This morning I felt a shiver under the Michelsberg duvet, sadly seasonal, rather than salacious in its nature.
Whilst many in Europe are still basting away on loungers in their sun-soaked juices, we Brits must now face the more ‘meteorologically challenging’ months to come.
Having just read “The Great Alone” – an Alaskan based treasure of a book by Kristin Hannah – I imagined a rather joyous life for myself preparing for Winter, chopping wood, hunting deer, Nikki and the kids salting salmon and pickling root veg, hunkering down in a cosy cabin as the snow falls, a pipe and game of cards by the fire, with not a Teams call, or, TikTok twit in sight.
But then there’s the grizzly bears and I’ve never liked Lumberjack shirts – far too ‘Morrisey’ for my taste.
And if you think about it, Winter is why God created Sous Le Nez and the Algarve.
So, I’ll stay in Otley, order my logs from Bolton Abbey Firewood, and of course – which is what this whole missive has been leading up to… make new additions to my Winter Wardrobe!
Yes, whilst I’ve been feverously dressing Yorkshire’s sartorially astute gentlemen for fun in the sun, the cloth merchants of Italy have been slaving away (except for a month off in August..) on their Autumn & Winter collections.
The usual culprits (Loro Piana, Zegna, Ariston, Drago, Ferla, Delfino) have produced a sensuous smorgasbord of blends incorporating silk, cashmere, alpaca and wool, never failing to draw an ooh and ahh as I caress them between my little tailoring fingers.
There’s some wonderful new additions to the Michelsberg armoury, including a new overcoat style that’s a got a whiff of the Musketeers about it – double-breasted, longer in length, with a high pleated back vent, belt and gauntlet cuffs.
Takes confidence to wear it, but a real head turner with bags of swagger, that looks knock out when combined with Michelsberg made-to-measure chunky knitwear.
A new double-breasted jacket style featuring curved ‘shawl’ lapels is also now available.
Traditionally featured on dinner jackets, I’ve had one made up for the showroom in a navy corduroy, which creates a more relaxed vibe with a rakish feel.
Perfect for those aspiring lounge lizards looking to catch the eye of a spirited young gal over cocktails at The Renaissance Bar in St Moritz.
On a personal note, my DuaLingo Italian streak goes from strength to strength (600 days) and am delighted to report that “tutto va bene e la vita e bella!”
I continue to run joyously through the Otley Chevin with house music blaring in my ears, have had some outstanding surfing sessions on the East Coast and Devon over Summer and continue to come to work with a spring in my step and a hole in my wallet, courtesy of my teenaged daughters.
I’ve just renewed my lease for another 5 years and as part of a forthcoming revamp programme have just installed air conditioning into the Michelsberg emporium, ensuring you will now remain as cool as your threads.
I sincerely hope that 2026 has been a tale of positivity and good times at your end and always appreciate a ray of sunshine from yourselves in my inbox.
As many of you know, I’ve never been afraid of brandishing the “C” word with impunity, so here’s to fun and frolicks for us all as we count down to the most magical time of the year, Christmas!