Oxford

Ledbury, the Better-Tailored Men's Shirt

A couple of Oxford MBAs recently founded Ledbury, a new men's shirt brand dedicated to better tailoring at the intersection of Savile Row and Ivy Style. Paul Trible and Paul Watson (above) graduated with Oxford MBAs at the height of the economic crisis, literally the day before the Lehman Bros. collapse, and decided to turn their careers from finance to fine fabric. Taking advantage of their proximity to Jermyn Street, London's traditional home of fine haberdashery, the pair learned the art of English shirt-making from one of the street's top craftsman and then fused in their hometown Southern U.S. style to create a brand based in Virginia focusing on fit, quality and style.

"When I was living in London, I would come back to the States and have difficulty finding high quality shirts that provided a tailored look," the Virginia-born Trible explains. "The big name menswear retailers made formless, boxy clothes, while luxury brands charged exorbitant prices. It seemed like there was a real need for an American shirtmaker that offered European quality, English fit and American style, all at an attainable price. We want Ledbury shirts to fit better, feel better and last longer than anything else in your closet." The Classicist recently featured a natty Ledbury chambray creation in a column on seasonal style starring the Mercedes-Benz G-Class.

Tags: dress shirts, entrepreneur, Ledbury, London, mens clothing, mens style, menswear, Oxford, Savile Row, shirts, tailoring, Virginia

Givenchy Tassel Oxford

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Shoes

The oxford shoe has been making a strong comeback for both men and women for sometime now. It's a look that I appreciate and when done right, can look unexpectedly fashionable and expressive. Unfortunately, it's also a shoe that I personally cannot wear - too many bad memories of a strict dress code from my private school days.

But Givenchy's Tassel Oxford Heels ($1650) may just change my mind. It's an unusual shoe with all sorts of adornments that may initially seem out of place but there is something about these oxford heels that feel unique and sophisticated. They're styled in warm burnt orange/chestnut brown suede with grommets, laces, tassels and a back zipper. They would look great styled with toothpick corduroys or cargo pants, and a warm loose fitting sweater.

Heel measurement: 4.7". Also available in black.

Have tips or suggestions? Contact me @marsha712

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Tags: booties, boots, givenchy, heels, oxford, shoes, suede, tassel

Russian Billionaire Endows Oxford School

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Big Givers

Russian billionaire Len Blavatnik has popped on our radar before, usually for his big real estate deals in New York City. But the Independent reports that Blavatnik is also quite the big giver. He's the man behind Europe's first major school of government, which is opening at Oxford University. He spent £75 million (over $116 million) to create the Blavatnik School of Government. The school has the goal of teaching the skills and responsibilities of government, focusing on issues of global importance such as climate change and a potential flu pandemic.

The first students won't arrive until 2012. The school will accept 120 students a year who will study for a Master's degree that will bring together the disciplines of humanities, law, science, social sciences, technology, health, finance, energy and security policy. The school's main competition is the John F Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University which offers a similar education. Blavatnik, 53, is the founder and chairman of Access Industries and has a Master's degree in computing from Columbia University and a postgraduate degree in business administration from Harvard. In a video address at the launch, former President Bill Clinton said: "Oxford's reputation as an international powerhouse of research will help students and the global community to better understand not just politics and economies, but also public health, environmental science, development, genetics and the humanities."

Tags: billionaire, len blavatnik, oxford, oxford university

Stuart Weitzman Manoman Lace Ups

by Marsha Reid (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Shoes

The designers behind Stuart Weitzman have taken classic oxfords and added an unexpected twist – cut outs. Most likely inspired by the ever popular cut out heels and booties that we have been seeing, the Manoman Lace Ups ($335) are pretty unique. While they may not be the first pair of shoes I gravitate to when getting dressed, it could be fun to try something different and wear them with a dress or a pair of jean shorts, with a slim yet free flowing white tank and a pair of grey socks. The Manonman are also available in black patent leather.

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Tags: booties, lace up, lace-up-shoes, oxford, shoes, shootie, stuart weitzman