Sven from Gentleman's Gazette

Sven Raphael Schneider, Editor-in-Chief of Gentleman's Gazette,  NYC, Jan 2012

There is no replacement for meeting face to face.  For me it's a great adventure, and one of the reasons I love photographing people.  When Sven Raphael Schneider, whom I only knew from his online magazine, Gentleman's Gazette,  came to visit NYC I was curious to meet the man behind the scene.  Sven's focus on classic men's style is razor sharp, and I was surprised to find out it all started with his interest in vintage.  Sven described his vast collection menswear fashion illustrations, and my jaw dropped.  I can't even begin to fathom his other collections!  If he just posted about this it would undoubtedly fill up years on the blog, but of course he is also interested in reviewing specialty products, showcasing "Gentlemen of Style" (always my favorite), and cultivating savoir-vivre.  Sven is a true aficionado of classic menswear, and Gentleman's Gazette is his way of fine tuning the conversation.

A bit of a surprise on the label of his suit jacket...one never knows!

Style Notes:

Suit: Vintage 1960s bespoke from Hussmüller Munich, Germany with a rare double breasted waistcoat

Shirt: Modern Tailor 

Tie: Knit Silk Tie, Vintage

Pocket Square: Robert Talbott 

Silk Socks: green wool with shadow stripe - Fort Belvedere

Cufflinks: 14k Yellow Gold with Malachite – Fort Belvedere

Just Guerre

The always dapper Karl Edwin Guerre, creator of the excellent streetstyle blog Guerreisms, as I found him hard at work out and about during New York Fashion Week, Feb 2012.  

The Parisian Gentleman - Hugo Jacomet

Hugo Jacomet at Cifonelli's, Paris, Sept 6, 2011

Hugo Jacomet is the creator of Parisian Gentleman, a well respected menswear blog published both in French and English.  Hugo catalogs his sartorial adventures navigating the ins and outs of bespoke tailoring - his grand passion.  He shares practical details of how to dress with understated elegance, and recommends those rare stores and fine craftsmen that are lucky enough to make his short list.

On this day we met up at his favorite tailor in Paris - Cifonelli.  I walked into the palatial showroom and found Hugo there to greet me with his signature shock of silver hair and four suits ready to go.



"Cifonelli is the Mount Everest of bespoke tailors," Hugo said with a satisfied grin.  Here he is with Lorenzo Cifonelli in matching jackets.  Lorenzo is the fourth generation Cifonelli at the helm along with his cousin, Massimo.




Hugo revels in the intricacies of bespoke - he shows me this cuff and that buttonhole and that detail under the collar which is invisible to to anyone but the man wearing it.  He took great joy in telling me the extra hours it takes for certain details that only Cifonelli does.  What an eccentric (and luxurious) thing in this day and age, I thought, when it's all about faster and cheaper.

Then off into the dressing room where all the action takes place.  Lorenzo gives the final few tucks and seal of approval.

Shoes by Corthay

I quickly learn that these are the accoutrements of Hugo.  What is just off camera is the tray with the most perfect cup of espresso.



The opposite of ostentatious:  you have to literally dig to find the label.  Men who know just know.

Tie by Marc Guyot

Leap into 2012!

The always charming Winston Chesterfield photographed outside his home in London on Sept. 11, 2011.  The fresh puddle on the street reminded me of the famous Henri Cartier-Bresson "decisive moment" photo, so we gave it a go.  Happy New Year folks!

Stephen Pulvirent of Simply Refined

This dapper young man is Stephen Pulvirent of the blog Simply Refined.  I met him a few days ago when he was visiting from Chicago.  As luck would have it we were both stopping in to say hi to Bruce Boyer while he signed books at the Paul Stuart store.  We all continued the evening at the Blue Bar by the Algonquin Hotel, and listened to Bruce tell his tales.  Stephen's blog is elegant and a great read about gentlemanly endeavours.  As Stephen puts it, "a gentleman doesn’t just dress with style, he lives with style".  Of course, I agree.

Wale Oyejide

Wale Oyejide, Philadelphia, June 2011

I stopped by Wale Oyejide's home in Philly on my way back from the Seersucker Social in Washington DC in June 2011.   We walked around his neighborhood and people stared and the old lady on the corner asked him who he was to be getting photographed and we got to know each other a little.  I know him from his blog Less Gentlemen, and found out he is quite a musician, originally from Nigeria, and also a lawyer.

One might not consider him a dandy - that illusive term - because his style is somewhat understated, but he takes such care with his clothing and all the details...what else could it be called?  If not dandy, then what?  Is there another term we should be using?  Well, he is certainly a gentleman.  And he understands that dressing well is revolutionary in a world of sweatpants and sneakers.

A Suitable Wardrobe

Recently, I met up with Will Boehlke of the great blog about classic menswear A Suitable Wardrobe.  He was visiting NYC, and staying at his club - The Penn Club. Very old world chic.  (Note to self:  join a club with an amazing landmark club building)

So after chatting a bit we decided to collaborate on some upcoming stories, which is very exciting.  He seems to know just about everything, and everyone, pertaining to bespoke tailoring and traditional menswear.  I shall learn a lot.  For instance - now I know what airplane shoes are! These are Will's bespoke W. S. Foster airplane shoes, to be worn "only on those flights that arrive before 6pm local time":

Dapper Lou

Meet Ludget Delcy, the multi-talented creator of the men's fashion and street style blog Dapper Lou.  Matt Fox of FineAndDandyShop.com joined me for the visit, and wrote up a dandy profile.  I was surprised to find out that Ludget creates his outfits from the ground up...shoes first!  I love it.  And check out his post about these new bright yellow babies from Paul Smith he bought.







Tools of the blogger trade, as found.