FT How to Spend It: White rider

Apologies for the dodgy quality of images; have time enough to take photos and not scan. Besides, don't you think that the semi-sepia quality the light gives this editorial enhances period feel? I don't know why, but I get the vibe of the depressing 30s. Is it the bikes?


Theo wears embroidered evening Dylan jacket by Gucci; jeans by Kilgour; t-shirt (just seen) by Homino Emerito by Mango; silk Fabio scarf by Dries Van Noten; leather belt and leather shoes by Ermenegildo Zegna. Madeleine wears linen Metador Bolero with ruffles on the back and silk Cuff trousers, both by Phillip Lim; silk top by Roberto Cavalli; chiffon flower jabot by Maria Grachvogel; leather brogues by Church's

Photographs by Carl Bengtsson, Styling by Damian Foxe

Extremes have always appealed to me: from all black to all white, even all beige and gray. There's just an unavoidably dashing air to the neutral monochrome.


Wiktor (left) wears Jacquard cotton Dylan jacket, Jacquard cotton Havana trousers, and white leather belt with brown occhio di tigre stone buckle: all by Gucci; cotton shirt by Thomas Pink; leather snake-effect ankle boots by Paul Smith. Hampus wears Jacquard cotton evening Dylan jacket and Jacquard evening Havana trousers, both by Gucci; leather loafers by J by J Jasper Conran from Debenhams

And did I mention how I just adore the hairstyles and the hint of androgyny? I wonder if all the models are blondes, or have they been bleached?

Madeleine wears cotton Catrin shirt by Thomas Pink; cotton trousers by Paul Smith; leather brogues by Church's

The tailoring is of course impeccable. After white pants, I certainly intend to wear white jackets and blazers.


Wiktor (leftmost) wears cashmere blazer from Brioni; jeans by Kilgour; cotton shirt by Versace; leather shoes by Ermenegildo Zegna. Hampus (centre) wears cotton and cashmere three-piece suit by Ermenegildo Zegna; knitted silk scarf by Kilgour; leather Nobel brogues by Grenson from Matches. Theo wears cotton and cashmere suit and cotton and silk blend shirt, both by Ermenegildo Zegna; leather shoes by Camper

Can it just be the romance of the Old World, of past eras?

Madeleine wears cotton organza blouse with jabot by Gianfranco Ferré; cotton trousers (just seen) by Paul Smith

Or the glamour of previous decades translated for the present one?

Theo wears cotton jacket, cotton trousers, white and navy jersey (just seen), and suede shoes: all by Bottega Veneta; silk Fabio scarf by Dries Van Noten

It's amazing how men's shoes like brogues work so well when appropriated by womenswear.

Madeleine wear cotton sweater by John Smedley; silk trousers by Salvatore Ferragamo; cotton embroidered cravat by Paul Smith; leather brogues by Church's

Theo (left) wears silk suit jacket, matching trousers, and silk sweater: all by Dolce & Gabbana. Wiktor wears silk suit jacket and silk suit trousers, both by Dolce & Gabbana; silk and cotton Joery sweater by Dries Van Noten; leather belt with brown occhio di tigre stone buckle by Gucci

Silk, jacquard, jersey, cashmere, leather, mohair, hemp, satin, suede: they're all here in one wonderful mix. How can you not love the power of monochrome to bring them all together?


Hampus (far left) wears mohair and wool jacket and cashmere waistcoat, both by Kilgour; ribbed cotton long-sleeve t-shirt and hemp trousers, both by Ann Demeulemeester; leather shoes by Giorgio Armani. Madeleine wears viscose vest by Burberry; satin trousers by Chanel; silks carf (around hips) by Dolce & Gabbana; leather brogues by Church's. Wiktor wears cotton jacket, hemp waistcoat, and cotton trousers: all by Ann Demeulemeester; cotton sweater by John Smedley; leather and suede trainers by Tim Little

Hampus wears cotton suit by Emporio Armani; cotton-mix Jartha cardigan by Dries Van Noten; chiffon flower jabot by Maria Grachvogel

Only thing is, of course, I don't think you can ride your bike on any street wearing these outifts if you want to keep your single-colored ensemble until you get home.


Madeleine wears silk shantung waistcoat by Stella McCartney; silk crepe trousers by Maria Grachvogel; silk scarf scarf by Dolce & Gabbana; leather brogues by Church's

Bottega Veneta bag in How to Spend It

With a sporty-preppy outfit, Bottega Veneta's Spring 2009 Intrecciato nappa leather briefcase looks quite removed from how it was styled on the runway. Though I suggested before that it looks better with a more youthful ensemble, I didn't imagine it inside an office.

Oh well, who better to afford its £1,955 price tag than readers of the Financial Times.

The man who fell to Earth

More than the color silver, surpisingly, what gives this editorial its extraterrestrial energy are the contact lenses, the fedora, and of course, the sunglasses.

Wool coat, Versace; cotton shirt and wool trousers, John Rocha; Louisiana wide-brimmed felt fedora hat, Lock & Co.; leather brogues, Hugo by Hugo Boss

'The man who fell to Earth', How to Spend It, December 2007

Fur hood waterproof parka, Armani Jeans; cashmere jacket and cashmere trousers, Louis Vuitton; flannel shirt, Kilgour; cotton polo neck, John Smedley

Zipped blouson poly jacket, Emporio Armani; woll trousers (part of a suit), Hèrmes; two-tone shirt, Canali; patterned silk tie, Hardy Aimes from Harvey Nichols and other stockists

Nylon jacket with zip detail, D&G; cotton shirt, Hèrmes; wool trousers and metal-framed aviator sunglasses, Fendi; silk tie, Paul Smith

Cotton and polyester raincoat, Raf Simons; cotton polo neck, John Smedley; metal sunglasses with gold-tinted lens, Calvin Klein eyewear

Photography by Lee Strickland, Styling by Nicki Black



These pieces - in gold, silver, and bronze - from Dolce and Gabbana's Fall 2007 collection take space travel more seriously.





But that didn't prevent the duo from presenting wearable items.





It must have been blinding in night clubs when these jackets invaded the scene.





But after two years, silver has already lost its popular sheen, and susbequently, so has gold.





These days, the metallic colors have been rubbed off, and only the volume of these clothes have much relevance.

This post is part of a set in reply to a query by Nihaal Faizal from India on the topic of his sketches and on science fiction

How to Spend It: The people's prints / Digital vs print

I intentionally placed doubles for the images. The fuzzy ones are from my scanner and the clear pics are from How to Spend It's swanky website.








I know it may only be a matter of getting a new scanner, but it may also be about how the digitalization of print publications has been changing how netizens view editorial content.






Sure, plenty of us still get our fashion fix from The Fashion Spot. But seeing how things are going, can anyone predict how long TFS will retain the same level of relevance?






In any case, what's important is we retain the same level of access.






With the New York Times online page soon putting up a paywall, and the Financial Times continuously influencing other print outfits to follow its successful FT.com pay model, prospects do not seem bright.






It seems one has to shell it out, one way or another.






Of course, that is also the reason behind the success of free online-only publications, like The Contributing Editor.






So a question to those with tablets grafted to their hands: don't your palms miss the feel and smell of both glossy and grainy print, where there's no need to flip anything for spreads?




I cannot predict who will win, or if any side needs to. Like this last image, a web-only outfit, attests, unlimited space is one of the internet's advantages. Hope you enjoyed this delicious set!

Details to follow

FT How to Spend It: The Merchant Prints

Jacquard and tapestry jacket, silk and wool scarf, and knitted silk cardigan: all by Gucci; trousers, Lanvin

Though I am all for wearing prints and even floral in fall and winter, one must admit they only bloom on spring. Tapestry! Now that has yet to enter my menswear vocabulary; the pattern on the jacket reminds me of Latin American motifs.


Cotton Pourpe Gladiola jacket, matching trousers, cotton jersey t-shirt, and calf leather Pourpe belt: all by Bottega Venetta; hand-embroidered cashmere scarf, Baba Art Emporium

Quite different to see these Bottega Veneta prints under the sun.


Cotton shirt and painted felt trilby: both by Alexander McQueen; silk scarf, Baba Art Emporium

This Alexander McQueen shirt also takes on a totally different context worn casually and with a scarf.


Cotton reindeer-print shirt, Dunhill; cashmere scarf and jodhpur trousers, Baba Art Emporium; straw hat, Paul Smith


Crumpled silk jacket, matching cotton t-shirt, flocked cotton trousers: all by Emporio Armani; leather and macrame sandals, Lanvin

I want the silk jacket, but the flocked trousers look exquisite — especially since the design is not always obvious.


Silk twill shirt, silk twill Carré scarf, woven cotton and leather Acores belt, and leather Syphnos sandals: all by Hermès; cotton shorts, Emporio Armani; antique loom-made throw, Baba Art Emporium

Will you wear a throw as a scarf?


Cotton shirt, cotton string vest, and paper hat: all by Paul Smith; wool trousers, Dunhill; distressed leather boots, Alexander McQueen

I like the silhouette, even if it is old and a bit tired. This picture makes it worth reminiscing about.

Photographs, Yval Hen, Styling Damian Foxe
FT How to Spend It