Editor’s Picks: Crockett & Jones Penny Loafers, Longines Dive Watch and Johnnie Walker Whisky
From a speaker-equipped bed to a pair of restaurateur-recommended boxer shorts, this is what we want this week…
Words: Gentleman's Journal
This week, after an advent brimming with black-tie bashes and festive parties, we’re finally cosying up for Christmas. And, who better to help us on our snuggly, warming way than the finest (and our favourite) British brands? There are the menswear maestros over at Aubin, who have expanded into homewares with a soft tartan throw. There’s Johnnie Walker, the esteemed whisky maker, with an underrated – but spirited – snifter. And, there’s Savoir Beds, with its latest, most inviting model.
Add to these three kings of comfort a homely scent from Floris and a pair of soft, supple loafers from Crockett & Jones, and you’ve got the cosiest Christmas a man could hope for. So have a merry, most relaxing week, and we shall see you in the New Year.
‘The Seventy Five’ Bed by Savoir Beds x KEF
Scientific studies have shown that the most calming songs thump along at 75 reassuring beats per minute. So, it tracks that Savoir Beds’s latest model, named ‘The Seventy Five’, is a sub-woofered, slumber-inducing collaboration with British audio brand KEF. Upholstered in designer wool, finished in walnut trim, and fitted with more than a half-dozen THX-certified speakers, it’s the perfect set-up for playing relaxing rhythms and whale sounds alike.
The Deck Boxer Shorts
We wouldn’t tend to take underwear advice from a restaurateur, but Juan Santa Cruz knows his boxer-shorting stuff. Partnering with a Savile Row suitmaker, Daisy Knatchbull’s The Deck, Cruz has helped both realise and release these limited-edition shorts exclusively for Christmas – available in pale blue, crisp white and denim. Made in England, they’re classically cut and exceedingly comfortable. Perhaps we should be asking a sommelier about our socks...
Longines Legend Diver
A handsome update of Longines’s most enduring dive watch, this new model from the Swiss brand features an entirely retooled 39mm design, and technical advancements that culminate in the freshly minted L888.6 calibre – equipped with a silicon balance spring and a magnetic resistance ten times greater than the ISO 764 benchmark standard. Throw in a 72-hour power reserve, and you’ve got an ocean-beating icon for the modern age.
Johnnie Walker Green Label Whisky
‘Black’ may bolster your home bar, ‘Red’ may make marvellous cocktails, and ‘Blue’ may be sparingly sipped – however, there’s another colourful label your Johnnie Walker collection is lacking. The brand’s sole scotch blended entirely from single malts, the 15-year-aged ‘Green’ expression has disparate flavours of stewed fruit, chocolate-steeped coffee and rich, woody oak. But, its most evocative note? The suitably verdant whiff of fresh green grass.
Crockett & Jones ‘Boston’ Penny Loafers
A loafer’s for life – not just for summer. So, even though frostier days are dawning, we’d still support your choice to slip on Crockett & Jones’s fine ‘Boston’ leather loafer. It’s a rubber-soled, country-calf-grain spin on the traditional moccasin style, with a high-walled round toe and Goodyear-welted, winter-proof construction. And, for those of you in London, it offers the perfect excuse to visit the shoemaker’s latest outpost on Jermyn Street.
Aesop ‘A Rose By Any Other Name’ Body Cleanser
Few flowers hold the symbolism and significance of the rose. To some, it represents gratitude and admiration. To others, love and passion. And, to Aesop? Cleansing and hydration. This clear, low-foaming gel is a masterstroke of modern grooming. Infused with cardamom, black pepper, and lashings of oil extracted from the flower's petals, it’s brimming with skin-softening botanicals, and will leave you feeling fresh as a, we suppose, rose?
‘Mont Gelé’ Bottle Opener by Big Mountain Antlers
Founded in Britain, Big Mountain Antlers is a brand committed to sustainability. Creating barware and accessories from ethically sourced red-deer antlers, the start-up began its all-natural journey with this alpine-inspired ‘Mont Gelé’ bottle opener. Shaped like the Swiss mountain’s legendary ‘Banana Couloir’, it’s engravable and equipped with a cast-iron end sturdy enough to open even the most stubborn bottle of Cervoise des Glières.
Tod’s Sneakers in Suede
To counter the inevitable January blues, perk yourself up with something that’ll bring to mind bright spring days. Consider these refined sneakers, which are defined by their brown calfskin-suede upper and clean lines, and feature subtle details such as embossed rubber pebbles. Best worn with some straight-cut chinos and a fine cashmere pullover.
Aubin ‘Guiseley' Lambswool Throw
There are over 7,000 types of tartan, but Aubin’s ‘Guiseley’ throw is as classic as the pattern comes. Woven from lambswool in Yorkshire, this fringed red blanket is the menswear brand’s first foray into the home décor sector, and one that would make an ideal last-minute Christmas gift. Resembling ‘Royal Stewart’ tartan, it’s a fun twist on the criss-crossed design, and the perfect way for Aubin to unfurl its well-woven goods beyond the wardrobe.
Floris Honey Oud Eau de Parfum
Honey, like Aesop’s rose above, has plenty of symbolic, syrupy significance: truth, pleasure and knowledge among its many meanings. Floris, however, has applied its own know-how to the sweet ingredient, masterfully blending the botanical’s piquant notes with the vanilla-y, velvet softness of oud oil. Inspired by baklava, dive deeper into the resulting eau de parfum and you’ll find complementary notes of patchouli, bergamot – and even a hint of more rose.
Want more of the best gear money can buy? Check out last week's Editor's Picks…
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Further reading
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