Nick:
Rings have always been a staple of any of Nick’s ensembles. On the middle finger is his latest addition, an
ecclesiastical ring, acquired at Chiswick Auctions. He is either showing his spiritual side or, judging by the size
of it, demonstrating his self-confessed magpie syndrome.
An Hermès pocket-handkerchief, often a feature in Nick’s outfits, to coordinate with some other element of the look —
in this case, the socks.
These bespoke Eric Cook laced loafers are part of a large collection of shoes that largely comprises museum pieces.
All are kept faultless, highly polished, and leave shoe fanatics like yours truly bursting with envy and
admiration.
This gold Dunhill lighter from the late sixties has been dripped in white-gold by the man Nick calls “the very
grooviest of British jewellers”, Andrew Grima.
This Dunhill cigar cutter, which he wears on his lapel or waistcoat chain, is 30 years old; he has had it as long as
he’s smoked cigars. The skull memento mori was given to him by Caroline Scheufele.
Suit: Proof positive of the false economy of buying cheap clothing, this pink corduroy three-piece suit by Terry
Haste was made in 1998, when Terry was head cutter at Hackett, and looks as pristine as the suit Nick had made for
issue 68 of The Rake — earlier this year.
Max
Further observation of the Foulkes matching principle, a pocket-handkerchief from Hackett to match the check of the
suit.
Like their father, Max and Freddie both wear rings, but declare their independence on the matter. “It’s not like
because my father wears them, we wear them. He certainly showed us that rings are a legitimate place for
accessories, but we found our own way through it.”
Max says, “Anywhere you can wear a lot of shiny things on your body is a good idea — aside from your ears”. He is
conservative in his approach to how many he wears on his neck, though: “Never more than 10.”
Mount Street Shoe Company slippers, worn when busy relaxing, and shooting his cigar reviews. “I have different pairs
for different stages of relaxation.”
As a master of Havana and a professional online cigar critic, a ready source of fire is always useful. What could be
better than an engraved Dupont lighter? He was given the lighter as a present for passing the uncompromising Master
of Havana cigars exam set by Jemma Freeman and her team at Hunters & Frankau.
A Rolex Oyster from 1981, given to Max for his 18th birthday. It has been reincarnated following a youthful
indiscretion involving a skateboard — “never to be repeated,” says Max.
Suit: Max, like Nick, is wearing an eighties Hackett bespoke suit, which was one of three suits he claimed from his
benevolent father in one sitting. “The problem with wearing lovely old clothes of my father’s is as soon as he sees
them, he wants them back.” The pleated denim shirt is from Favourbrook.
Freddie
Anything that was made to celebrate Edward VIII’s coronation is mainlined with historical intrigue and mischievous
irony, and this pocket-handkerchief, bought at Portobello market, is no exception.
The shirt is a 1952 British army pattern shirt with box-pleated breast pockets. Freddie’s style may have a military
accent, but it feels individual rather than regimented. It is something he has been working on ever since he broke
out of an early teen obsession with the thirties. “I suppose, like any draftsman or painter, to copy someone else’s
work is rather boring.”
The gold tie-clip has made its way to Freddie from his grandfather, who got it while serving in the Fleet Air
Arm.
A 1971 Rolex Oyster given to Freddie for his 18th birthday, which he matches with bracelets in what he calls a
“minimal” fashion. Minimal from a Foulkes perspective, that’s for sure, though true to family tradition, it’s
carried off with rebellious elegance.
Vintage Royal Navy-issue Oxfords from Sanders, bought by Freddie at Portobello market at a stall that sold army gear
(by a man who has since mysteriously disappeared).
Suit: Freddie’s jacket is a bespoke piece from Ermenegildo Zegna, which he received for his 20th birthday. “It was a
collaborative design between my father and me,” he says. The third-hand trousers are early sixties, which his father
bought secondhand when he was younger. He actually has no idea where the sunglasses are from, but he does know that
he didn’t like the colouring, so used model paint to turn them black.
This story is also in Issue 70 of The Rake and on newsstands now.
Subscribe and buy single issues here.
