That Dapper Chap

Sunday, 5 October 2014

Product Review - The Kjøre iPhone Wallet

That Dapper Chap opens the doors to leather crafters The Kjøre Project and reviews the best selling leather iPhone Case Wallet.

One of Kjore Projects leather bags

Read on for a 10% discount for That dapper Chap readers.

There is nothing that speaks quality more than a finely handcrafted leather accessory so I was pleased when I was contacted by Luca at The Kjøre Project to discuss his products.

Who are Kjøre Project?

Initially focussing on footwear, its been fifty years since the business began. As always things evolve and now a small group of the design team have founded kjøre project, creating a new line of accessories in a Nordic style, using the softest leather.

The phone/cards clutch wallet €65

The different colours available in the phone/cards clutch wallet €65

Kjøre project strives to create modern products that respect the past. All the styles in the heritage collection are designed and built just as they were fifty, sixty and even over eighty years ago and are all made using premium leather and are totally handcrafted.

The Kjøre Project iPad case €65-€85

A well crafted leather key chain €30

The leather survey backpack €349

The Leather

Kjøre Project only use the finest quality leather from New Zealand and Europe. Their tanning process is slow and depends on the skill and artistry of the tanners. It is the careful attention of these artisans and their refusal to compromise on materials which achieves such beautiful results.

The quality starts with the tanning process

Their handling and nurturing of the leather means that it doesn't peel or crack and develops its own patina, changing gradually in appearance and taking on and individual character.

The patina builds on a year old product making it truly unique

The scars, scratches, veins and wrinkles that give each piece in the collection makes it unique. Minor imperfections are not covered or removed as the guys at Kjøre Project feel this adds character and retains the natural integrity of the material.

The Workshop

The crafts people at Kjøre Project have access to all the machinery they may need at the leather factory but choose to make each piece by hand. In an age when items are manufactured in bulk overseas at little cost and little attention to detail this is a real selling point.

A nod to the past and the Kjøre heritage with this vintage sewing machine

Quality products being created by hand+

The Product Review

This product review focusses solely on the leather phone/card clutch wallet.

My new favorite item

Product

While Kjøre Project produce a number of products from wallets, Ipad cases, bags and great accessories for the avid cyclist this product review is all about the phone/cards clutch wallet.

Made in Italy from top quality leather the items is entirely hand made which gives it a uniqueness that other products miss. It has 4 pockets on the front to hold your phone and cards and a sturdy zip which opens one long and one short side which gives ample access to your notes, coins and whatever else you may wish to store in it.

My wallet, easy to use and comfortable in the hand

With the largest version (suitable for the iPhone 6) measuring 15x9cm its a sensibly sized item which you can hold or just as easily place in your bag.

The sturdy top quality zip

The zip is metal and very firm so the company have added a handy thumb hold to use when opening it which is a great little detail.

Price

At €65 (£51) for the large phone/cards clutch wallet, these items are not cheap. They are at gift level so if you're a guy like me on a budget put one on your Christmas list.

Don't forget that this is all handmade high quality leather so you do get what you pay for.

Ready for whatever the day holds

Packaging & Presentation

The wallet arrived quickly and was packed in its own little dust bag and then popped into a Jiffy bag. At €65 it would have been nice to have a gift box too as it would have added to that quality feel and I think Kjøre may have missed a trick here.

The white printed dust bag

Performance

This is a nice little item. It feels great in the hand and the leather is very soft and tactile. Its does exactly what it is intended to do with simple design and great quality materials.

I was initially worried that if I was walking with the wallet in my hand that my phone may slip out and give me that embarrassing 'my-phone-has-just-smashed-into-a-million-pieces-on-the-floor' moment but it is perfectly cosy in its little pocket and even when I tipped it upside down and shook it, it didn't fall out.

The Limited Edition Ostritch Leather Wallet €79

Pertinency

Okay, these are not the most macho of items, if you're a guy who works on a construction site and drinks a fill of beer at lunchtime over a cheese sandwich, this may not be for you.

It is a very European concept for guys to hold a wallet in the same way a lady may hold a clutch bag. Guys in the UK and US are slowly coming around to this new, a-sexual, approach to carrying your daily items. Outside of France or Italy you may get a strange look or comment every now and again but if you want to be a Shepherd rather than the sheep do it, its time for change.

The limited edition Deer skin wallet €129

Pro’s & Con’s

Neat, small and well made and nice to the touch the iPhone/cards clutch wallet is a nice little product.

The only thing I would change is to include a gift box as it is a higher-end product and I would expect one, particularly as these items make great gifts.

The clutch wallet in Buffalo leather €60

People

This is a new item to most people in the UK and their initial thoughts were that they didn't understand the concept. Once I explained and showed them how to use it they came around to the idea and made some very complimentary comments.

They liked the feel or the wallet and the softness of the leather. They also commented of the quality and felt this was very high.

Précis

Overall I like the item, it's very handy, well made and very practical. The colour range and different types of leather give a good choice to the buyer.

Kjøre fan and blogger Nicola Radano of Me, Myself & I with his laptop case

Reader Discount

Take advantage of a 10% discount by entering 'dapper' at the checkout. When you do, please post a picture to Instagram and tag @thatdapperchap and @kjoreproject

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Find Kjøre Project

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THANKS FOR READING!

Autumn Reds

That Dapper Chap shows us todays look incorporating Autumnal reds.

While the evenings are getting noticeably cooler, the days are still somewhat warm. Even though we're right at the end of September Autumn hasn't quite made his way into our lives just yet. So, with that in mind I thought I'd wear this unlined red cotton blazer, as it will probably be the last time this year that I get to wear it.

To go with the autumnal red theme I chose a retro print shirt and a knitted tie, both adding interest and texture to the look. The boots are also burgundy and are a resent acquisition and one I am most pleased with.

You'll see under the boots I'm wearing some red and navy polkadot socks which continue the colour story with the blue of the jeans and the retro red and blue print of the shirt.

My accessories today were my Daniel Wellington watch with handmade burgundy leather strap, some burgundy and navy beads and my new favorite thing: my 'Dapper Chap' tie bar with was sent to me by instagrams greycardigan. I didn't take pictures of the watch and bracelets as I totally forgot! But I did get a picture of the tie bar.

Where's it all from?

Burgundy leather boots: Next

Red and navy polkadot socks: Corgi

Skinny fit jeans: Burton Menswear

Belt: Burton Menswear

Retro print shirt: Next

Burgundy knitted tie: Next

Unlined Cotton Blazer: Next

Tie Bar: Simple Hands

Sunglasses: Oscar Wylee

Vintage Style Bag: Next

Pocket Square: Primark

Lapel Pins: Home made

THANKS FOR READING!

Six Looks With A Three Piece Suit

That Dapper Chap looks at ways to keep your three piece suit fresh by styling it differently to achieve different looks.

Suits available from next.co.uk

You needed a suit right?. You read my suit buying guide on SociallyShoppable.com and after trying a few on you bought the one that fits and looks the best. You now have a three piece suit! Congratulations!

Monday morning arrives and you proudly wear your new suit to the office and receive some admiring glances and even a couple of complimentary comments. The problem now is, that suit you just paid £200, £500 or £1,000 for will never get that same reception again.

So, how do you keep it fresh, how do you retain peoples interest and make it something else and stop yourself from becoming that dull guy in the office who always wear that same suit?

Suit, Shirt and boots from Next.co.uk

Change up your three piece suit

The suit that that I am focussing on is by Next, it is a heritage style 100% wool suit in a brown check and is perfect for the coming months. Priced at £195 for all three pieces its a great suit for the cost.

Bright red lining catches the eye

A close up of the check pattern

Of course the best way to wear a three piece suit is as a three piece suit, nothing is smarter and it gives you an immediately cohesive and smart look which will see you through most occasions.

Wear it with a tie to work or even a bow tie on #bowtietuesday or that autumn wedding or maybe you just fancy sporting a heritage look as I am in the shot below.

A dapper three piece look with a vintage bow tie

Add lapel pins and a pocket square for personality and interest.

Just because you bought it as a three piece suit it doesn't means you have to wear it as such. There's no law, you won't get arrested and there are much bigger and way more fun crimes to commit!

Feel free to lose the waistcoat if its a warmer day and simply wear the jacket and trousers. This look is still formal but not quite so formal as wearing all three pieces together. Its a slightly more relaxed look and lets you show off your tie which you could use as an opportunity to show a bit of your personality and introduce a strong colour or pattern. But please promise me that you will NOT wear a tie with a picture or Homer Simpson or any cartoon character splashed across it for that matter. I love Daffy Duck and his speed induced crazed antics but I dont want to see him on your tie!

The Next suit sans la waistcoat, burgundy leather boots and knitted tie also by Next

Burgundy and brown make a great colour combination for the Autumn months

If you fancy a change to a tie or bow tie why not consider a neckerchief or a cravat. With the vintage movement getting wider its an option that will make you stand out from the crowd and give that suit another alternative look.

Another way to change things up is to opt for something different below the waist. I'm not talking a sex change here! I'm not saying you shouldn't if you want to as I'm all for people being who they want to be, I'm just suggesting a less dramatic change with an alternative pair of trousers. You can easily get away with wearing the jacket and waistcoat with smart jeans and chinos as I have below.

When things turn cooler you can easily wear a sweater or cardigan instead of the waistcoat. Again use this as a way of adding some colour or a different texture.

Burnt orange cardigan by Next.co.uk. My own vintage case and vintage bow tie

Wear the jacket over your cardigan or sweater for warmth

And for winter you can go all out and add a hat and scarf. Of course you can wear an overcoat but why cover up that beautiful suit?

Bakerboy hat and fairisle scarf to keep out the chills, both by Next.co.uk

Thank you for reading this post, I hope that it has gone some way to help you in your quest to keep that suit from becoming that dull old thing that you throw on every day. Just take a minute to consider how you can make it look different and take a risk. What have you got to lose apart from the label of being 'that guy in that same old suit'

Moss Bros unveil first new label – Moss London

That Dapper Chap introduces the first new label by one of our favorite menswear brands.

There is now a Moss Bros store in most towns across the UK and they are a 'go to' brand for a lot of us, not just for wedding hire, which they do very well but also for suits, shirts, ties and other accessories. So, once well established it's time for something new right? Let me introduce you to Moss London.

Founded in London’s Covent Garden in 1851, Moss Bros is the British menswear retailer that continues to evolve, challenge and exceed expectations. With growth stemming from a younger customer base wanting to dress smarter with a sense of individuality and self-expression, Moss Bros are delighted to unveil the new Moss London brand for AW14.

A suit from the Moss London range £249

For many of these customers, the purchase of a Moss London suit would be their first foray into dressing formally; with a mix of suiting and smart casual wear, this new collection endeavours to target this group with a versatile fashion forward edit of slim fit styles.

Billy Huxley models a stunning green tartan three piece suit from Moss Bros

The green tartan suit, perfect for the Christmas party season

The principle of Moss London is to take influence from the hub of creativity that is London and translate this sometimes abstract style into a fresh, wearable look perfect for the youthful consumer across the UK and abroad.

The collection was launched in Moss Bros’ flagship store in Regent Street, with a live installation featuring models Michael Morgan and Sonny Henty trying on the best of the first season’s looks – in the store window.

A dapper look with a bow tie paired with this bright blue skinny fit suit

Key looks include a slim fit suit with contrasting inset panels of charcoal and graphite grey, a shawl collar suit in navy with leatherette trim and the bottle green tartan dinner suit as above.

Inset panelling is referenced throughout the collection, as seen on the indigo/petrol blue and sky grey/graphite panelled shirts and the black with navy inset reefer jacket. Texture is an important element of this debut AW14 collection with key pieces including a navy velvet jacket with black paisley print and heavy gauge fabrics deployed across outerwear, waistcoats and accessories. Plaids are dominant in autumnal shades of rust and burgundy, featuring across both shirting and accessories.

The launch of this new collection is headlined by the well-inked model of the moment Billy Huxley who epitomises the unique and the individual. Huxley appears in a series of teaser videos for the launch as well as a selection of other brand related initiatives.

Commercial and operations director Jemima Bird said, "The idea around the brand is that London is ubiquitous. You don’t have to be from London to have the spirit of London, it’s about movement, passion and individuality. It doesn’t matter if you’re a tattooist from Liverpool, you can have a ubiquitous spirit.”

"For us, these campaigns are about changing people’s perception about Moss Bros. We are a modern retailer that has a fresh direction you probably wouldn’t have thought of."

#MossLondon

@MossBros

@billyhuxley

@MikeyMoGz

@SonnyHenty

FIND MOSS BROS

Web

Choose Chinos

That Dapper Chap Chats about Chinos and takes us through their history and our wearing and buying options.

A rainbow of colours. Image courtesy of Next.co.uk

We all know about chinos right? The easy to wear, cotton trousers that have crept in to every mans wardrobe over the last year or so? We all know that they've quickly become the legwear of choice for the modern man but where did it all start and how should you wear them? Let me take you on a journey.

Casual or dapper chinos are a versatile essential. Photo by Next.co.uk

Chinos: The History

With their origins deeply rooted in the military as a lot of menswear is, Chinos were a staple part of the army uniform during the second world war. With the need for a hard wearing item of clothing for the troops a twill cotton fabric was used. The name of this cloth? Well, chino of course.

Originally khaki or sand coloured to offer protection and camouflage while on the front line, chino trousers were manufactured in their thousands. After the war, huge surplus resulted in every father, brother and Son wearing chinos and we haven't looked back since.

During the 1950's America chinos saw a re-emergence with non other than James Dean and Marlon Brando wearing them

The Woodhouse hand painted jacket

Woodhouse Clothing handpicks Stone Island one of a kind hand painted jacket as key piece for AW14

The Handpainted Jacket

Premium Menswear online retailer Woodhouse Clothing is offering something truly unique for AW14: The Stone Island Brown Tortoise Shell Raso Hand Painted Jacket.

Okay, maybe you wouldn't expect to see That dapper Chap sporting such a jacket. It doesn't have a dapper edge or a vintage look but it is a very unique and that's what fashion is all about.

Selected by the Woodhouse buying team as the key piece from the Stone Island AW14 collection, this jacket has been dyed and then faded in selected areas with a corrosive paste. These bleached parts are then hand painted with a tortoise shell camouflage inspired motive. This exceptional manual process makes each piece one of a kind and unrepeatable.

Stone Island is defined by a culture of exploration, experimentation, function and use; the brand’s aim is to establish new boundaries in the garment manufacturing world and with the Raso jacket it does just that.

This is a true statement piece, maybe at home on the back of an indie rock star or fashion conscious movie star. In keeping with the rest of Stone Island’s AW14 collection, the colours used in the jacket are inspired by the organic world. Other components which contribute to the creation of this truly premium piece include the use of satin weave cotton fabric of military origin, inclusion of the finest down to keep you warm in the colder months, a contrasting down-filled detachable inner lining and an iconic detachable compass badge.

Woodhouse.com is a global online retail destination for men's style to satisfy the modern man’s wardrobe requirements. With over 90 of the world's leading contemporary menswear designers and brands, including limited edition collections and rare labels, no man will be short of options.

The Stone Island Brown Tortoise Shell Raso Hand Painted Jacket is available to buy now for £1,295 from www.woodhouseclothing.com.

About Woodhouse:

Established since 1975, Woodhouse is one of the UKs leading premium menswear retailers.

The flagship Woodhouse Clothing store is located in Notting Hill, housing limited edition collections and rare labels, as well as an in-house gents grooming service, courtesy of in-house barbers Carter and Bond.

Woodhouse also has a global website – www.woodhouseclothing.com offering the online customer choice of over 90 desirable premium menswear brands such as; Stone Island, Armani, Boss, Barbour, CP Company, Fred Perry, Lacoste, Baracuta, New Balance, Swims, G-Star Raw, True Religion and Paul Smith.