Men’s clothing | Poppy's Style

Replace ‘Husband’ with the appropriate word for your situation – still I want to know do you shop and buy clothes for yours?

Within three months it is my birthday, our wedding anniversary and Mr PS’s birthday. Of course my birthday is always something I look forward to, but I am beginning to dread the other two events. Don’t get me wrong I love a good celebration – but my Husband has become such a great gift/card giver over the years that I am under immense pressure to step up my game.

You see Mr. PS is quite difficult to buy for. He has very few clothes in comparison to me – well that’s the case for most men isn’t it? So I always think it would be a great idea to track down some fabulous items for him to diversify his wardrobe a little – there are so many gorgeous men’s items to choose from. But it’s not quite as simple as that.

Mr. PS has VERY SPECIFIC styling requirements. He is in my eyes one of the new metrosexuals. He doesn’t even glance at high street brands. He wears Hermés aftershave, Diesel boxers, Nudie jeans, and Gucci loafers, though he did buy a couple of JCrew t-shirts this year much to my relief. For the recent wedding he attended he surprised me by wearing a Zara suit, though he spent more on the Hermés tie he bought to wear with it. He knows more about brands, especially classic and upscale brands than I do, and his mantra is always ‘quality over quantity’. Even when he was a student he loved unique, original shirts that he bought from Cheltenham, from the guy who went on to create Superdry. He used to only wear red high top converse – red of course because the Byzantine Emperors wore red shoes – like you do. He loves a good investment piece – which is obviously beneficial for me come birthday and Christmas, but it makes it a nightmare for me when I start thinking about gifts for him.

I still cringe over the plaid TopMan shirt I once bought him, or the brown birkenstocks that I packed lovingly for Christmas for him one year. After those two disasters I basically gave up buying clothes for him. But if you don’t get clothes what else do you buy a man whose passions are reading, watching football and travel? Okay so yes I could buy him a flight to Hong Kong, but I’m talking about stuff that still leaves me enough for the rest of my A/W wish list:) He does wear jewelry – and I will buy him a bigger diamond stud one year (my one and only success was a Tiffany stud I bought for him) – but I keep telling him that he is no NFL player so it can’t be too big. He loves his David Yurman beaded bracelets that I have bought for him – but I can’t just keep buying them in every color, can I?

So this year I asked him for some direction to help me with brands. Have you ever had a list like this from your man? I swear I have not made this up – I can forward the email he sent for proof.

Knitwear – YSL/Marni

Blazers (cotton) – Lanvin/Boglioli/Rag&Bone

Blazers (wool) – Gucci/Lanvin

Boots – Gucci

Loafers – Gucci

Brogues etc. – John Lobb

Slippers – John Lobb/Bally

Shirts – Budd & Co/Turnbull&Asser/Charvet/Sid Mashburn

Pants – Kolor/Marni/Lanvin

Sweatshirt/t-shirts – Nudie/James Perse

Ties (really?) – Drakes/Hermes/Charvet

Socks – Paul Smith (stripes)/Corgi

Polos – Sid Mashburn/Billy Reid/Sunspel/James Perse

Sneakers – Lanvin/YSl

Urban walking boots – Diemme (Roccio Vet)

Scarves – Etro/Lanvin/Hermes

Belt – Prada

Collar stays/collar bones – TM Lewin (mother-of-pearl)

Card case – Commes des Garcons (Flurio)

Tote – Marni

Mac/coat – Macintosh/Barbour/Aspesi

And obviously anything by Balmain.

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So at least I have some help now! But ‘collar stays/collar bones’ – WTF – he never wears shirts! And ‘tote’? Don’t even ask – I know what you are thinking. Would your man ever give you a list like this? I just need to sell a kidney now and open an account with MrPorter.com.

As for what I’m wearing – it’s been a wet, dreary weekend in Atlanta so it called for casual, comfortable clothes – with sleeves too! In August? Crazy!