Way back in the 1870’s, a new style of tennis shoes hit the scene. Crafted from Chinese or Brazilian buckskin, and complete with a leather sole, they were serviceable, though they weren’t exactly a technological marvel. Not shockingly, they’re not … read more →

Perhaps surprisingly, the Goodyear Welt—a must-have for connoisseurs of serious wingtips—has nothing to do with car tires.* As you may or may not know, a welt is a strip of material (often leather) sewn around the bottom edge of a … read more →

Everyone likes a little variety. That’s why we’ve got three different methods—Half Windsor, Full Windsor, Four-in-Hand—for securing your necktie in the morning. But when it comes to the bow tie, there’s just the one technique. (And once you’ve mastered it, … read more →

Formality, for all its rules and regulations, is relative. Case in point: The Chesterfield, the British overcoat introduced around 1840 and subsequently named for the sixth Earl of Chesterfield. Though it’s currently one of the most formal overcoats a guy … read more →

Remember those chinos you should have in your wardrobe by now? Well it turns out they may well have been relegated to the sidelines of sartorial history if it weren’t for Stuart Cramer, early 20th Century textile baron and owner … read more →

A taped seam is pretty self-explanatory: A seam on a garment, with tape applied to it from the inside. Not a complicated concept, we’ll admit. But there’s a little bit more to it than all that. First off, we’re not … read more →

That little “automatic” that adorns the fine-looking IWC dress watch at right? You can also find it on the faces and cases of iconic models from Rolex, Omega, Patek Philippe, and a host of others. And it means that, if … read more →