• Suit 101: The white shirt – camicie su misura

    Note: This is part of an ongoing series known as Suit 101.  A white shirt can create emotion, even if it is just a shirt.  And if we look at shirt-making as an artform and an act of craftsmanship, then we began to sense the possibilities of making this staple…something special. – Sonya Glyn Nicholson, Parisian Gentlemen Bespoke shirts are no stranger to the man’s world — akin to how stilettos are no stranger to a woman’s world (Feminists may argue otherwise but let’s not get too deep here). Like shoes, a dress shirt — with its various permutations of patterns and colours — can give the entire outfit a fresh look. This could explain…

  • Suit 101: The types of suit

    Note: Suit 101 is a series dedicated on the finer side of menswear. Last week, we spoke of the suit as if there exists only one kind of suit. In fact, there are different kinds of suits that some guys may not have even heard or know about. As per usual, team BS4F will take you through an educational journey to further furnish your knowledge about suits, starting from… 1. The single breasted suit The single breasted suit is the most common form of suit. Its ubiquity lies in its practical nature — after all, it is much better to fiddle with one row of buttons than two, no? There…

  • Suit 101: Tailoring

    Note: Suit 101 is a weekly series that discusses on the finer side of menswear.  Last week, we talked about Vitale Barberis Canonico, one of the oldest and largest mills in Italy. But the mill is one part of the suit game. Tailoring is, in my opinion, what makes or breaks a suit. Thus, a post must be dedicated to the science and art of tailoring – in edible chunks of course. 1. Anatomy of a suit Like body parts, there are parts to a suit. Parts of a suit: I shall not go on a lengthy tirade on each parts of the suit but the image above is self-explanatory. If…

  • Suit 101: Vitale Barberis Canonico

    When I hang out with my guy friends, the first thing I always — always — observe in a guy is the shoes, followed by the watch and belt. If they have a formal wear on, the white shirt, the suit, the way their trousers drape around their ankles, socks (it matters!), cufflinks (if any) and the choice of adornment (pocket squares, ties, bows etc). Yes, I am that anal  despite growing up in a country that does not have a strong suit culture. It did not help that I lived in Milan for almost six months, and have a strong interest towards menswear, particularly the suit. When it comes to the suit, the…