In many ways Battistoni is the archetypal high-end Italian menswear brand: from traditional hands-on manufacturing to global success in just a few years. All the while maintaining the rigorous production standards and attention to detail that made its tailoring so attractive in the first place. Having just taken consignment of an impressive collection of very…
Prada, Gucci, Isaia, Corneliani, Brioni. All very well known. All very expensive. Sometimes a fashion item is expensive because it cost a lot of money to produce. Other times it’s expensive because that’s what the brand can get away with charging, regardless of the actual product quality. And naturally, less well-known brands can’t get away…
Exit Naples’ busy Napoli Centrale rail terminus, and make for a side street heading towards the rear of the station. Ring the bell at the nondescript entrance to one of numerous anonymous two-story industrial buildings which line the street, and climb the bare concrete stairs. Knocking on the door, it opens not to reveal the…
If pizzas were pants, Incotex would be legendary pizzeria Da Michele of Naples, Italy. Visitors to Da Michele’s original Neapolitan location choose from a menu offering just two options: a Margherita or a Marinara. When a restaurant can offer such a limited choice of dishes and yet still achieve the global fame of Da Michele,…
Boglioli is one of those classic, premium Italian brands that’s been run by the same family for generations, guaranteeing that the closely guarded secrets and traditions of Italian tailoring survive well into the future. Well, at least that’s part of the story…. Long known for the excellence of its soft sports jackets, Boglioli certainly boasts…
Although perhaps not quite a household name in the US, Barena Venezia is nonetheless very well known within fashion circles. Indeed, for those with an interest in good quality clothing, the name Barena is synonymous with a certain kind of simple, practical, Italian unstructured tailoring. While many Italians are understandably proud of their nation’s fashion…
With so many lightly used designer suits for sale online, grabbing a stylish nearly-new bargain has never been easier. At least if you know what you’re doing. But without the opportunity to try the item on before purchasing, and the ever present possibility of paying out for an expensive dud, most buyers prefer not to…
Massimo Dutti suits are becoming more common in the used luxury clothing market. But what’s their quality of construction like? Is the cloth any good? How do they fit? And just who is “Signor Dutti” anyway? Read our review for answers to these and many other pressing sartorial questions. A Brief Review of the Massimo…
Kapital Katsuragi ring coats are innovative and desirable outerwear items that currently do a brisk trade on the second-hand market. In this review we’ll take a look at their main design features, discuss style and fit, and consider the quality of their construction. An Introduction My first Kapital ring coat – a sturdy black number…
When you really like a pair of shoes, it can be worthwhile to pay for restoration rather than buy a new pair. Some of the world’s finest shoe companies offer recrafting and resoling services. I don’t know why they do this, honestly. It can’t be very profitable. Maybe they just want to be awesome to…
