The latest at Liberty

The incredibly expensive but beautifully made Polo Ralph Lauren Hunting Jacket.

Doesn't hide the fact it's made in China, rather than the U.S.

A view of the Edwin concession.

Some more views of the workwear/casual section of the menswear department...

... showing clothes by Levis Vintage, Heritage Research and Studio d'Artisan.

Margaret Howell's MHL Faded black twill jacket. Nice detailing on the tops of the pockets.
YMC's Poacher's Jacket.
Rag & Bone's waxed Skeet Jacket.

The Polo Ralph Lauren Country Fishing Messenger Bag, a nice partner to the hunting jacket.

Popped into the brilliant menswear department at Liberty's to treat myself to a new hat the other day, a black wool newsboy. It was only £35, made by the New York hat company, and just the thing for the icy winds that have been blowing through Soho.

But while I was there, I had a good look at some of their latest stock, an eclectic mix which includes brands like Heritage Research, Polo Ralph Lauren, Acne and Band of Outsiders.

The first thing that caught my eye was the eye wateringly expensive Polo Ralph Lauren Hunting Jacket. Yes, I know it's a nice jacket and all, but is it really worth £832 of anyone's money? If it cost a third of that I'd still say it was a little pricey. Having said that the detailing was first class, everything from the specially aged and distressed khaki fabric to the little button down pockets on the sleeves. Next, the really nice waxed Skeet jacket by U.S. based Rag & Bone at a much more reasonable £335. Margaret Howell had some neat twill jackets in her MHL line in faded black fabric at £275, and lastly YMC had a great Poacher's Jacket for just £215. I've always loved walking around Liberty, their stock changes frequently and they're always willing to show the latest designers from the U.S. and Japan, as well as the home-grown variety. The clothes and accessories are all put together and displayed with a great sense of style too.

Just what you need for a September bike ride

The air is getting fresher by the day now - it's starting to feel closer to autumn, even though the leaves are still on the trees and no-one's wearing an overcoat yet. Anyway, it's time to layer up, especially when you're out and about on your bike. This is what I wore on Saturday morning on my way to Kilburn post office...with a bit of wishful thinking thrown in:
Uniqlo Flannel Shirt
Albam Utility Waistcoat
Levis 1967 505 Rigid
Oliver Spencer Fine Stripe Scarf
Shuron Sidewinder sunglasses
Vintage Omega Seamaster 120
Keds Call of Duty sneakers

Why I like Albam

I've been impressed enough with Albam's simple, stylish collection to buy a few items from their Beak St store recently. Their Cotton Casual Blazer and Regular Leg Jean have impressed me in particular. I already own a number of unlined cotton blazers from places as diverse as Beams in Japan and Margaret Howell in London, so I know what I like when it comes to this sort of functional, lightweight garment. And what Albam has created here, I like a lot. The jacket has a sturdy construction, being fashioned from thick cotton, with narrow lapels, three outside pockets and a small inside pocket. There are nice touches, such as smaller pockets within the lower patch pockets, which are big enough to hold your iphone 4 or a small wallet. Like Oliver Spencer's Portland Jacket there is a small white tag to help you fasten the lapels together, should a chill autumn wind blow in your direction. It's just a good, solid reliable item, as the sales assistant said, "the sort of thing every man should have in his wardrobe". I couldn't agree more. In fact that's why I bought two of them, one in navy, the other in dark green.


Then there are the jeans. These are a similar cut to my Levis 505s, with a regular leg tapering to a seven and a half inch bottom. Actually, the rise is slightly lower than the 505s, which I personally find a lot more comfortable. The rear pockets are a simple design with no stitched adornment. There is a small ticket pocket at the front with steel coloured studs at the corners and the jeans are made from Japanese denim with a red selvedge. As far as denims go, these are simple, classic pants, something you should wear every day and not get too precious about. In a few months I'll keep you updated how they're bearing up to the daily grind.

Lastly, the thing that I really like about Albam is that their clothes are remarkably good value. £135 for the blazers, and just eighty quid for a great pair of jeans. The only downside is that with prices like these Albam tends to sell out their stock very quickly, as their stuff tends to be made in relatively small numbers - once they're gone, they're gone. Maybe I should have kept all this to myself...

The autumn of the Shawl Neck Collar

The shawl neck collar is literally everywhere you look this autumn. On cardigans and sweaters, on jackets and thick coats. Here is a quick overview of some of the nicer shawl necks around at stores and online right now. First up, Albam makes a damn fine thick woollen shawl neck cardigan, the Irwin. Albam only creates limited runs of its garments, and I hear that many of the sizes in certain colours have already sold out, such is the popularity of this piece of knitwear. Next, Levis Vintage have a great looking shawl neck jacket in blue cotton, simply styled with anchor buttons. Woolrich Woolen Mills also has a version of this jacket in navy, their Maine Guide jacket, in slightly thicker wool and with more detailing. Lastly pictured here is the quilted Signalman's jacket from Oliver Spencer, in 100% polyester with leather buttons.