Who doesn’t know shoe Genuis Oliver Sweeney, a cobbler who shoes inspire lust and aspiration and who is all about taking the traditional and making it modern. Founded in Britain in 1989, they’ve been making shoes great for over 25 years. Taking inspiration from around the world and filtering it through a very British lens, the brand is known for sourcing the highest quality materials to craft shoes, clothing and accessories that reflect a customers’ individuality, flair and success.

I have to say I have great memories of the man himself and on more than one occasion during the late 90’s sharing a drink or six in the Mecca of 90’s twatness that was the Met Bar.

Fast forward to present day and the brand is celebrating its Silver Anniversary! From outfitting the 2003 England Rugby World Cup champion team Sweeney shoes have always been able to make a statement. They’ll be celebrating this milestone year in many different ways and with many different projects as the year progresses, but to kick things off they have started proceedings with the Silver Collection of four Limited Edition shoes.

The brand have developed a special leather treatment together with their dedicated team of Italian artisans based in their factory in the Marche. Using luxury metallic silver leather as a base, they apply a fine black composite skin over the top that can then be brushed off to reveal the silver underneath. Plus they’ve also introduced the Firewriter sole etching service exclusively on the 25th Anniversary Deliceto. Using a heated iron and an intricate template, these shoes can be finished with a bespoke design that’s limited only by your imagination. Then The shoes are finished with a hand-stitched ‘XXV’ on the heel counters, black leather inners with silver foil lettering, and strictly Limited to a numbered Edition of 250 pairs of each style.

To celebrate this anniversary in style, they’ve used this Anniversary leather on 4 different styles;

• Falerone, a contemporary hi-top with a laser-etched crosshatching panel on the flank
• Osimo, a classic low-top that features minimal detailing and a swooped stitching line
• Cova, a slip-on trainer style that’s inspired by vintage skate shoes
• Deliceto, a formal shoe that uses a striking last with a fin-like ridge along the toe

Chivas Regal‘s annual ‘Made for Gentlemen’ co-creation series of limited editions with modern British craftspeople has been announced.  In this latest instalment, Chivas 12 and Globe-Trotter have collaborated on a luxurious new range of designs that comprises ​three key pieces, including the perfect Steamer Trunk for collectors and aspiring 007’s alike!

1. A very special Steamer Trunk incorporating a mini bar and secret compartments. Proceeds of the first sale from 5th October (retailing at £12,000) will be donated to the Prince’s Trust and then the Globe-Trotter design, which incorporates materials key to Scotch whisky making, will be available for bespoke orders
2. The distinctive and vibrant Chivas 12 ‘Made for Gentlemen’ by Globe-Trotter limited edition gift tin will roll out to 60 markets worldwide, including Travel Retail
3. The new 20 inch Carry On Case is the first time Globe-Trotter has offered size and aesthetic and will neatly fit all aeroplane overhead compartments.

All three unique pieces, only available until the end of 2015, are passports to international contemporary style informed with traditional artisan skills.

Founded in 1897, by David Nelken in Saxony Germany, Globe-Trotter products are style icons adopted by discerning purveyors of traditional craftsmanship and a timeless aesthetic.

Globe-Trotter cases have been used over the last 117 years by an enviable client list. Captain Robert Falcon Scott travelled with Globe-Trotter on the infamous Antarctic expedition in 1912. Sir Winston Churchill used a Globe-Trotter Dispatch Case while he was Chancellor of the Exchequer in 1924.

HM Queen Elizabeth II chose Globe-Trotter for her honeymoon luggage in 1947 (and continues to use her cases to this day). Sir Edmund Hilary ascended to first base camp with Globe-Trotter during his conquest of Everest in 1953.

Each case is uniquely constructed from vulcanised fibreboard; a special material invented in Britain during the 1850’s comprising multiple layers of bonded paper. Handles are produced by an expert leather team who also form the iconic Globe-Trotter corners over a period of five days on antique Victorian presses.

Renowned for handcrafting luxury suitcases and leather goods, Globe-Trotter has partnered with Chivas to design an exciting series of three collectibles for the whisky connoisseur and world traveller – the Chivas 12 ‘Made for Gentlemen’ by Globe-Trotter limited edition gift tin, a limited run of Chivas 12 ‘Made for Gentlemen’ by Globe-Trotter 20 inch Carry-on Cases and a Chivas 12 ‘Made for Gentlemen’ by Globe-Trotter Steamer Trunk.

The Chivas 12 ‘Made for Gentlemen’ by Globe-Trotter limited edition gift tin houses a bottle of Chivas 12 blended Scotch whisky and showcases a vibrant tale of international travel. Inspired by the tradition of applying stickers onto one’s luggage to proudly showcase destinations visited, bespoke luggage stickers were hand-drawn by the British illustrator Andrew Davidson to celebrate iconic cities and adorn the contemporary tin design.

A first from Globe-Trotter, the Chivas 12 ‘Made for Gentlemen’ Carry-On Case is a 20 inch trolley case that has been crafted to suit the needs of the busy modern gentleman on short haul business trips and city breaks. Created to be stowed in the flight cabin of all international airlines, the 20 inch trolley case features a customised lining that elegantly intertwines a never-seen-before Globe-Trotter archive design with the Chivas iconic signifier. The sturdy, burgundy, vulcanised fibreboard case also features wooden handles, brushed brass hardware and an internal leather plaque to mark the collaboration for posterity.

Presenting a beautifully crafted mini bar with mirrored back for serving Chivas Regal Scotch whisky, the steamer trunk features specially created compartments for shoes, a drawer to hold up to eight watches, leather covered hangers to hold pristine suits, all against the backdrop of a bespoke lining that marries the semiotics of both modern heritage brands. American white oak trimmed drawers have been handmade to honour the oak casks essential to Chivas Regal 12YO’s rich complexity and a hand engraved copper plaque made from a retired Scotch whisky still assures its authenticity.

Please forgive me if you think I’m going to use this post as an opportunity to lambast one of the finest examples of footwear, not just male footwear, ever created on God’s fine Earth. However, the upstanding and honest to goodness Brogue has been around now for some 200 years and although it doesn’t look its age and you have no intentions of trading them in,  you may be wanting to find another alternative to add to your versatile shoe ensemble.

In answer to this cobbling dilemma, the excellent purveyor of fine footwear  Grenson for this season are offering up with an outstanding substitution. The Grover, never to be mistaken for the popular furry blue Muppet who frequents Sesame Street. No this is an iconic style that is the popular shoe of choice with the dapper and stylish chaps of France, but strangely has never been in part of the Grenson collection before, or in fact caught on to any extent this side of the channel. Sometimes known as a Chasse in France or a Y-tip in Japan, see you do learn something new every single day, due to the signature detail of this design classic and a short hand sewn apron and toe seam. Grover is the boot version on a solid rubber commando sole and a chunky split welt, in country grain leather. Then we have the Percy, the traditional shoe version.

There are few more iconic pieces of clothing than the classic crew neck T-shirt. I mean how many countless unforgettable and stylish images do they play a roll in? James Dean in Rebel without a cause, Marlon Brando in  A Streetcar named Desire, Chuck Norris in Delta Force, Joan Jett, the Ramones, the list goes on and on. I mean how many times has the t-shirt been use to get a message across ? Whether it be depicting eponymous figures like Cha Guevara to Morrissey or a slogan with a little more Political slant. Plus there are few people the world over that does possess a T-shirt in some way, shape or form.

This Season Whistles have taken their essential tee and improved every aspect of it to make the definitive t-shirt for everyday us, yes made it quicker, faster, stronger, better. Available in the three classic colours of Black, Navy and of course White, plus made using an advanced, technology-driven process, they truly believe they’ve nailed it.

Crafted from premium, weighty jersey that’s been designed to generate insulation from the outside, keeping you warm. To keep the piece feeling superior they’ve given it a carbon brushed finish – a process that develops a slight fuzziness on the surface of the fabric and leaves it with an extra soft touch on your skin. The cut has been improved, keeping it fitted across the chest, arms and shoulders and straight through the torso – the definitive men’s silhouette.

It’s the middle of summer, and the temperature is still creeping up, whilst sunshine is beaming down upon us. Now wearing sunglasses is important, not just to look cool, but to also offer protection to our eyes from the harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun.

So whether lounging by the pool, dancing in the festival sun or just waiting to catch a glimpse of the sunrise (or sunset), we’ve got ten of the best pairs around for you to choose from.

Diesel – £99

Gant – £105

Guess – £65

Mont Blanc – £218

Roberto Cavalli – £252

Zegna – £153

Cubitts Herbrand – £125

Cubitts Winford – £125

Rayban Aviators – £125

Rayban Clubmaster – £135