THE FAR EAST MOVEMENT AT MR PORTER

Mr Porter is a site we love at The Gentleman Select, other than the amazing pieces, we also adore how they are consistently refreshing with new designers and articles.

Next to crop up then is a series of Japanese labels which encapsulate what is being worn on the streets in the land of the rising sun. Five top labels of Japan are included in this collection exclusive to Mr Porter, Remi Relief, Beams Plus, Beams T, Blackmeans and Neighborhood.

“We know that Japanese brands resonate well with our global customer base” stated Daniel Todd, buyer at Mr Porter. The Blackmeans collection stands out the most taking its designs from a very punk-esque, Sex Pistols style with a heavily studded black leather jacket and and biker trousers, the jacket paired with a white T is a great timeless, versitile piece. The Neighborhood Collection for us touches on the same “gentleman of attitude” persona with a rip-repair denim jacket and jeans.

The Beams Plus collection has its roots cemented in the 1960’s with shirts, shorts and blazers which really capture those chilled out, long summer days in California. We particularly like the navy button down shirt, its very varsity or something Paul Newman would have thrown on after a day racing with a pair of chinos.

Whilst we are on the west coast 60’s era the Remi Relief collection delves into a more free spirit, hippy approach with tie-dye vintage style tees worn by surfers and foundation of denim running through most pieces. The collection is available now from Mr Porter and is well worth a good look.

Key Piece: Blackmeans Studded Leather Biker Jacket £2,700

Available at www.mrporter.com

STEVE MCQUEEN: THE MAN AND LE MANS

On the 13th of May for 12 days the most glamorous film festival on the circuit begins. The inaugural 68th Cannes Film Festival arrives in as always glittering fashion, however whats more exciting for us at The Gentleman Select is the naming of “Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans” in the Cannes Classic Section this month.

The film based around the famous Le Mans 24hr race documents the trials and tribulations of the production that was well documented as being riddled with issues both on and off set, from financial difficulties to corporate politics and disagreements.

By the time Steve McQueen began working on this project in 1970 he was already at his height of fame with such films as “Bullitt”, “The Great Escape” and “The Thomas Crown Affair” on his mantlepiece to name but a few. For McQueen though this project was more personal, it gave him the opportunity to express his passion for racing and all things mechanical through the art of film.

For any fan of motorsport the film itself is a must have in their collection and for any avid McQueen fan, they will understand the passion and realism that he poured into this picture. It had so much attention to detail from McQueen, that some of the cars were reported to have dead flies glued to the bodywork.

What is most exciting about “Steve McQueen: The Man & Le Mans” is that it features never seen before footage and images taken from basements in L.A and Paris that had been in storage all these years. You should expect it to be like “Senna”, yet with the rogue and un-tameable essence of Steve McQueen thrown in through his voice narating, detailing how he battled tooth and nail to save the film and make it happen.

You can also be sure that the film will stay true as possible to the man himself with Steve’s son Chad McQueen featuring as an executive producer on the film. We simply cant wait to see this, a film which we reckon will really say “Racing is life. Anything before or after is just waiting”.

AUDEMARS PIGUET HITS GLASGOW

The Gentleman Select home town is one rich in culture, full of people who set trends and take pride in their style and appearance. Housed in one of the oldest Jewelery arcades in Europe then is the perfect setting for the launch of Audemars Piguet in Glasgow.

We attended Audemars Piguet’s launch night on Wednesday the 22nd of April, in the grandeur of Rox Glasgow’s “Thrill Room”, a palatial Parisian style gallery housing one of the most prestigious watch brands in the world which certainly did not disappoint.

In our opinion Glasgow has been missing a serious watch brand like Audemars Piguet for quite some years now and there is definitely a market for high end luxury items in this great city too. This was clearly reflective in the well turned out ladies and gentleman who attended the event, and the Rox staff who were waiting on hand to everyone aswell.

The first piece we tried on was the Royal Oak Chronograph in full Rose Gold (41mm) and what a stunning timepiece it is. The 18-carat pink gold case has true warmth whilst the Grande Tapisserie black dial really draws you closer to the detail. Turn it over and your encapsulated with even more detail in the open case back exposing the calibre 2385 movement. For me It’s as much a functional everyday watch as a dress up and wear with that tuxedo to. A must for any serious watch collection.

To get a balance we also tried on the ladies Royal Oak in 18-carat rose gold. A bezel set with 40 brilliant cut diamonds at a weight of 0.71 carats, a truely eye catching piece which our lovely Adla struggled to put down. It was a watch we found to be a talking point for the duration of the evening with ourselves along with many other guests continually peering at it in awe.

The night itself was rounded off with a great speach by one of the heads, Kyron Keogh and some good music to take us into the small hours. Further more it was great to see representatives from AP mingling with the guests and really filling them in on the details of such a beautiful brand. I’d sincerely urge you to get along to Rox and have a look at these esqusitie time pieces, with some stunning Jewellery on show aswell.

Key Piece: Royal Oak Chronograph(41mm) in Rose Gold. £40,000.

Buy a Boeing 747, then spend 400 million renovating it? Why not.

At The Gentleman Select we love all things that epitomise luxury. An Item which tends to say you have made it could be a Rolls Royce or perhaps a yacht. How about then a Boeing 747…which you then spend 400 million pounds renovating. Nothing of a myth, this is exactly what a mystery billionaire has done in an operation which has taken 3 years to complete.

The jet which has been fully customized for the unnamed billionaire, now boasts a 14 seater dining room, fully furnished plush bedrooms and even an on board restaurant to cater for its owner and privledged guests. The “aeroloft” on the upper deck of the plane, usually structured as first class for the standard 450 passengers the jet holds, has additional sleeping space for 8 guests.

Jon Buccola of Greenpoint Technologies, the company responsible for the design and execution of such an elaborate and stunning project said ” This delivery represents an outstanding past 12 months for Greenpoint. Our entire team is extremely proud of this amazing accomplishment”.

We whole heartedly agree with Jon on this one.  The attention to detail is stunning with the complete article being a fitting example of oppulance in a world were money really is no object.

Cire Trudon: Josephine Boneparte

It’s not so often we refer to candles in a luxury sense, however we cannot by-pass the release of a new scent from Cire Trudon truely the Rolls Royce of candles.

In a brief history lesson Cire Trudon was candle provider to the royal court of Louis XIV from 1643 and subsequently all great churches in the country of France. Also one Napoleon Bonaparte liked them so they certainly carry an historically important fan base. This then leads me on to their newest wax creation, Joséphine, named after Joséphine Bonaparte herself.

This latest release by the house of Cire Trudon encapsulates the passion Josèphine Bonaparte had for botanicals through the wonderful notes of Iris, Kaffir Lime and Chinese Camellia, scents which Josèphine grew up around on the island of Martinque from 1763.

The Gentleman Select has already experienced Cire Trudon and the beauty of these candles through the Ernesto leather and tobacco, believe me there really isn’t a bad choice, however we are very excited at this new scent which will really drag our noses towards summer time. The pale blue glass has that cool breeze about it and works in harmony with the smells thus creating a lasting aroma which drifts around your home for those long lazy days.

You have packaging which finishes off the look with designs alluding to Pierre-Joseph Redouté, the botanical painter who Josèphine asked to capture those lovely flowers around her. We feel it is an ideal accompaniment for anybody looking to create a unique talking point at a house party or a fragrance to just bask in.

Finish your display off with a vintage glass dome over it for that true 1643 look in which Iam comfident it will not be your last purchase from candlemaker Cire Trudon.

Key Details: Cire Trudon Joséphine Candle. €70 available from Cire Trudon stores.

http://www.trudon.com

http://www.ciretrudon.com

Italia Independent: Adidas Superstars

Here at The Gentleman Select we have alluded to him before and we shall do so repeatedly so long as he presents our world with exciting ideas. Yes our adopted muse Lapo Elkann and his Italia Independent crew have struck out another fantastic Adidas Orginals collaboration just as exciting as the last.

Following on from the successful Adidas ZX Flux range, Italia Independent Superstar sunglasses will be bursting into the optics world aiming to kick off our summer in vibrant, bold style. A rainbow assortment of frames will surely appeal to everyone’s liking with simple solid colours, to sets which will have intricate little patterns on the legs and temples.

Our pick of the bunch has to be the “1969 Hero” model, a special edition which is manufactured using a heat sensitive material resulting in the frame changing colour from matt black to gold when they are exposed to temperatures above 30 degrees centigrade, such a cool design for your poolside summer holiday and certain to set you apart from the crowd.

For me these frame tick all the boxes, there is many elements which feed through that Italia Independent heritage, a quirky unique appearance in the small detail, yet none of that Adidas essence is lost either.

Italia Independent Superstar will be available in retailers from April this year however be sure to act fast, if they are as popular as the ZX Flux range then they will be dissapearing from the shelves quick.

Key Piece: The 1969 Hero Special Edition.

www.italiaindependent.com

www.adidas.com

Like Bike: The Most Glamorous Bike Show on Earth

The super rich principality of Monaco is synonymous with luxury cars and yachts of truly gargantuan proportions however from the 3rd-5th of April a different mode of transport will descend on Monte Carlo in equally spectacular fashion, that of Like Bike. Billed as “the most glamorous bike show on earth” it is a showcase of the most flamboyantly advanced bicycles and accessories available today.

Housed in the glass structure of the Grimaldi Forum, this exhibition is like a vast array of cycling related black projects and here at The Gentleman Select we have highlighted a few pieces,from the innovative and stylish, to the “money is no object” creation of ultimate luxury that you just might fancy adding to your Sunday peddling session.

We kick off with one such bike that would not look out of place on the Monte Carlo circuit, that of the SPA Bicicletto.

SPA being an historic, luxury Italian car company is evident in the sleek, sculptured lines this electric bike offers. It truly is a piece of art on wheels that draws upon motoring, horological and aeronautical shapes with a 36v battery and a “faux” fuel tank that can be used for storage. Made from carbon fibre this exquisite Italian E-Bike is sure to capture its viewers and at £8,975 will certainly sell in a luxury market to anyone with even a hint of style appreciation.

Whilst we always like to look slick on our bikes, safety continues to be of paramount importance. It is wonderful to see advancements in this area which really push the boundaries of what’s possible and nobody has went further than Swedish company Hövding and their airbag helmet.

Developed in collaboration with Alva AB, providers of airbags to the motor industry, this helmet moonlights as a scarf and wouldn’t look out of place on a Milan catwalk. Inflating in 0.1 seconds on heavy impact to cradle your fragile cranium, it even comes with its own black box built in to record 10 seconds of data after an accident. Truly advanced indeed and at a paltry sum of £249 a bargain for such a cool piece of futuristic protection.

Having a show set in Monte Carlo there has to be a showpiece, a bike which is as opulent and luxurious as its surroundings. The Cipollini RB1000 Luxury Edition is that very item then to capture the spotlight.

It is the epitome of functional excess with its monocoque carbon-fibre frame however it is the detail which really sets it apart. Engrained into the Cipollini lettering is platinum, 110 grams to be precise. In the bikes headset it goes further with 40 grams of gold and 17 carats of diamonds. This bike is simply the true essence of Jewellery and technology combined. For us it is an expression of Italy in motion and will set you back a cool £36,280. Ideal for when you are whirring around the streets of Monte Carlo.

Key Points: Like Bike, runs the 3rd-5th April at the Grimaldi Forum.

www.likebikemc.com

Lapo’s Garage

Our love for style and all things wonderful derives from many people and objects at The Gentleman Select however there is one such person that always stands out for us. One Lapo Elkann.

lapo

The Italian Industrialst, aside from his stunning style sense, is involved in more projects than you can shake a stick at, his talent truely knows no bounds and is evident in his latest project Garage Italia Customs. The Milan based company will specialise in exterior and interior customisation using not only classic techniques of bodywork painting and re-upholstery, but more modern techniques of wrapping and paint wrapping which is seen in Lapo’s own personal camouflage wrapped Ferrari 458.

Most recently Garage Italia Customs revealed the Fiat 500X “Black Tie” at the Geneva Motor Show which had a herringbone pattern wrap and included cashmere trimmed sun-visors and denim seats, a true signature mark of Lapo Elkann indeed.

What makes this project more exciting is the fact Elkann has teamed up with Carlo Borromeo, honing from another highly influential Italian family and acting as creative director. The project is exciting for us because Lapo Elkann always delivers something punchy and different with his flamboyant ideas and dress sense expressed through his work. He carries great motoring lineage with his Fiat history in the family, and himself being creative director to Ferrari. This for me is why this project works and rest assured it will unleash some truely quirky results.

Key Piece: Fiat 500X “Black Tie”.

www.lapoelkann.com

The Time Sponsored by Apple

Wearable tech is as big as it has ever been just now from built for purpose pieces, to high fashion items on top runways. This week one of the top giants of technology joined this party in Apple with their take on the wrist watch and here at The Gentleman Selectwe couldn’t help but weigh in on the topic.

At first glance it is a quirky little time piece with simplistic shaping, basically a smaller iPod on a strap. However what we are most interested in is its functionality as a watch and for me it just seems a little gimmicky.

On sale the 24th of April, the entry price is justifiable at £299 however that is the bottom standard so in terms of a top seller in the mid range we would be starting around £949. I feel it is a steep price to ask of a watch which carries a charge of up to 72 hours, providing of course you aren’t scrolling through the developed apps of Facebook and Instagram on it. For me it just feels like a mini iPod/iPad with a magnified time function. The biggest worry for me would also be: is it justifiable price wise relative to the battery life such as our iPhones etc have?. Again even with a standard Quartz watch this is easily replaceable.

Don’t get me wrong I adore Apple as a company and its innovative products produced and I can truely see why this would appeal to technophobes and gadget lovers alike with its functions of opening compatible hotel and garage doors, but being traditionalists here at The Gentleman Select it just seems like a horological golum. The primary example would be a paltry £13,500 for the gold model, a figure which seems ludicrous considering you could buy a steel Patek Philippe, something with passion, history and hand-made craftsmanship. If you are after a gold time piece even a second hand Rolex Day-Date would be such a more sound investment than a £13,500 gadget.

This for me then is simply what the Apple Watch is. A gadget. I would buy it as a gadget, but not as a time piece.

Key Piece: Prices range from £299-£13,500

www.apple.com

apple

Supply and Demand

SuitSupply has been with us since the year 2000, however for me they continue to fly just under the radar and go largely un-noticed.

When we look for fitted, well cut tailoring, a brand founded in Amsterdam would be the last one on our minds, there however the differences end and in SuitSupply we find some truly wonderful tailoring.

For me there are two aspects which really drive this brand. Firstly a very wide lapel, something Gianni Agnelli might wear and you tend to only find crafted by Tom Ford or Sartoria Caraceni, fine of course if you have a few thousand pounds to spare.

That leads me then to the cost itself, suit supply will deliver a classic wide lapelled beauty for £299 cut from pure wool provided by Vitale Barberis Canonico in Italy. For me that is a fantastic price for what you are getting, something that will stand the test of time and stand out from the crowd. SuitSupply also deliver a well crafted line of leathers, accessories and ties to pair with your Lapo Elkann looking suit.

demand

Currently their only British store is situated nicely on Saville Row however you can order through the website also. And remember if you’re still quite unsure, a brand ranked number one suit by The Wall Street Journal can never be a bad thing either…

Key Piece: Lazio Light Brown Check £379.