Mantiques: My WW2 bomber compass


Welcome to Mantique Monday (an opening that sounds better in my head than it reads on the screen, but these are desperate times so I’ll not discard a serviceable pun). Today’s item is again from deep in the vault here at Well Dressed Mansions. This is an item I was given by my grandfather around 25 years ago,  something he’d…

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Book tip: Zero History by William Gibson


In a slight departure from my previous book recommendations I’m not presenting a book about style or menswear today, but rather a novel. I will start by saying that the author, William Gibson, is one of my very favourite authors, and there’s nothing he’s written that I’ve not read multiple times. Not that you should let that colour your impression…

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Style: More backpacks for the stylish man


As a follow-up to my previous post about backpacks for the stylish man, I’ve found a few more that are worthy of a mention. Some maybe a little predictable, others a bit more oddball. A common point is that any of them would add style where other backpacks (read: traditional black nylon commuting backpack) only detract. Also, a further selection…

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Book tip: Dads are the original hipsters


After enjoying popularity as a Tumblr site the book of Dads are the original hipsters is finally out. Was it worth the wait? Well, considering it’s all about how our fathers were putting the hip in hipster well before we were born, and that we’re nothing but johnny come latelys in this respect, it does a fine job of showing…

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Waistcoat Wednesday: Sand, more checked linen happiness


After weather this Spring than can only be described as variable it feels terrific to see nature finally getting into the blooming and blossoming scheme of things. And what better way to celebrate that than wearing a waistcoat celebrating these joyful hues of nature? Well, in the greater scheme of things there are probably many more cerebral ways of celebrating,…

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Clothes: A funny look at vintage reproductions


Now, we’ve all seen (and probably fallen victim to) any number of garments purporting to be recreations/reproductions/remakes of certain classic/vintage/army/workwear whatevers and so forth. I was reading one of the “M” books by Norwegian cartoonist Mads Eriksen the other day and came across this absolute pearl of a strip. I realise Norwegian isn’t a language everyone understands intuituvely, so I’ve…

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What’s up with “dressing nice”?


Last week I was at a work conference celebrating 25 years of the company I work for. As per usual, there is the standard “Big Dinner”. While I enjoy good food, these dinners are always totally painful for me. Sitting at the table for hours to work our way through a meagre 3-course dinner, trying to engage the others round…

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Style: Out for a drink on a summer evening


WellDressedGirlfriend was feeling in need of a change of scenery, so we popped down to town for a drink. As an top-level style blogger, she insisted I post an outfit post to share in her good fortune (she insists this is a genuine comment!). Here goes: – Universal Works Ferryman jacket – Paul Smith T-shirt in fresh colours – SuperDry…

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Mantiques: A tool with a past


Today’s “mantique” is a simple little piece, yet a piece which means a lot to me. It’s one of just a couple of items I own that belonged to my grandfather, Joe. One of the other pieces I have is the bespoke suit he had made in 1945. This piece is one of his old tools. A regular flat-headed screwdriver,…

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