Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Friday, 16 April 2010
Landum Vintage Cufflinks at a very friendly price.
Landum Vintage Cufflinks at a very friendly price
cufflinks espouse centuries through various designs: from the art deco in the 30's to the extravagant and eccentric in 1960 among the Hollywood stars.
The most expensive pair of cufflinks ever sold were a pair given to the soon-to-be King Edward VIII by his later wife Wallis Simpson. These featured diamonds set in platinum and sold at auction for $440.000
Wednesday, 24 March 2010
Silk Toppers
The first silk top hats were made in Paris. The hat was introduced to London in the 1790's by John Hetherington. Silk top hats are no longer made in silk they are made of fur felt a technique that is older than the silk. The only machine that produced the silk nap, belonged to a family in Paris. It is said that the machine was dismantled over a family argument in the late 50's and the last hat was made in mid 60's.
Monday, 15 March 2010
"Cock your hat - angles are attitudes. "- Frank Sinatra
Wednesday, 10 March 2010
The Bowler Hat
“If you want to get ahead...”
Seen today as an eccentric choice, the Bowler hat was designed by Lock's of St James sold in 1850, at a cost of 12 shillings. It was the hard hat of its day, a supremely practical item of headgear for working men of all classes, first designed to be worn by gamekeepers patrolling the estates of the landed gentry. Over the course of the last century, the bowler came largely to be associated in the public mind with City gents, but it has made some surprising appearances elsewhere, from Liza Minnelli's in the film Cabaret to the heads of tribeswomen in South America. Nowadays the black bowler hat is very popular amongst officers who wear then for memorial parades.
By Ze Landum
Sunday, 7 March 2010
The Norfolk Jacket
Tuesday, 2 March 2010
Bespoke
Bespoke
To bespeak, to request, control, mastery or order.
Tailoring is not dissimilar to Architecture, you have an Architect (cutter) and a Builder ( the Tailor) The cutter takes measurements, cuts does the fitting and the Tailor makes the garment. A mastered pattern for the client and often related to Savile Row.
Friday, 5 February 2010
CC41 Label
CC41
Utility Mark
The CC41 utility mark was introduced by the British Government by the end of 1941 and ended in 1952. A distinctive Logo designed by Reginald Shipp. A “pack man” figure like, was referred to as 'the cheeses' supposedly to disguise the true meaning of the Two C's which stands for Civilian Clothing 1941. This scheme allowed the government to have control of quantity and quality of manufacturing during rationing.
By Ze Landum
Friday, 29 January 2010
The Rolls Royce of shoe makers
Nikolaus Tuczek Ltd were boot and shoe makers who traded from1853-1970. The company was taken over by John Lobb in 1970.
John Lobb was a cornish farmboy whose mastery Gentle Craft of last and awl brought him golden awards in the Great International Exhibition of the Victorian times. John Lobb set up a shop in James St, London in 1866. Today the company holds Royal Warrants to The Duke Of Edinburgh and His Royal Highness The Prince Of Wales.
Jonh Lobb was bought by Hermes in 1976 but Lobb of St. James is still the original company of bespoke shoemakers.
By Ze Landum