Menswear grows up

What do grown-up men want from fashion? I asked Mr That's Not My Age, last night but the Blog Widower simply shrugged his shoulders and carried on watching Masterchef. Fortunately, at times like these I have my Menswear Manifesto to turn to. The Manifesto tells me that men of a certain age should spend more time on grooming, think Savile Row not Carnaby Street and choose classic heritage brands over seasonal trends. Bring on Mr Joe Casely-Hayford (that's JCH above).

The 54-year-old designer has collaborated with some of the finest British manufacturers to create a beautifully under-stated menswear line for John Lewis. Including this semi-tailored Barbour jacket and an updated version of the brogue (made in Northampton by Cheaney shoes and featuring a practical Goodyear sole). Remember what the Manifesto says about footwear: a shoe made on a last, will last.







And what does this recession-busting trend for grown-up designers, heritage brands and older models (more coming soon!) tell us?

Men just want to look like men.

The chicest hamper in the world

The Chanel hamper may be sitting in my virtual fashion bin but it's not been forgotten. Oh no. Armchair research tells me that the wicker basket with the double C logo is actually a pétanque bag, on sale for one thousand seven hundred and seventy English pounds. Here it is in the latest issue of Vogue with a very helpful fashion sum:


One Chanel pétanque bag - the boules = the chicest picnic hamper in the world.

I'm sorry, even if it were handcrafted by fairies and contained the Kaiser's own boules, I still wouldn't pay nearly two grand for it, not when you can buy this luxury willow picnic hamper with oiled leather straps - and all its contents - for a mere £99 from John Lewis:



Do the fashion math and make that £1671 - the chicest saving in the world!


What do you think Karl Lagerfeld should do with his boules?