I will place my cards on the table, dear readers. The last seven days have not been what one would call ‘a typical week’ for your favourite protagonist. In fact, it has been a week of surprises and new experiences in many ways. If I may be so bold, I would like to run you […]
A couple of weeks ago, I showed you my new-to-me Soviet watch from the 1950s so thought you may enjoy seeing another of my timepieces. This time, the watch in question is a Smiths. Smiths were a British watch company in business until 1970 or so, with all the watch components completely made in Blighty. […]
In which G.M. Norton considers just what makes the perfect gentleman and has a little fun creating his own. The lovely Prussia of In Loco Parentis recently took the time to leave a comment on my homage to Grace Kelly and she got me thinking. Especially now your favourite protagonist has made 2013 the Year […]
As a self-confessed tweedaholic, I’m absolutely cock-a-hoop with my new Wellesley Tweed brogues from the wonderful new enterprise, Eves&Gray. I first spied Eves&Gray on Instagram where they would insist on teasing me with endless pictorials of sublime shoes. After a while, the addiction took me in it’s unforgiving grip and I needed more to feed […]
In which G.M. Norton recommends a maker of affordable British-made clothes. I love to wear locally-made products. Despite the embarrassment of the recent political shenanigans, I’m proud to be British and I like to support British businesses. Community Clothing is one such enterprise. I first alerted to Community Clothing during their Kickstarter campaign a few […]
We all have that one pose that we always turn to when a camera is pointed at us. Or perhaps just those of us with narcissistic tendencies. If you were to venture to my Instagram feed, you’d find all manner of daguerreotypes that are near-identical. I’m pleased to report that this isn’t a recent phenonemon. […]
Given the choice, a gentleman seldom rises before the clock has chimed six bells. Especially when the bed is so warm and there is still a dark hue to the morning October sky. It transpires that the chance to visit a signet ring workshop is enough motivation to get me jumping to my feet. Two […]
As regular readers will attest, I love my shoes. Last week, I took delivery of a new pair. I can almost hear you now, “Norton, old thing. You don’t need any more shoes!” Well, yes. Yes, I do. You see, a pair of monk strap shoes has been missing from my collection. Thankfully, the good […]
Today I have not quite been myself. I have been Mr. James Birch instead – the person first credited with selling Eccles Cakes almost 200 years ago from his premises on the corner of Vicarage Road and Church Street. To explain my temporary change in identity, I must explain that for the past week it […]
I recently made the acquaintance of two frightfully good eggs, Percy Le Moo Moo and Binty Bagshot. They make all sorts of things from bags, cushions and aprons to cravats and boxer shorts. What’s more, they are in Bury in Greater Manchestershire, which is only a few short miles from where I reside. As they […]
If you have followed this periodical of mine with proper care, you will be aware that I like to put pen to paper. So when I had the chance to write a little something for an exciting new print and online journal, my answer was a resounding “Yes, please!” The journal in question is Ernest, […]
A well-pressed shirt is one of life’s small pleasures. However, pressing the damn thing is not. At least for me, anyway. In the absence of my own personal valet (please apply within), I usually dedicate Sundays to work my way through a mammoth pile of crinkled clothes with the help of my faithful steam iron. […]
It will come as no surprise given the moustachioed furnishings of your favourite periodical, but your humble protagonist (that’s me) is rather a fan of face foliage. Sadly, unlike Burt Reynolds or Sean Connery, I’m not as blessed in the cultivation of said sub-nasal love wand. I did grow one for Movember a couple of […]
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 […]