CHAP Summer 2017 edition is on sale 17th May in all branches of WH Smith and independent retailers. http://thechap.co.uk

Wallace Sewell's UK-Made Tie Collection: No Two The Same

Wallace Sewell (see my blog mention here) have launched a range of UK-made silk ties designed in their characteristically colourful geometric styling to celebrate their twenty-fifth birthday. What I love is that each is unique in design. They are 7cm at the widest and made of a soft, luxurious silk that is a joy to knot. Available from Wallace Sewell's website priced at £68.

Worn with grey suit and striped shirt. Try with a pale-coloured summer suit and plain linen shirt

I was sent a tie to review (at my request) and all views are mine alone.

Gant Tech-Prep Shirts

Gant Tech-Prep shirts are made from a high-performing microfibre polyester that is quick drying, breathable and wicking, giving the everyday shirt some of the properties of high performance active wear. And that seems sensible if we spend busy days rushing to and from work/meetings/social events/holidays. Whether we go by foot, train, bike, bus, plane or Tube, we are active and our bodies need to stay cool, dry and ventilated.

I've worn many Gant shirts over the years and have always found them well-made and stylish. The Tech-Prep shirts combine the classic Gant shirt style (they've been making shirts since 1949 and have preserved the Ivy League look) with cloth technology that feels like cotton and stays cool and dry during active wear.  For more information, see Gant Tech Prep. Prices from £85.

This is a sponsored post.

With many thanks to Kirsty Blackwood for helping with the photography

Hawkesmill Small Regent Camera Bag: Horween Leather

I first wrote about Hawkesmill's superb camera bags here last year, but have since been trying out one of their smaller camera bags, the Regent, which is made of Horween Chromexcel leather, a beautiful soft but durable leather that ages as only the best leather can: a true luxury item.

Beautifully made, it features a removable padded area for smaller cameras (ideal for my Fuji X100S or a borrowed Leica Q) and pockets for spare batteries, phone, sandwiches (small) and memory cards. A wide shoulder strap sits comfortably on the shoulder.

Once or twice I've felt the need for a small carry-handle on the top of the bag, but this doesn't affect my enthusiasm for this lovely British-made camera bag. It measures 10” x 8” x 5” (25.4cm x 20.32cm x 12.7cm) and, while it's designed for smaller cameras, it will fit a pro-DSLR body and lens. It's water and dust-proof and comes with a lifetime warranty. See Hawkesmill. 

I wasn't paid for this post. The bag was sent to me for use and review. All views expressed are mine alone.

Wear to be Seen at The Investec Derby - Videos

The Investec Derby, run on Saturday the 3rd June, with Ladies' Day the day before, is a highlight both of the English sporting and social scenes. Huge crowds are attracted to the superb setting of Epsom Downs Racecourse, with its views over the Surrey hills and towards the City of London, to see the greatest flat racing in the world and to enjoy a very traditional British day out. But what should a man wear if he's going to Epsom Downs to enjoy the racing at The Investec Derby?

A still from one of the Investec Derby videos. I'm wearing Turnbull & Asser

I was delighted to be invited by Investec, sponsors of The Derby, to be one of their Style/Fashion Consultants for the event. The chance to talk about men's style in the context of a great British sporting event and day out was too good to miss. I knew that I wanted to link the heritage of The Investec Derby (first run in 1780) with the traditions of menswear that are so strong that the styles worn by men at the event at the beginning of the last century would be recognisable by a race-goer today.

Unless invited to wear morning dress, visitors to The Investec Derby are asked to 'dress up', with no sportswear or frayed denim. I wanted to advise men on how to dress within the dress code while retaining a link to the heritage I've just mentioned. Investec gave me great latitude to explore this theme in two videos, which are shown here.

I selected three brands to work with during the making of the videos: Turnbull & Asser, Lock & Co Hatmakers and Cad & The Dandy, Savile Row tailors (links below). The videos outline the advice I obtained from these experienced menswear retailers on the dress code and how to select formal and informal styles, accessories and colours for the event. More advice can be found on my page on The Investec Derby website can be reached by clicking here.

This first video explores the ways in which a man might express his personality in dressing up for the Investec Derby, whether he is an extrovert or (like me) more cautious sartorially. 

This second video advises on morning dress, looking at very traditional and also more contemporary versions of this style.

If you are going to The Investec Derby, have a wonderful day and enjoy dressing for the event. I will be out and about with a photographer to record some of the best men's styles on show, so please say hello if you see me.

Turnbull & Asser
Cad & The Dandy
Lock & Co.

This page is part of a collaboration with Investec Bank, sponsors of The Investec Derby.

AG'E-MES: Bags Designed and Made in Britain

A new brand on the block, Ag'e-Mes design and make all the components for their bags in Britain. From Northampton, Walsall and Dundee, parts come together in Suffolk to form luggage for business and travel. The products include rucksacks, soft luggage, shoulder bags and leather accessories. I will be trying them soon, but have no reason to doubt the construction and design from the images I've seen. For all keen to buy British and lovers of good design and manufacture: See AG'E-MES. Please try for yourselves and report back.