Hi there,Dressing for a formal ceremony in Japan is harder than it sounds — not because the dress code is vague, but because it is strict while also allowing some leeway in most cases other than black and white tie. The expectations are specific, and getting it wrong is noticeable. My son had his goma fire ceremony last week. A goma is a Buddhist fire ritual — priests chant, offerings burn, prayers are received. For a one-month-old, it's his formal introduction to the world. I wanted to be...

Hi there,Summer is here and I already reached for my solaro suit multiple times. If you're not familiar with solaro, here's the short version: it's a fabric born out of a very specific problem. In 1907, the Anglo-Italian physician Louis Westenra Sambon developed Solaro, a worsted wool fabric with a tan face and red underside. Designed for British troops in tropical climates, it was intended to reduce the effects of the sun's rays and became known for its distinctive herringbone weave and...

Hi there, If you're thinking about a new suit, sports jacket, or trousers this summer, here's a tone worth considering before you default to light grey or beige: greige. Greige pinstripe suit, lavender shirt, brown tie, brown pocket square. Warm tones throughout — nothing fights. Why greige You'll see it described as stone, taupe, putty, or warm grey — same family, different names. It sits exactly between a warm beige and a cool grey, and that's what makes it genuinely useful. Greige pairs...