Style icon: Bertie Wooster

In which G.M. Norton gives a sartorial salute to Bertie Wooster.

After a busy day, I love nothing more than to curl up with a P.G. Wodehouse novel and enjoy the misadventures of Bertie Wooster and his indispensable valet, Jeeves.

My first experience of the Wodehouse stories came in the early '90s with the television adaptation, Jeeves and Wooster starring Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie respectively.

Last year, the complete DVD collection found its way into my possession and I’ve enjoyed the occasional episode thereafter. I’m pleased to report that in the last week, my beloved has well and truly caught the Jeeves and Wooster bug too. So much so that it has now become a routine to request a little Jeeves action each night before retiring to the bedchamber.

A desire to be dandy

In which G.M. Norton seeks sartorial perfection. 

On Christmas Day, my beloved bestowed on me a book that I’ve been coveting since I first heard about it about 18 months ago - I am Dandy. And I must say, the book, along with my Eves&Gray tweed brogues and Peckham Rye faux fur collar, has inspired me greatly.

Since starting this little slice of the interweb, I’ve been on a sartorial journey. 

Can you believe that when I wrote my debut piece on Norton of Morton, I didn’t possess a single waistcoat? Now I have about nine or ten. 

Naturally, I’ve made a lot of mistakes along the way.

Browsing boxers on Boxing Day

In which G.M. Norton sniffs out the perfect smalls for the discerning gentleman.

With today being Boxing Day, my mind naturally turned to one's undercrackers. I usually rely on good old M&S for my boxers but I must confess to being underwhelmed with them.

Feeling a need for more support and style, I've scoured the entire internet and picked out my three favourites. As luck would have it, all three are made here in Britain.

Christmas all wrapped up with the Carnaby Collar

In which G.M. Norton makes his first foray into faux fur.

At this time of year, I often see ladies resplendent in fur and can’t help thinking how wonderfully stylish they look. 

During the 1920s and '30s, flamboyant men like New York City Mayor, Jimmy Walker were often seen flouncing around in fur too. This is exactly what I was reminded of when I spied a faux fur collar by London clothing marvels, Peckham Rye. Setting eyes upon what has been named the Carnaby Collar, I thought to myself, "Norton, dear boy, if you have any mayoral ambitions then you simply must have it." 

Thankfully, the generous chaps at Peckham Rye kindly made a collar up for me and sent it over with their regards.

Eves&Gray tweed brogues

In which G.M. Norton shows off his subtly extrovert shoes.

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 my footwear desires. What did I do, you may wonder. Well, I liked them on Facebook too.

Biography of a bounder: Oliver Reed

In which G.M. Norton introduces his first rapscallion idol.

Welcome to the first of a new segment where I'll take an in-depth look at my favourite cads and bounders. Who better to start this less-than-truthful series than with chief rapscallion and every pub landlords' wet dream, Mr Oliver Reed. 

Oliver Reed was born in a drinking tavern. You could say he was a natural born drinker. You might be right.

When he wasn’t partaking in a little liquid libation, Oliver enjoyed nothing more than to read to his Elephant.

Cordings comes to T'North

In which G.M. Norton enters a tweed utopia.

Northern types, I bring good news! After more than 175 years of trading in London, Cordings of Piccadilly now have a second store, in the historic Yorkshire spa town of Harrogate. What's more, your favourite protagonist was there to witness the second coming by attending their opening evening.

I was tickled pink to be invited to celebrate their new home in Harrogate. The store is located in the beautiful Westminster Arcade and is spread across three floors. The womenswear is located on the ground floor with the two remaining floors dedicated to gentlemen.

Pencil moustache: the debonair dozen

In which G.M. Norton pens an ode to the pencil moustache. 

Quite by chance, my beard recently fell into the sink, leaving me with a pencil moustache. I was surprised, but delighted at the same time. You see, for many years, I have admired this facial punctuation mark.

The pencil moustache harks back to a bygone age and is brimming with charisma and a large dose of rakishness. 

When so many Hollywood greats wear it, you're in extraordinarily good company. 

A thin, narrow style with the optional shaved gap between the moustache and nose, it is quite a high maintenance style. It requires daily trimming to keep it in tip-top condition. 

I thought it would be jolly good fun to look at some of the men who have embraced the pencil style. 

Gadzooks! My moment of wow

In which G.M. Norton receives gifts to awe and delight (and you can too!).

I love receiving interesting parcels in the post. There’s something very exciting about opening up a box, especially if you don’t have the foggiest what is hiding inside.

This week, I received a surprise from 32Red. They are running a Twitter competition, giving people the chance to win a personalised gift by sharing a moment in your life where you have been wowed. I was fortunate to be selected by them to receive my own moment of excitement.

After tearing off the 32Red wrapping paper (I was far too excited to carefully take a photo of it), I found not one, but two very well-chosen presents inside.

A Konstruktor DIY SLR camera and a Cocktails of the Movies book!

This is my surprised/pleased/emerged victorious at Scrabble face.

No need to be Koi

In which G.M. Norton catches a whopper of a new pocket square.

A gentleman can never have too many pocket squares. Thankfully, they don’t take up much room so you don't risk a nudge in the ribs by a significant other and phrases uttered such as ‘taking up space’, ‘put them on eBay’.

Despite this, as my pocket square collection continues to swell, I’m becoming a little more selective about which ones I add. I’m growing quite a fondness for something unique.

My Kin pocket square looks perfect paired with my Rebus signet ring 

A few months ago, Cravat Club released a new collection of Japanese inspired designs. Of course, you could be forgiven for thinking that Cravat Club just specialise in silky neck adornments but they do also have a large selection of pocket squares too. Do take a look.