PJ Napoli
More up shortly.
Because you asked:
It’s no secret I love bracelets. This one was just off the jetty at Amalfi, South of Naples. An old man working tirelessly making these in the shop. Cutting, glueing, piecing together. The Nautical bracelet was appropriate given the geography, and is far closer to my heart than anything from Mansai or the like.
And at €4.50, it’s just that little bit sweeter. I bought a whole host of colour combinations and rotate.
This is what dreams are made out of.
Florence.
Borsalino
I love this shot.
A goth through the Gothic quarters of Barcelona
Survival of the fittest - the amazing long sleeve polo by Drakes. Unfortunately they didn’t have a small - but the medium still fits well.
Shorts by Orlebar Brown.
La Sagrada Familia by Antoni Gaudi.
Cassa Batllo, Barcelona by Antoni Gaudi.
“The house of bones” with its extraordinary skeletal facade. Organic curves, colours and shapes breathe life into this modernistic private home, giving a real feeling of walking through an underwater kingdom, inhabited by dragons - complete with a scaled roof - the backbone of the mythical beast.
Built around 1906, the home is also famed for the mosaics. Gaudi’s love and deep understanding of light is shown through his use of vivid blue’s throughout the centre atrium - Tile colouring is adjusted to balance the colours to the naked eye as windows and skylights widen.
By now, everyone is well aware of Carmina, the Spanish mid-to-high end shoe maker out of Mallorca.
Positioned in the Passeig de Gràcia, the heart of Barcelona’s prominant shopping district, it’s easy to see Spain is in a deep economic crisis. Although the current generation is arguably the most skilled it has ever been, the current unemployment rate in young people is in excess of 50%. Talking to the locals, I’m told once the teens have finished their degrees, due to the difficulty in obtaining a job (and outside of job hunting outside of Spain where skills are lost) means many teens simply return to University to commence further studies.
Luxury brands are few and far between - spaced out - and when compared to the streets of Milan or London, Barcelona is hardly a shopping hot spot.
Carmina’s success despite the hardship is driven first and foremost by it’s high quality leathers, goodyear welted construction, and strict quality control procedures, but also through e-commerce, key luxury stockists and more recently, social media.
The shop assistants love their shoes, and are only too happy to discuss lasts, shoes and shoe construction and any further questions you may have.
I’m lucky enough to own many pairs, all different lasts, leathers and styles and I can vouch for their quality and construction, even against more expensive competitors.
I was almost had by a rather unique pair of suede double monks - brass hardware, and semi brogued (not available on their website) - but walked out with a pair of calf / suede lace up wing tips (pictured) in the rain last - a handsome shoe even if I do say so myself.
I landed in London early - around 6am. After a 24-25 hour (including transits) flight, and only one of two days in London at my disposal I’d have much rathered sleeping off the lag than walking around in what was the coldest recorded day in March for (something like) 50 years.
It was cold - snowing in fact - and I’d packed only one jacket. Not to display versatility of the trench - but because I genuinely believed this would be the only time it would be necessary.
The new London resident however, had to take me around and we spent most of the day walking around Oxford Circus, or keeping ourselves out of the unbelievable weather.
London isn’t known for it’s particularly good cuisine, and coming from a vastly multicultural city of Sydney, it’s very easy to miss the amazing Indian in London - here is a small taster of the indian around Mayfair. More fine dining than casual, but fantastic nonetheless.
And nothing would be a walk through London without a walk through Savile Row.
Ken especially hates these photos (of which I’d snapped only a few) but I think she wears this oversized Parka from Prada very elegantly - as per usual.
Good work there, buddy - A$AP Rocky would be proud
Thank you! Remember your original question, good to see you’re still around.
I’ve taken over 3,000 photos from my trip. Once I cull through all the fat keep your eyes open for more detailed posts of some really pretty things - some menswear related - but mostly just the sheer beauty of the cities…
No problem - will do a post shortly for you - and wait till you see all the shoes - left the best for last!
Ill have to warn you though, my bracelets are generally from historical points of relevance to me, or are bought as tokens/souvenirs of each region - I rarely buy branded bracelets. (For example, green rosary is from inside the Vatican museum)
Post soon - hope you enjoy them.
Every now and then you come across a diamond in the rough - and when it comes to hard weather and work wear - the outpost just off the central shopping district in Barcelona will have you covered.
Staff - and the overall experience - is what will bring you in, and keep you coming back. Very knowledgeable, know their products and stocks inside out and truly love the products they sell. This is a great store if anything, just to sit down and have a chat with the men about the history of each piece.
They stock everything from Church’s to MMM and some really cool special edition outerwear. If you’re ever in Barcelona - leave La Boqueria early, and head over here (and make sure you pick up the blackwatch umbrella I so desperately wanted!)
Lunch in London - just off Savile Row.
