The Cloakroom

The Cloakroom Blog has a new home

2011-03-02T14:06:00.002+10:00

As of this week we have a new home for our Cloakroom blog.
Dan and the team at The Letter D have been working their magic helping set us up with a new Word Press format for the blog and a new and improved Pistols at Dawn website.

To visit our new blog simply go to our Cloakroom web address - www.thecloakroom.com.au

New Pistols at Dawn jackets - Brisbane

2011-03-02T14:00:00.003+10:00

The hot weather shows no signs of abating just yet. Our latest Pistols at Dawn jackets are the perfect way to stay sharp and cool.

Prince of Wales check in linen.

Which also works really well with a tie.

Tan Cotton 1 Button Peaked Lapel - half lined internally in Bemberg and finished with white piping.

Textured Black Linen - the perfect jacket to go with jeans.

Thurs Shoeshine returns today - Brisbane

2011-02-24T09:41:00.002+10:00

Our inhouse shoe expert Ben will be back on the brushes today for the first weekly shoeshine of 2011.
Drop in if your shoes need some love, or you just need an excuse to get out and stretch your legs.

9am - 2pm at our Brisbane store - 104 Edward st

Our new home - 104 Edward st

2011-02-21T11:43:00.006+10:00

The doors are now open at our new Brisbane store!

We'd love to show you around the new digs, so please drop in and say hi.

This year we have a few new additions to our team. Joining Mitchell and I (Andrew) will be Ben, who among other things is our resident shoe expert and Thurs shoeshiner, and Louis who brings some invaluable experience to the team. Louis is a native of Montreal, but has lived and travelled across Europe, NY and now Brisbane.

Here's a look at the finished product.

Edward St - all done!

2011-02-21T11:30:00.004+10:00

In the last week we have seen it all come together at the new store.
Josh our shopfitter managed to get his hands on some beautiful Tasmanian oak which we have used through the shop for the shelves and racking. It's great to see the space change and feel more like a Cloakroom shop each day.
Much thanks to all the boys for their hard work.

104 Edward St

2011-02-11T16:01:00.006+10:00

This month's Map Magazine hits the streets today (check it out online), and we've run a double page for the opening of our new Brisbane store.
We have been slightly pre-emptive with the opening date, but we are hoping to be open on Thurs (Feb 17th).

The new store is located at 104 Edward st, which is just a short stroll down Edward st from the bottom of the Queen Street Mall.

Although our address details have changed we are contactable on our usual number 3210 1515 and on all our current email addresses.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

New Brisbane Cloakroom - almost ready

2011-02-11T13:09:00.005+10:00

The last few weeks have been crazy trying to get our hands on the keys, and then getting started on the fit out for our new Brisbane flagship.
It's been all hands on deck with everyone pulling their weight, and then some. The painting in particular has been a mammoth job. I guess that's one of the few downsides of having a large shop.
The new shop will be our Brisbane HQ, and as of Feb 20th our only Brisbane store (we will be closing our James st store in the next fortnight).
The extra space and long term lease means this will be our most comprehensive store to date. We hope it comprises all of the things we have dreamed of and that you, our customers, would hope for in a menswear store.

The space has fantastic light, and with the high ceilings and timber floors plenty of character.

As one of our Cloakroom signatures we had to of course stay with our black theme that we've done in all our previous stores.

Swiss wedding

2011-02-08T09:13:00.004+10:00

Was a real pleasure to look after Roger and his groomsmen, for a winter wedding in Switzerland. The boys are all in black wool cashmere suits (Roger with morning coat) dove grey wool waist coats, off white pinpoint shirts and custom made silk ties.

Congratulations and thank you for the pics.

hands down the best thing about sydney

2011-02-07T13:06:00.002+10:00

Bronte Beach is a 10 minute ride, almost in a straight line east from home.
I made the rookie error one afternoon of catching a bus from the store ie Elizabeth st, Oxford st then Bondi Junction. It was hot and took over 40 minutes. Generally I find the public transport pretty good and use it a lot to get around. Though I think once you get into narrow suburban streets it gets clogged quite quickly.

The Cricketers Arms Hotel

2011-02-07T12:56:00.003+10:00

A bit of an institution I think. The first time I visited was with a local friend of mine. I soon found myself riding with a crew on fixed wheel pushies racing through the eastern suburbs. The schooners beforehand did nothing to help me keep up.
This was taken while with the Brisbane Cloakroom boys last time they were in town.

Mr Alvaro

2011-02-07T12:51:00.002+10:00

Sue and Dom (cloakroom custom order navy linen blazer). At the launch of Grand designs Australia.
Those with FOX TV may have already seen their amazing home in Surry Hills, a few blocks from the shop.

envy

2011-02-07T12:44:00.002+10:00

Beautiful amplifier. If only I had grabbed it then. Im sure its not still there. Would have made a real statement in the new store.

its been a while

2011-02-07T12:38:00.003+10:00

Its been a while since I've posted anything from our cloakroom Sydney adventure.
I thought id share some things I've seen. excuse the photo quality.

Josh

Boxing Day!

New Season Grensons arriving soon!

2011-01-21T12:17:00.004+10:00

Here's a peak at some of the styles we'll have in store from Feb.

There are some great shoes, so act fast to avoid missing out.

*We've waited a long time for these loafers, but it's been worth it.

Brisbane's nightmare

2011-01-17T12:38:00.005+10:00

It's been a tough start to 2011. After all the rain here in Brisbane we've now just experienced a once in a lifetime flood event and it's been very distressing to see the damage that has be wreaked on our city.
To all those people who've been affected our thoughts are with you. Tough times like this sometimes have a strange way of bringing us together and it seems the rising spirit of the Brisbane population has been the only upside to a tragic week.

Thankfully none of us at The Cloakroom have been affected directly. At some points during Wed & Thurs we were sure our James st store would go under, but somehow we were spared.
We are still pressing on with our plans for a new Brisbane store to be open this month, but the enormity of what has happened has given us some new perspective, so we appreciate your patience if this takes a little longer than we had hoped.

A lot of businesses out there are doing it tough so please support the local operators and stores in your area. Everyone's help is crucial.

At the moment we are still only trading from our James st store, but for all our city customers we are still taking appointments in town.
We hope to see you soon.

The Cloakroom in 2011

2010-12-29T16:48:00.004+10:00

After a fantastic 5 month spell at the Wintergarden our Brisbane concept store has now closed. Thanks to everyone who came in, it was great to have so much support.

In 2011 we hope to announce an exciting, and more permanent store in Brisbane. And in Sydney we have a new store planned in the city so stay tuned.

Holiday Trading

2010-12-29T16:38:00.002+10:00

Happy holidays to everyone!
We hope you're having an enjoyable and safe season.

Our trading times over the Christmas and New Year's period will be as follows:

Brisbane City & Surry Hills - closed until January 5th 2011, though we will still be taking appointments. We can be contacted on the usual shop numbers (07 3210 1515 & 02 9212 0029)

James St Fortitude Valley - open Dec 28th - Dec 31st and then January 5th onwards.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Thanks

Recent Press

2010-12-17T09:50:00.004+10:00

It's been a very busy month at The Cloakroom, but it's always great to get covergae for what we are doing.
We recently had a nice mention on the SMH website and also an article on US website Full Frontal Fashion. Next year we hope to start selling our Pistols at Dawn range into America and this is a great way to get on the radar.

Wintergarden Shoeshine

2010-11-19T16:53:00.004+10:00

Time flies, and we now have just 5 weeks to go at our Wintergarden concept store.
One of the highlights has been setting Ben up for the special shoeshine service we offer every Thursday.
If you have a decent pair of shoes, and you've been neglecting them, drop in for the full treatment.

Linen

2010-11-19T16:48:00.004+10:00

'Brandy' linen jacket with navy oxford and light blue puppytooth pocket square.

Perfect for summer.

Summer is Coming!

2010-11-10T13:33:00.005+10:00

Ideas for Summer:

Just in, our new heavy cotton tailored shorts. Which are also available pleated and with a cuff.

Mitchell makes it work with a jacket.

Also just in from our tailor is this client order. 100% cotton seersucker, with oxford lapel trim, half lined (with Bemberg) and finished with our horn buttons.

Also perfect for Summer is this ligtweight cotton jacket we'll have sized on the rack - 100% cotton navy/black puppytooth. 1 button peaked lapel, with patch pockets and finished with mother of pearl buttons.

Recent press - AFR Life & Leisure

2010-11-05T15:47:00.003+10:00

We recently caught up with AFR writer Hannah Tattersall when she was up in Brisbane and the piece she put together appeared in last week's Life & Lesiure.
It's interesting to see an increasing demand from Australian men for something more crafted.

Recent press - Wish Magazine

2010-11-05T15:14:00.005+10:00

We have been very fortunate of late to receive some great press including a piece in today's Wish magazine.
A great article from Mitchell Oakley Smith.

One of our favourite fabrics here at The Cloakroom

2010-11-05T09:32:00.002+10:00

Still so pure in terms of how they make it.

BE LINEN MOVIE from Benoit MILLOT on Vimeo.

New Summer denim has arrived!

2010-10-28T11:39:00.004+10:00

For those of you who have been hanging out the wait is over.
Our new drop of jeans has arrived from our makers in Melbourne is now available.

Once again we've gone with 2 colours - a lighter, colder blue which is finished with a copper thread and then a darker blue with a black stitch.

It's our usual straight cut and if like me you have long legs we have plenty of fabric to play with before we hem them for you.
But be quick as they always sell out.

Shoe Shine Thursday at The Cloakroom

2010-10-21T12:16:00.005+10:00

Cloakroom Shoe Shine starts today at the Brisbane store and we'll have Ben coming in every Thurs to give your shoes a comprehensive clean, polish, buff and condition.

Our express service is $12, and $15 for the full treatment with a special leather conditioner.
If your short on time you can drop off any number of pairs for an overnight service.

Also we have a number of shoe products on hand for you to take home including polish, leather conditioner, laces, shoe trees and brushes.

*Seen here are the new Grenson Dylans in dark brown - our new favourite shoe

Oct GQ - designers feature

2010-10-05T10:59:00.003+10:00

The new GQ came out last week and it's great to see some Brisbane architects mixing it with the best.
Kitted out head to toe in Cloakroom the Owen & Vokes guys cut quite a figure.

Local Support

2010-09-18T09:12:00.004+10:00

Great to have such a positive response to our store launch this week and it's always rewarding to have support from local media.

Here's a few links

Brisbane Times

and local marketeers

Felix & Slink

Cloakroom Wintergarden opening night

2010-09-16T14:35:00.007+10:00

Last night we celebrated the opening of our new store.

Thanks to everyone who came along.
It was a fantastic night, that included Camparis (Cloakroom recipe), an amazing ham (thanks to my mother in law), and an array of sweet delights from Jade at Cake Star.

Not to mention the well-dressed, well-heeled company who helped us christen the store and make the night so much fun.

A special thanks to my beautiful wife, without who's help the night wouldn't have been what it was.
Seen here with Paul Hunt - our favourite designer, and someone who wears a Cloakroom suit better than almost anyone.

Open for business!!

2010-09-11T13:25:00.007+10:00

Our new Wintergarden shop is now ready and open.
Please drop in and say hi.

Contact details are:
3003 0916
Q226 Wintergarden,
Queen st Mall, Brisbane.

Cloakroom pop-up/concept store

2010-09-09T15:59:00.010+10:00

It's been all system go here in Brisbane working on our new store which is just about to officially open.
We've taken over a huge 180m2 space in the Wintergarden (on the Queen st mall) which we'll have until the end of Dec.
This gives us a chance to try out a sized-up Cloakroom warehouse/gallery/shop concept and should be loads of fun.
The only problem has been knowing how to go about the fit-out. Given the short term of the lease we had to try and stick to a pretty tight budget.
Much of the credit goes to 'Josh the Shopfitter' (not Cloakroom Josh) who has been full of smart ideas to help our vision become a reality.

We also worked with Alex Lotzerstain from Derlot on a new colour to powdercoat his beautiful 'Bolero' lamp shapes, which are scattered through the shop and help bring the space to life. Much better than the dirty fluros that we inherited with the space.
*These are the same lights as our Surry Hills store.

Thanks Alex!

The Show!

2010-08-12T11:34:00.005+10:00

Josh and I had a crazy few days here in Brisbane, but it was all worth it as we were really happy with the collection we sent down the runway on Sat evening.

For all the pics check out the MBFF site.

In particular the pieces that we were most proud of were the camel linen suit (which we styled as seperates), the double breasted black linen jacket (with elbow patches), the single button navy cotton dinner suit and the 1-off unlined trench which we had made from a vintage kimono.

Also for our Summer story we've done some hand printed scarves featuring a multi layered collage of an Antony Clare photo.
This is the grey horse picture we've had on the wall in our Brisbane store since we opened in 2007.

Thank you Mitch

2010-08-11T18:48:00.003+10:00

Made a quick appearance at the launch of Mitch's new book. Very honoured to be included.
Had a few Peronis with Jim from 3over1 and a mini battle of the beards, same colour but Jim keeps his in good check. Mine gets a bit wild.
Then on to Moor Fish on Devonshire. My signed copy of the book heading off to the mantle piece at Grans!

The Australian Tuesday 10th

2010-08-11T11:38:00.004+10:00

Andrew and I always get a big surprise when our pieces appear in print. It is a really nice thing to sit in colour alongside people like Akira, Easton Pearson and the undoubted crowd favourite on the night (for good reason) Mr Paul Hunt.

some quick pics of the last few days in Brisbane

2010-08-10T11:15:00.002+10:00

MBFF program - After Hours

2010-07-24T11:13:00.006+10:00

As well as a full week of shows there are some great off-site events happening including a series of talks at the State Library. Details here

I've been fortunate enough be invited as a guest to one of the talks, and I am expecting 'The Return of Male Sartorial Elegance' should make for some interesting conversation.
The talks will be facilitated by the very capable Alison Kubler, and on the panel I'll be joined by a very impressive cast including Mitchell Oakley Smith from GQ, Brent Wilson and Mark Neighbour.

Mitchell will also be in town to promote his new book which is released on August 1st -
Fashion: Australian & New Zealand Designers.

Keep your eyes out for that one. It's sure to be a jammed with interesting content and images and just happens to feature Josh and myself with our Pistols at Dawn brand.

MBFF - 2 Weeks to go!

2010-07-24T11:10:00.003+10:00

It now just 2 weeks to go until we send out our Summer collection. Although it's been nerve wracking, Josh and I are hoping we'll have everything ready for the night.

If you haven't bought tickets be quick as they're almost all gone.
Check it out at www.qtix.com.au

new arrivals

2010-07-17T11:25:00.003+10:00

Landed this week were some new shirts. We decided the shop needed some fresh whites.
A pinpoint plain fronted with our smaller mod style #5#1 collar.
Off white heavy linen with placket and classic pocket. #6#1 hidden button collar
Blue and white fine stripe with our #12#3 spread. Something a bit more work'ish.

cloakroom custom order

2010-07-17T11:20:00.002+10:00

Thought I would post some very nice custom orders heading to their owners this week.
A mix of Button Downs and our Hidden Button Down that keeps the collars in place when worn open.

Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival - Brisbane

2010-06-30T15:38:00.007+10:00

This year we'll again be showing a Summer collection of our Pistols at Dawn brand at the MBFF in Brisbane. This year's festival relocates to Southbank and a huge (700 seat) outdoor marquee, much in the style of NY's Bryant Park.
As well as putting together a great program Lindsay Bennett and co. have very smartly moved this year's festival to an earlier date to coincide with the much anticipated Valentino showcase to be held at the GOMA.

Although this year's program doesn't feature a menswear show we are very honoured to have been put on the opening night's bill amongst some very serious brands. This year we'll be presenting in the same show as heavyweights such as Easton Pearson, Akira, Scanlan & Theodore and Paul Hunt.
Needless to say Josh and I have been busy working around the clock on our story and looks for the show. The pressure is on!

This show will sell out so if you're interested please act fast to avoid disappointment. Tickets are available through QTIX

We hope to see many of you there.

Black nylon and leather Gloves

2010-06-30T13:09:00.002+10:00

Blue nylon and leather Gloves

2010-06-30T12:59:00.006+10:00

Brown leather and beige crochet gloves

2010-06-30T12:56:00.002+10:00

Tan and chocolate leather gloves

2010-06-30T12:53:00.000+10:00

Dark green and chocolate leather gloves

2010-06-30T12:41:00.003+10:00

New products and design

2010-05-27T12:07:00.005+10:00

As you'll see in the new few days we've also been busy creating some new season pieces for the cooler weather, and we've also been working hard to fine tune our product with our tailors.
We now have a new internal jacket pocket that allows you to hide all manner of things, a new shirt with removable collars and a few minor improvements to our suits including a fully canvassed construction and new and improved zips, so no one will ever fly half mast again.

In the end though it's really just about making nice suits, jackets and shirts that fit you well. We hope to continue to provide you with elegant and classic basics that you get much use and enjoyment from.

More to come...

After a short break from the blog we are back online!

2010-05-26T15:52:00.015+10:00

Are a few very busy months we're back on deck and will hopefully be posting some new images, updates and news from The Cloakroom.

In Sydney, Josh has been busy working on plans for Cloakroom v.2 which will open in the next few months. A smaller more intimate space that is a reflection of our Brisbane HQ.

In Brisbane I've been working with Leif on some changes to our city and James St stores.

We've re-stocked the bar for Winter with some Campari, a few single malts (Glenfiddich and Balvenie) and Stoneleigh's Pinot Noir. And we've topped up the library with a new selection of National Geos, and a few new fashion titles.

And in the midst of it all I have recently tied the knot to my gorgeous girl, Eleisha.
A simple affair, but a great day. And the Black Tie picnic worked well, thankfully.

Stay tuned for more...

Aust GQ - featuring the Grenson Lee

2010-04-01T15:48:00.008+10:00

The latest edition of GQ has hit the racks this week and features a great piece on our favourite shoemakers - Grenson.

The Lee is the style that has been shot, and no sooner have we received stock of them this week than they've started walking out the door.

The shoe has the classic Grenson Rusden shape and is made using their popular '203' last. And the leather has been 'gimped' which gives a fantastic texture and finish.

We still have sizes at our city store in Brisbane, but rest assured more have been ordered and are on their way.

New stock Surry Hills

2010-03-23T11:18:00.013+10:00

We've received some new pieces at the Surry Hills store. The palette is quite neutral and designed to go with just about anything. Black & white gingham, a soft beige fine stripe and light grey & white check.

There will be some more pieces added as the season gets cooler. I'm currently road testing a new jacket concept for us. It's a half lined pure merino. The intention is to give it to a those that have more stamps in their passport than I and get their feedback after travelling with it. The aim is to create a jacket or suit that is light enough for our climate, at the same time being able to withstand a proper hiding and to still be practical.

NY pt 2 - Menswear

2010-02-17T10:34:00.002+10:00

Though my visit last year to NY wasn't a business trip, I did manage to sneak in a few menswear stores for a good look at what other brands and stores are up to. It also provided a good opportunity to compare what we do here, and see how it stacks up.
For the most part it was very heartening to see that our Cloakroom concept is as good as anything I saw. But most importantly good to see that the level of service we try and offer is up there.

Barneys - Madison Ave
Department stores have never been my cup of tea, but Barneys was a great place to see the full collections of brands such as Lanvin, Dries Van Noten, Maison Margiela and Richard James.
Here in Aust it's a bit disappointing as we only see snippets of their ranges in stores, but never a fully presented story.

The blogger from What I Saw Today had been in at Barneys and done sketches as you can see above the rack.

From the right it is Jil Sander, Dries Van Noten, Ann Demeulemeester and Margiela.

The customer service and demeanour of the staff at Barneys was really fantastic.
Some interesting stand alone sections within the store included gems such as the LaLabo stand alone bar.

Lord Willy & Duncan Quinn - Nolita
Wandering in Soho and Nolita I came across stores such as Duncan Quinn and Lord Willys. Their concept of a small store with an off-site team of tailors was not disimilar to the way our business is set up. Though much of what they do is quite conservative with a strong focus on suits for working guys.
When I came back to take some pics they were both closed unfortunately.
Tailored suits were US$2000+.

Freemans Sporting Club - Rivington st
This quirky store incorpates a small range of off the rack pieces, a tailored service (suits & jackets) and a barber shop, which occupied the back half of the store. They also sold ties, gloves, shoes and bikes.
These guys also used a lot of 'deadstock' fabric that they sourced in NY. This included some really interesting wools that were a decade or more old.

I walked away with a tie in 'deadstock' wool and a pair of canvas PF flyer sneakers.

Yigal Azrouel - W 14th st
One of the more interesting shops I saw was the Yigal Azrouel store in the Meatpacking district. It contained an eclectic mix of mens and womenswear and a really interesting fitout.

Probably the biggest disappointment was Opening Ceremony. I'm sure they do some great stuff, but we must have caught them on an off day. The service was very cold and prices very high.

New GQ - Cloakroom / Pistols at Dawn coverage

2010-02-15T15:35:00.007+10:00

The 1st Aust GQ of 2010 hit the newstands last week, and it's looking good.
Inside you'll find some great menswear incluidng a few of our pieces.

Our olive linen suit has been one of our Summer favourites, and great to see it snapped in a sharp business context.
Nice work by Howard Steevs with the styling, the story is very sharp.

We've taken a few suit orders, but lots of guys have ordered it as a lightweight summer jacket. Great with denim.

Also the Grensons continue to attract attention. This time it is the Noble in tan - one of our best sellers.

Grenson Fred boots in black

2010-02-15T12:28:00.004+10:00

On the Winter theme we have started receiving client orders for the new season of Grensons. The Fred boot is a shoe built to last, and the handful of guys who've ordered them in the last 12 months have all raved about them. This season they're offering the brown grain and tan as well as a new one - black. Finished with a brown sole and light brown trim (which will darken over time) they are sure to be a winner.

Put me down for a pair.

Mohair 'flannel' - Double Breasted

2010-02-15T12:17:00.006+10:00

With the cooler months just around the corner we've turned our attention to designing some new pieces for Autumn & Winter.
Grey flannel is a great look, and when done properly this style of fabric makes a fantastic suit. Unfort due to our climate it's difficult to use a decent weight flannel as the weather simply doesn't allow it. English and US labels will often use a flannel that is 12 oz+ and the fall and drape of a fabric this heavy is hard to match.
As an alternative we've found an interesting mohair that has been woven in the UK, it is a lighter weight and far more practical. The weave does give a 'flannel' look, but in a fabric that is much easier to wear.

This peaked lapel, double-breasted jacket has just arrived and we've had the pockets jetted in a charcoal mohair and the jacket finished with our horn buttons.

The Australian - Executive Lifestyle

2010-02-05T11:47:00.006+10:00

The Australian is currently running a piece in their online section Executive Lifestyle which includes office fashion tips for guys. The story includes ideas for guys to help make dressing corporate a little more interesting. We were fortunate enough to be asked for our thoughts and came up a with a few Cloakroom contributions.

The story also features a pic of Brisbane architect (Owen & Vokes) and Cloakroom customer Paul Owen looking particularly sharp in his new tailored grey suit that he picked up last month.

Check out the link HERE

new shirt style

2010-02-04T12:47:00.005+10:00

It has been some time in the sketching but it's now here. A new style of shirt that's a paired back version of what we would normally do. #3#3 collar, 1button round cuff, single classic pocket.

We've done away with the sleeve placket, instead continued a flat seam from the cuff to the shoulder. Potentially something that could be layered with t-shirts and a coat coming into cooler weather. The fabric of the sample is quite sheer as you can see from the pics, though Im sure it will translate in heavier fabrics. As with most things at the cloakroom there will be limited numbers. Expected to arrive early March.

James St shop launch

2010-01-28T15:35:00.010+10:00

We launched our new James st store late last year and it was great to have many of you along.
Our part time house model Ronnie took care of the tunes, and our good friends at Stoneleigh ensured everyone stayed hydrated for the entire night with their Sav Blanc and Pinot.

It's an exciting development for us to have a store that now stocks a ready-to-wear collection of our Pistols at Dawn range, and it's great how guys have been responding.

Thanks to everyone who came along, your support is very appreciated.
Also a special thank to Caroline at Cav Con and Stoneleigh for her amazing support.

New season denim now in store!

2010-01-08T14:44:00.003+10:00

Our new range of denim has just arrived from our maker in Melbourne.
For those who have been waiting please don't delay, as last season's range was snapped up very quickly.

After the success of last season's 2 styles we've stayed with a similar cut and this time we've selected a black which has a waxed finish (11.5 oz) and a slightly heavier indigo selvedge (12 oz). We have had both finished with a black thread and this makes it very easy to dress them up.

As always limited quantities have been made, so be quick!

Happy 2010!

2010-01-08T14:18:00.005+10:00

Happy New Year to everyone!
We hope you all had a safe and enjoyable festive season.

We took a short break for a week or so here at The Cloakroom, but it's now back to full steam at all 3 stores. We have plenty of excitement planned for 2010 so keep an eye on the blog to stay abreast of all the latest.

We look forward to seeing you in the coming days and weeks.

Christmas Cloakroom voucher

2009-12-17T16:37:00.003+10:00

Our new Cloakroom vouchers have arrived from the printer, so if you're stumped for a present this year we can box something up for you, and with any dollar amount you'd like.

New window Surry Hills

2009-12-17T12:44:00.004+10:00

A new window for Surry Hills. The shops around us are now doing battle in the Christmas decoration stakes. Inspired by Benja and his recent work for Hermes, we decided to do something a little different. Not to mention the slightly smaller than Hermes' budget we have to work with.

Cloakroom James st - Now Open!

2009-12-08T11:01:00.004+10:00

The doors are open today on our latest Cloakroom.

Located on James st (Fortitude Valley, Bris) the new store will allow us to present a larger range of our ready-to-wear Pistols at Dawn pieces.
And in the coming weeks we'll have our in-house tailored service (shirting, jackets, suiting) up and running.
For those of you in the city our Queen st store will remain open, and I will continue to be here 6 days.

On the rack we have 10 new styles of shirt, 4 styles of light / unconstructed jacket as well as shorts and pants.
Also on offer we have our roman sandals, knitted ties (from London), bow ties (Le Noeud Papillon) and pocket squares.
In production at the moment we have 2 new styles of jeans and drop of our t-shirts in 100% NZ wool. We're hoping for both of these to be in all our stores in the next week or 2.

Our newest member of the team, Leif, will be running the new store for us. Leif will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge, and his understanding of menswear will be a great asset to the team.

Thanks also to Damien who has been working on a new piece of art just for the shop.
It looks fantastic, though I'm sure once it's priced it'll be snapped up in no time.

Cloakroom #3 - James st Brisbane

2009-12-07T12:16:00.012+10:00

It's been a very busy week here in Brisbane as we've been working around the clock on the fitout for a new store we're about to be open on James St. It's slowly starting to take shape and we're hoping it will be open for business as of tomorrow.

There's been too many nights of painting til midnight, but it has been very exciting to see a cream coloured shell slowly develop into our latest Cloakroom installment.

Working tirelessly has been our support team of Mark (who's just realised his talent for painting), James (ideas man / expert silicone applicator), Leif (heavy lifting / handyman all-rounder) and Eleisha, who when she's not been painting has been keeping us fed and stocked with beer.
Thanks guys, we greatly appreciate your time and efforts.

Stay tuned for more...

Kid in a candy store

2009-12-07T09:22:00.004+10:00

New season Grenson samples arrived this morning and I already have some favourites. For everyone who has been hanging out for this season stay tuned. We will order new styles as well as top ups of the classics for both Sydney and Brisbane.

Fin Review

2009-12-02T14:36:00.003+10:00

It is always special to get a mention in the Financial Review magazine, and Andrew and I eagerly await each edition.
A great read and always beautifully styled by Virginia Van Heythuysen. A privilege to rub shoulders if only on the pages of the magazine with Dries van Noten, Gucci and Ann Demeulemeester.

Sydney Magazine December

2009-12-02T14:27:00.003+10:00

Nice little spot in the Sydney magazine this month. Every little bit helps in a new city.

Bow Ties

2009-11-30T11:48:00.003+10:00

In Sydney, and on their way to Brisbane, bow ties from Le Noeud Papillon in silk, cotton and velvet by Holland and Sherry.

Benja's amazing paper wings at Hermes

2009-11-30T11:31:00.002+10:00

Since opening here in Sydney I have been fortunate to meet some very interesting people doing amazing things. Benja Harney is one of them. One of his latest creations is a winged instalation in the window of Hermes you can see more of his work at paperform.wordpress.com.

On the Mannequin

2009-11-25T14:49:00.003+10:00

The weather is warming up in Sydney and so begins the difficulty of looking and feeling well dressed during the heat of summer.
Linen half lined blazer, white pinpoint with our #5#3 medium spread collar, knit cotton tie.
Denim is always a constant in our wardrobe. This is our straight cut raw selvedge rolled with tan Grenson Noble.
It's amazing the cooling effects of showing a bit of ankle.

Meatpacking on a Sunday afternoon

2009-11-17T17:00:00.001+10:00

There's nothing like a stroll around the meatpacking district on a Sunday afternoon, especially if it's a beautiful Autumn day.

Heading East takes you toward the water (The Hudson), and Andre Balaz's Standard Hotel - a very striking building, that feels somewhat out of context.

Uptown & Tom Ford

2009-11-11T16:57:00.020+10:00

Uptown is a different world.
We visited both the Metropolitan Museum of Art on the Upper East Side and the Museum of Natural History on the Upper West Side.
Affluence abounds and you can almost smell it in the air.
One can only guess the cost of an apartment in this part of town.

This concentration of wealth Uptown means that every big international fashion brand has an presence, and often in an imposing way.
Even though we didn't do too much shopping Uptown, it was here that we had some of the best service of anywhere in the entire city.

Though we could have ventured into many stores, time was tight so we window shopped our way downtown past the likes of Miu Miu, Chloe, Zegna, Loro Piana, Gucci, Jil Sander, Dolce Gabbana etc etc.

We did manage to visit Ralph Lauren's impressive 3 level store on Madison Ave and 72nd.
The breadth of products was amazing. The full Ralph Lauren 'lifestyle' was presented in its entirety. Ralph Lauren openly acknowledges the inspirtion he draws from English country living, and this store encapsulates that. There were leather couches, open fires, tweed blankets, shooting jackets and hunting boots.
The staff were completely disarming and were happy to show us around the different levels of the store and even ride the elevator with us.
* unfortunately no photos

Tom Ford - Madison Ave & 70th St

We almost missed seeing the Tom Ford store after we lost track of time at The Met and made the trek to Madison Ave only to find it already closed.
We did come back a few days later and I'm glad for it. Although we had heard it was an intimidating store to visit, our experience was the complete opposite from the first moment we stepped inside.
Any store that has someone on a front desk to greet you as you enter is bound to frighten a few, but we were greeted with warmth by the pretty girl manning the counter, and this set the tone.

After a bit of wandering we found ourselves in the fragrance 'room' where we were met Samuel. Samuel had moved from Chicago especially to work for Tom Ford, and had been working in the store from its first day.
His understanding of the different products, as well as the vision of the man himself was impressive. 'Mr Ford' had definitely had been successful in his hiring policy.

After a tour of downstairs including trying on some suiting, we were taken upstairs in the velvet walled elevator. Here we were shown rooms such as the 'bespoke shoe room', 'VIP room', and even given a peak behind a curtain which revealed waistcoated tailors behind a glass wall working away on their machines.
Off the rack suits are altered onsite, while the bespoke suiting is made in Italy. Though you're up for $10k+ for anything that is fully tailored.

One retailer (at another store) had told us that the store had taken $25 million in its first 2 months, and you could see why.
For those with the money this place offers a bounty of temptations.

Tom Ford has done a very impressive job is creating a complete service for men. As well as the comprehensive collection of suits, shirting and jackets the store has everything a customer could want, from umbrellas and sunglasses to fragrances and driving gloves.

The store has its own 'gardener' who tends the many bonsai.

The shirt and jacket room with fragrance room at the rear.

Autumn was just kicking in so got to see the city turn shades of yellow and orange.

Another pretty view!

Its an impressive site walking back south from the Upper East Side, particularly as the sun is going down.

5th Avenue

Is that Bruce Wayne's penthouse in the distance?

No Cameras Please!

2009-11-11T11:26:00.006+10:00

One of the big frustrations was how narky people were about me taking photos, particularly in retail stores.

As a result we weren't able to take many pics inside stores. I did my best, but once the camera was out staff were all over us.

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Soho-Nolita-Noho

2009-11-10T13:57:00.023+10:00

It's very easy to neglect a lot of the island and to spend days exploring and getting lost in Soho, Nolita and Noho. This is a real hub for interesting stores, cafes, restaurants and in particular retail.
Prince st, Spring st, Broome st, Lafayette st and Broadway are littered with a vast array of places to easily spend your money.

Mercer St
On one of our first days we headed to Mercer st which provided the chance to check out some big name brands including the likes of APC, 3.1 Phillip Lim, LV, Marc Jacobs and Prada - which runs for a whole block between Mercer and Broadway.
Some edgier brands can be found at stores such as Seven NY (below).

Rag and Bone
Rag & Bone is a brand we've followed for a while and their store looked great. Not too much stock, displayed in an uncluttered way with enough quirks to make it interesting.

Toward the front there were some great ties, gloves and accessories amongst denim, shirting and suits, while toward the back of the store a few chesterfields and fabric books gave the impression it was set up for a tailoring service.
Staff were a little busy so we weren't given too much assistance or clarification.
The 'no cameras' policy restricted us quite a bit, but for some good pics check out this.

For the girls there is plenty to look at including Agent Provocateur, which we had to visit.
With NYU just up the road, there were plenty of snappy students out and about, and this is one of the stomping grounds for Scott Schuman (the sartorialist).

It's an easy street to find, and after a few hours we decided to go hunting for some less obvious gems.

Lafayette St

Lafayette runs parallel to Broadway and it was where we stumbled upon LafCo hidden behind some scaffolding. This was one of the best of this style of store I'd ever been in. The staff were fantastic and very helpful. They stocked an extensive range of soaps, fragrances and candles under their house brand, as well as Italian brand Santa Maria Novella, which has apparently been around for some 600 years. Their candles in particular were very good.

Just down the street and the past the massive G-Star flagship (which we bypassed), there was In God We Trust, a store with an interesting mix of clothing, jewellery, shoes and accessories. It was in a cool cluster of stores that included a hole-in-the-wall florist, a few vintage stores and the Ladder 20 fire station - whose Dalmatian made friends with us.

Broadway
One rainy afternoon we were heading up Broadway, fighting the wind and rain, and stumbled into Uniqlo. A few days earlier one of the retailers had mentioned it was worth a look, and he wasn't wrong.
For a low priced department store this Japanese brand really delivers. Due to the season we were somewhat restricted, but their jeans (japanese selvedge), and basics were extremely impressive. All manner of knits and scarves in wool, cashmere and mixes were also on offer at very competitive prices.
2 hours later we were done, and laden up with 2 bags of goodies.

Across the road on Broadway I ducked into a newsagent and was very excited to see Aust magazine Men's Style on the shelves.

And flicking through the new Monocle it was fantastic to see a piece on Brisbane architect Paul Owen (Owen & Vokes), including a pic of him snapped in his black cotton Cloakroom suit.
Also Monocle had a piece on Richards & Spence (Adrian Spence is Brisbane interior designer and Cloakroom customer), and architects Donovan Hill (where our part-time house model James works, as well as a number of guys with pieces from us).
Brisbane was everywhere!

Around every corner there seemed to be a monument of note off in the distance.
Often when I'd lost my bearings I'd just try and find the Empire State Building and then I'd know which direction we were walking.

Lower East Side

2009-11-10T12:41:00.021+10:00

The Lower East Side is rapidly becoming the next cool place. As rents in Soho and Noho become prohibitive people are moving east.

The area is a mix of the old and new, and includes institutions such as Russ & Daughters and Katz's Deli right alongside the new kids such as American Apparel, as well as a burgeoning art and gallery scene.

But we had come for the food!

Russ & Daughters - East Houston st

This deli has an impressive selection of caviar, but it's their cured salmon (lox) that they're best known for. They've been around for almost 100 years, and it feels it.
Men in white deli (lab) coats happily supply sample tastes of what is on offer.

After sampling a few it was their famous Grav Lox bagel that we went for. The fresh bagels (which are made onsite) are smeared with a generous inch of cream cheese and layers of thinly sliced Grav Lox (dill cured salmon).

Katz's Deli - East Houston st
Just down the road is the more famous Katz's Deli. The walls are testament to their reputation, and are littered with photos of the owners posing with NY mayors, Soprano's cast members and sports stars.

We couldn't go past their very well known 'Pastrami on Rye', and it was everything we'd hoped for. The pastrami is warm and is sliced thick, but is so tender that it melts in your mouth like butter.

Katz's is where Meg Ryan famously showed what a fake orgasm could sound like in When Harry Met Sally.

Perhaps she was just enjoying the pastrami?

A

Impressions of New York

2009-11-10T11:43:00.010+10:00

As many of you know I was lucky enough to take some time off in late Oct/Nov for a short holiday to NYC and Montreal with my (now) fiance'.
Although it was only 8 nights in the great city there was enough time to see some of the main attractions and for me to explore the city for the first time.
Also it provided a great opportunity to see how our Cloakroom concept and product stacked up against the best there is out there.
The city is a labyrinth of stores and tiers of retail, from the Uptown swankiness of the flagship Tom Ford store to the character of Freemans Sporting Club in the Lower East Side.

At the end of the week we'd walked more miles than I could have imagined, but my two pairs of trusty Grensons were more than up to the task.

Over the next few days I'll offer my thoughts and impressions on what I saw, what I loved and what I didn't.

It's a long flight, and with a stopover, but our arrival into LA at sunrise was quite spectacular.

And then into NY from the south east across Jamaica Bay.

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Lunch time Reservoir st

2009-11-05T11:45:00.004+10:00

Wet and cold, but if you live in Sydney you didn't need me to tell you that.

The Chelsea

2009-11-02T15:10:00.003+10:00

I have made a quick stop into Brisbane while Andrew is on his way home from New York.
Being a creature of habit I try to get to at least one of my favourite spots.
Over the last couple of years I have got to know Steve Ackerie. Even before we met he was known to Nadi and I as 'stylish Steve'. It was rare for me to ever see him not wearing a wide spread button up with textured ties in flat colours of either wool or cotton. He just had that natural ability to wear things without it looking like he spent any time deciding on his outfit.
You know what I mean. Something I'm still searching for!

He now has his own venture in Paddington.
The Chelsea is a small bistro eatery with a warm Parisian style fitout by the very clever kids at Richards and Spence.
It has been my dependable breakfast location and somewhere I would ride to from the shop in the afternoon for a Campari or glass of Pinot.
Sunday's lunch was no exception - lamb rump on a bed of mash washed down with a glass of chianti.

By the way he is also a keen cyclist with some enviable machines in his arsenal and a sprinkling of good cycling books at the bar.
Thanks for lunch Steve, looking forward to seeing you in Sydney soon.

todays riding

2009-10-25T10:02:00.002+10:00

Thought Id share some pics I took this morning. My first look at Cronulla(the hard way)
down and back on the bike. Though if it wasn't for the boys pushing me along I surely would have caught the train home and missed out on the feeling of accomplishment and a coffee afterwards. Thank you.

from the roof

2009-10-24T11:11:00.002+10:00

Thought I would take my camera up for a beer yesterday afternoon. The Office space is at 69 reservoir st. Its a great building with a beautiful fitout. Small business and sole traders mostly in the creative industries occupy several floors of small offices and shared spaces complete with DJ booth and communal library. The jewel is however the rooftop.

my current favourite piece of kit

2009-10-21T21:39:00.003+10:00

At the moment in the shop this is the jacket I covet most. I know you might be thinking there is no way known to man anyone could possibly wear a Guantanamo orange linen jacket.
but is is surprisingly easy to wear given the dark horn buttons. they give it some edge and take it away from being strictly for cruising retiree's. Personally i think it works best with some black, shoes or shirt and definitely dark denim or black trousers.

The 'Frankenshirt'

2009-10-21T12:26:00.003+10:00

I have just received a sample shirt for Sydney to show some of the details you can choose when ordering your shirts. Pockets can come with a billow (pleat) or not, and with a flap or not. The same for shoulder epilettes.

We really should have done this some time ago for Brisbane. When Andrew returns from NYC we will design a few for the guys visiting the Brisbane shop to see.

the begining of a very expensive habit

2009-10-21T12:17:00.002+10:00

This is Boris, he's an entrepreneur, bike rider and all round good guy. He is also a massive fan of Rapha, the english cycling clothing brand. So much so that he was invited to ride with the Rapha Pro team recently in Melbourne. He was also kind enough to bring back a goodie bag for me. Including this sweet little bidon. I just hope this doesnt become a Rapha love affair that I cant afford.

Spring - Summer

2009-10-15T08:12:00.005+10:00

We have designed a small range of tonal shirts for the Sydney store as a Summer option. The fabric is a fine Egyptian cotton, and we've finished the shirts with a secondary fabric inside the cuff and collar that is a subtle colour variation.
The collar shape is a small mod style or what we call a #5. Ideal for wearing open or with a narrow(ish) tie.

Ties - just arrived from London!

2009-10-12T17:07:00.003+10:00

Our new drop of Summer ties has just arrived from London. We have only ordered a few of each colour - so don't delay in snapping one up before they're all gone.
We've selected a range of colours and all in an easy-to-wear width.

The ties are fully knitted, so they have a great texture and are a mix of cotton, wool and wool/mohair/alpaca.
$89 each.

And the Nominees are...

2009-10-08T13:43:00.010+10:00

GQ's 10th Birthday edition has just hit shelves and as well as being their biggest issue ever it contains the nominees for this year's Men of the Year awards.

When the phone rang 2 weeks ago it was surreal to be told we'd been nominated. As excited as we were, the good folks at GQ asked us to keep mum on it til Oct 7th.

Now that the embargo has been lifted we are very excited to announce that we have been nominated in the 'Best Designer' category for our Pistols at Dawn brand.
This is a massive honour for both of us and we'll be pressing up our best tuxedos for the awards night on November 19th.

If you'd like to support the cause and vote for us we'd be very grateful.
Simply go the Men of the Year site or the direct link to vote.

Thanks to GQ for the recognition, and also to all our clients and supporters who have helped us get this far.

*Also congrats to Michael Zavros on his nomination in the 'Artist' category. There may in fact be a few Brisbane boys in their tailored Cloakroom tuxedos on the night.

If in doubt go Classic

2009-10-06T13:46:00.004+10:00

We seem to be getting more and more guys coming to see us for a suit to wear on their big day.
Although some want to do something a little out of the ordinary our advice is always the same - keep it classic and sharp.

Congrats to Heath & Penny who tied the knot in Sept.
As you can see Heath's 1 Button Shawl Lapel suit was very sharp with just enough 'dapper' about it for people to know who the groom was.

Details included silk covered buttons, a contrast wool on the lapel and pocket jet (rather than silk) and a skinny shawl lapel. Also Heath went with a traditional hand-pleated tuxedo shirt with french cuffs, but a mid-spread collar rather than wingtip to keep it feeling contemporary.

Very sharp!

Sydney Cloakroom Launch

2009-10-06T13:43:00.004+10:00

Thanks to everyone who made it to the launch of the Sydney store.
We managed to get a few snaps taken early in the night, before we got stuck into the wine and cut loose on the dance floor.

My first real off on the beretto

2009-10-05T14:11:00.003+10:00

I have had my share of BMX stax. With two younger brothers there was always a make shift ramp in the front yard resulting in at least one split lip and busted handlebars.
This morning on a gentle ride to La Perouse and back I hit a bump in the road and ate it. No where near as bad as it could have been. A little scratch here and there, bent handle bars and a ripped vest.
All in all pretty luck given I'm riding a carbon fork with no specified age!

Reservoir st Neighborhood

2009-09-30T17:11:00.004+10:00

A nice piece went up today on the Qantas website about the precinct in Surry Hills where our new store is located.
The 'Sogo' neighborhood is definitely interesting, with a great mix of small businesses, restaurants, cafes, and shops.
The link to the Travel Insider article is here

SS10 Grensons - 2nd Sneak Peek!

2009-09-28T17:27:00.006+10:00

A few more of the new season Grensons.

Fragrance now available at The Cloakroom

2009-09-28T15:08:00.006+10:00

We are very excited to announce that we will now be stocking a select range of fragrances at The Cloakroom.
For the Sydney store we have selected 2 fragrances from boutique supplier agence de parfum, who are undoubtley at the forefront of bringing niche and small brand Eurpoean fragrances into Australia.

The first fragrance is the Eau De Gloire from Parfum D'Empire. Moroccan born perfumier Marc-Antoine Corticchiato is known for using opulent raw materials coveted thoughout the centuries because of their refinement, medicinal appeal, magic and erotic properties.
Following the scented trail of Napoleon Bonaparte, the Eau De Gloire comes from historical studies of the Emperor and references Bergamont, Neroli, Anise, Leather, Tabacco and Oak Moss among other things.

The second is Idole from Lubin, one of the most revered French perfume houses. Pefumer to the royal courts over the centuries in countries such as France, England and Russia, Lubin was revived in the early 1990s. Now with the release of a handful of fragrances, it again sits in its rightful place at the pinnacle of perfume houses.
Idole is a seductive fragrance very well suited to being worn after dark. Its distinct mix of sweetness and spice make it a fragrance that will make an impression.

At $190 each these 2 fragrances are excellent value and more importantly will give you a standout signature scent that's sure to be memorable.
Great for yourself or as a gift.

*The Brisbane store will be stocking its own fragrances in the next few weeks.

TWOTHOUSAND magazine

2009-09-26T11:51:00.004+10:00

It's always great to get local support and we're very appreciative to the guys at TWOTHOUSAND (especially Nadia) for their recent write up.
The number of direct visits we've had from the piece has been amazing.
The link is here

Thanks guys

Sydney Launch

2009-09-26T11:07:00.008+10:00

It's been a busy week for us both but our launch on Thurs night made it all worth it.
Thanks to everyone who came along and helped us christen the Surry Hills store. A special thanks to those who made the trip from Bris to be there on the night (Eleisha, Rebecca, Adrian & Ingrid, Liz, Sue & Tony and Roni).

The store is looking fantastic and Josh has received some great new stock this week including new shirts, jackets and a drop of our navy t-shirts in 100% merino wool (NZ).

Our 'house models', James and Roni, now adorn the walls and it was great that Roni was able to make a guest appearance on the night also programming the night's tunes. Unfortunately James's schedule didn't allow for him to join us, but we had a few drinks in his stead.

A special thanks goes to Caroline Bligh and Stoneleigh for their support on the night which ensured everyone's glasses stayed well topped up til quite late.

SS10 Grensons - taking orders now!

2009-09-11T14:05:00.005+10:00

Although we don't get our hands on them for a few months yet, we thought we'd give everyone a sneak peek at some of the new season Grensons.

The range of colours and styles are sure to get any shoe enthusiast jumping.

The Australian - we've gone national!

2009-09-02T12:49:00.007+10:00

It was a very exciting moment to open The Australian today and see a huge photo and half page on our new Sydney store.
It's not often in life that these things happen, and although they've already started printing tomorrow's newspaper and today's will be rubbish in no time, these fleeting moments do provide something that is both very humbling and quite satisfying.
Many thanks to Georgina and Damien for their fantastic support.

If you missed picking up a copy the online version can be seen here

SS10 Pistols at Dawn review

2009-08-27T09:50:00.006+10:00

We were lucky enough to have Vogue editor, Kirstie Clements and online editor (www.vogue.com.au) Damien Woolnough at our show on Tuesday night.
Yesterday their verdict went up on the Vogue website. You can see it here

It's really great to have people at the top of our industry like our clothes as much we do, and as our customers that have supported The Cloakroom here in Brisbane do.

SS10 Collection - MBFF

2009-08-26T11:35:00.006+10:00

Last night we showed the Summer collection for our Pistols at Dawn range at the MBFF.
To check out the new range head to the MBFF site.

It's been a crazy week for us both and things got a little complicated as we hit a few snags on Monday with the final pieces arriving in time. In the end we sent 11 looks down the runway that we were really happy with.

Thanks to everyone who came and supported us, it is much appreciated.

We'd also we'd like to say a big thank you to Felicity who painstakingly handmade all the hats for the show, they looked fantastic.
Also thanks to Gillian for the sandals which really finished off a lot of the looks.
It is these small touches that personalise our show and make our clothes stand out.

Sydney now Open!

2009-08-21T19:05:00.004+10:00

Our Sydney store is now open, so drop in if you get the chance - 47 Reservoir st Surry Hills

Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival - 2 weeks away!

2009-08-10T10:16:00.005+10:00

Mercedes Benz Fashion Festival (MBFF) takes place this month at Town Hall here in Brisbane. After the success of last year we have decided to again show a Summer Pistols at Dawn range, which this year will be 14 looks. On show will be a range of pieces for Summer including new shorts, jackets, shirts and kaftans as well as shoes and sandals.
There's also some great local and national labels on the bill so we'd encourage you all to jump online and buy a ticket before it sells out. Simply go to www.mbff.com.au for all the info and www.qtix.com.au to purchase tickets.

The Pistols at Dawn show will be taking place on Tues Aug 25 at 6.30pm.

Almost but not yet

2009-08-04T10:59:00.007+10:00

The store is not quite ready to swing open the doors. I was hoping to have it open for Saturday indesign but it wasn't to be. I did however get the chance to wander through the showrooms that participated in the event. A very well orchestrated operation. Living above the shop in Surry Hills means that I'm really in the thick of the action, and didn't need to go far to see the likes of Hub, Living Edge and Poliform. I didn't partake in the after party as was still feeling a bit ordinary after the Vogue 50th bash at Fox studios on Friday night.

Cloakroom Surry Hills - opening soon!

2009-07-28T12:07:00.005+10:00

Things are coming along nicely in Sydney and Josh has been putting some finishing touches to the fitout, including rigging the new lighting.
All going well the doors will swing open this weekend (Aug 1st) to coincide with the InDesign weekend happening in Sydney.

The extra space of the Sydney store will allow us to have a lot more sized stock on the rack and a range of the Grenson shoes ready for you to grab.
Our new range of jackets will be on display, all complete with a few new details inc Bemberg lining as standard. Bemberg is regarded as the best lining there is and is used by the likes of Dior Homme in all their suiting.

If you are in Sydney this weekend please drop in and say hi at 47 Reservoir st.