Having just returned from a wonderful break in Runswick Bay on the East coast, I have to admit I’d gone rather feral. Whilst most of my customers assume I relax in velvet smoking jacket, embroidered slippers, silk cravat and fez, my downtime is marked by a far more casual approach to dress. The pleasure of…
DetailsThis month, the Michelsberg social calendar hit a serious purple spot, when my friends, Paul & Jo Flynn, invited my wife and I to attend Royal Ascot. The first, and indeed last time, I wore my bespoke morning suit was at my wedding, eleven years ago. Cut and sewn by three tailors based in North Leeds, they were…
DetailsMy entry-phone buzzed, a mournful, ‘it’s Tim Parr,’ bewailed down the line, then the plod of heavy footsteps, culminating with a groan as he trudged into the Michelsberg showroom. Partner at the financial services firm RSM in Leeds, and owner of several Michelsberg bespoke suits, I could see pain and anguish, etched all over his…
Details“Kaiser” Karl Lagerfeld, head of the fashion house ‘Chanel’ for 36 years, died last Tuesday. His high, white collared shirts, black frock coats, swishing silver ponytail, dark sunglasses and cut-off leather gloves had all the dramatic swagger of a modern day Mozart at a steampunk festival. The self-declared, “fashion nymphomaniac who never gets an orgasm,” was…
DetailsEight days to go and ‘Dry January,’ penance for my considerable sins in December, will soon be over. It’s not been easy. Last week, I took Lindsay Taylor and Nicolas Guilbaud, directors of Savile Row cloth company, Holland & Sherry, out to lunch at Sous le Nez. Watching Nicolas and their sommelier discuss the wine…
DetailsLast week, my time had come to take one for the team, as family Michelsberg headed off to Disneyland, Paris. As we entered the park for the first time, my cup was, uncharacteristically, half-empty, dreading the prospect of horrendous queues, bad food and surly Parisians. Fast forward two exhausting days later, and I can honestly…
DetailsThe plan was to meet up at Whitelock’s with my customer Dunphers, have a quick pint, and then head home. But as many of you will know, warm ale, old friends and good banter can cause the best laid plans to go awry.. After several libations, we decided to head to my favourite restaurant in…
DetailsThis morning, I landed in Hong Kong. It’s a city that’s captivated me ever since I watched the Bond film, ”The man with the golden gun,” with scenes at The Peninsula Hotel and Victoria Harbour. I’ve only been here for five hours and I’m already smitten with the place. Feeling a little ‘gritty’ after taking…
DetailsAs this wonderful Summer runs its course, preparations for Autumn & Winter are underfoot at Casa Michelsberg. This weekend, a fresh batch of logs was delivered, and during a family shopping trip to Waitrose, I found myself drawn – like a slavish moth to the fire – towards my amber coloured friends in the spirits section. Now is the…
DetailsHeading out of the Victoria Quarter this month, I was confronted with something that for me, cast a cloud over this sun-soaked Great British Summer. Lads, stripped to the waist, swigging from bottles, a cacophony of “It’s coming home!” delivered from slurring, red faces. Decked out in my panama hat, tan leather briefcase and linen suit, the peaks of several baseball caps swivelled…
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