In a rush to pursue my quest to lead a gentlemanly existence, it has only just occurred to me that there are men out there that need a little help and guidance with the classic men’s style of dress. So this week, I’m going to go back to basics a little. Do forgive if you […]
In which G.M. Norton continues his style icon series with a tribute to the ultimate leading man. To continue my style icon series following my earlier Sir Roger Moore effort, I would like to raise a glass to Mr. Archibald Alexander Leach. Or to give him the name that has made millions of ladies swoon […]
That chance encounter can happen anywhere – on public transport, standing in a queue, walking around an art gallery, at work, in a bar. The moment you meet an exquisite creature that stirs up a strong desire to overwhelm her with the ‘bold move’, all too often the incident runs as follows. The fair maiden […]
Since sporting a pencil moustache, I’ve become fascinated by the 1940s spiv. You know the fellow – hat at a jaunty angle; loud tie; even louder shoes and a pin-stripe suit with lapels so broad, they almost reach the shoulder seams. A dashing figure, he lives by his wits selling ration coupons, chocolate, cigarettes and […]
Fellow Vintage Manchester blogging finalist, Helen off of Mancunian Vintage, recently invited me by way of ‘blog tagging’ to commentate on the declining conundrums of society. As a glass-half-full sort of chap (especially if it contains single malt), I prefer not to focus on the negativity of modern life. Although by harking back to days […]
I thought it was jolly well time I entered another lovely lady into my pantheon of ‘Smouldering sirens’. So without further ado, I would like to formally induct Marilyn Monroe to my list, following in the dainty footsteps of fellow actress, Miss Grace Kelly. So, what is it about the blonde-haired beauty with the voluptuous […]
Following Mr. Ryan Pike’s summer guest spot on The Chap Olympiad, he has now filed his latest report. This time, it concerns The British Beard & Moustache Championships held last weekend. The Pike Report The city of Bath is well known for its magnificent architecture and culture, the Roman presence, the magnificent Abbey which marks […]
As regular readers will appreciate, I love sitting down to watch a good film. When it’s cold and wet outside, the perfect film to reach for is Where Eagles Dare, starring Richard Burton and Clint Eastwood. So, as it’s been rather wet this week, that’s exactly what I did. Apparently, Burton wanted to make a […]
From time to time, usually between the hours of 9 o’clock in the morning until 10 o’clock in the evening, my mind harks back to a bygone age where a night at the local drinking tavern would result in a jolly good sing-song around the piano with a large group of chums. During these wistful […]
The 23rd April marks St. George’s Day, when England collectively Morris dances, feasts on the finest roast beef our local butchers can muster and Afternoon Tea becomes an all-day affair. As I write this, I am stood in a queue, draped in a flag of St. George, eating fish and chips, with a cup of […]
Today the humble moustache has all but vanished from the faces of young men, cast into the dark abyss of the past with a disapproving glare for good measure. Instead of sporting magnificent upper lip appendages, our mixed-up society has sought fit to proudly wear over-sized babygrows and dip themselves in creosote instead. Thankfully, there […]
Aware of my ever-expanding waistline after too many good lunches, pieces of cake, chocolate, biscuits, crisps, cheese and carrots, I recently made the decision to cut down on the carrots and start exercising. I must confess, I’m not a very active sort of chap, preferring to plant my bottom in a comfortable armchair than on […]
I’m tickled pink to be able to share with you some daguerreotypes of your humble protagonist from a recent photo shoot at the acclaimed Doll House Photography in Birmingham. As well as the honour of seeing Norton of Morton crowned the Best Vintage Fashion & Lifestyle Blog at the National Vintage Awards 2014, there was […]
Playwright, composer, director, actor, singer. Sir Noël Coward was all of these things and so much more. As his chum, Lord Mountbatten, remarked in 1969: “There are probably greater painters than Noël, greater novelists than Noël, greater librettists, greater composers of music, greater singers, greater dancers, greater comedians, greater tragedians, greater stage producers, greater film […]