Basic suede shoe maintenance

The suede driving shoes you see here are ones by Sacoor Brothers. These shoes are my in-house shoes or slippers. Wearing footwear indoors is useful in a house with marble and tiles for flooring which can be cold to the touch on cooler days or when the A/C is running. Driving shoes are useful as slippers as they are usually soft and flexible, therefore easy to slip in and out of. 

I also prefer walking short distances in them as these flat heeled shoes with rubber stubs wear out fast if worn regularly outside and for walking about. So for someone who likes shoes to last awhile ( decades if possible) driving shoes are too flimsy for daily wear. Unless you really use them for driving then heading to the club for drinks and straight home they don't really last longer than a few years before the rubber stubs wear down and out. As I said, I prefer my proper shoes to last a long while. So these, get to be my house 'slippers'.

Essential footwear: Brown Brogues and the Range Rover Sport

It is extremely gratifying to be plugging through mud, water, grime and dirt in a 2015 Range Rover Sport 3.0supecharged. Simply because even on normal road tyres, the Range Rover Sport makes it look extremely easy doing so. The supercharged 3.0liter V6 engine makes about 340ps and the all important 450Nm torque, enabling it to easily clamber around most terrain with relative ease. We did a circuit of obstacles on normal road tyres and if it had off-road knobbies, it would be a walk in the park for the Sport. 

A proper umbrella to use and to have

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Most of us tend to take the umbrella for granted. We end up using free ones that we get from purchasing engine oil, cosmetics and other free gifts. Even if we end up buying one it is usually one that costs under RM15 like the one sold in the 7-Eleven stores nationwide. We usually buy one when we are caught out by the rain and there would not really be a thought in actually buying one for the sake of buying one. However, when one is seeking certain perfection in all aspects of their lives, even the simple umbrella must be a projection of one's persona. 

Why buy luxury?

I'll tell you why folks. It allows you to enjoy the pursuits of artisans around the world. You see, luxury goods are products made by our fellow men and women. While they may seem like any other item that is not labeled as such but what most of us would get when buying luxury goods is the guarantee that the product is of a certain high standard that one may not find in a normal departmental store brand.

We know that a Birkin handbag by Hermes may cost upwards of RM40,000 but why does it cost so much. Aside from the obvious markups due to wanting to make it exclusive, amortising overheads like advertising, employee wages and  store upkeep there is that all important fact called Quality Control that is prevalent in all luxury products.

How good things last and how some don't really stay the same - Featuring my Parker ballpoint pens

I have been using the stainless steel Parker Jotter ballpoint pen you see here in the photographs as my main pen for over a decade. Those that have been following my exploits would know that I posted about it here. 

It does not mean that I am a one pen person. I have others. I have fountain pens too (Lots of them). But I find the ballpoint pen practical for daily use especially when filling up those forms at the banks, where you need to apply some force to make sure the duplicates are legible. So aside from the fact that I dread the fact of losing one of my vintage Parker, Pelikan or MontBlanc pens I like having the very affordable Parker Jotter with me most of the time. 

The one good dress watch: Vintage Omega Seamaster Calendar

Every man needs a watch to use on special occasions. These days with watches larger than 41mm in diameter in the market it tends to stick out and will push your shirt cuff/ sleeve up making the watch the first thing that stands out. 

Whilst it seems to be the norm, I believe that it should still sit under the cuff  of your dress shirt if one is dressed for black tie, white tie or underneath the cuff of a batik shirt. This is where a slender dress watch comes into play. 

Blazer or suit Jacket maintenance - What I do after each use

Suit jackets, sports coats and blazers need to be looked after after each and every time you put them on. I do not wear them often simply because I do not need to most of the time. Firstly, temperatures are usually above 34 degrees Celsius and the high humidity is a killer too. Secondly, business attire in Malaysia is acceptable if you put on a long sleeved shirt and a pair of trousers. A tie is sometimes required but if you work like me, only when necessary. Even in most instances I prefer an unstructured and unlined blazer sans tie. It looks better actually and even though you are covered up, at least you don't have a noose around your neck in this weather. Hot weather dress means less layering. And using the correct fabrics and clothing.