Power Dressing: Stephen Bayley
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Stephen Bayley, 62, is a critic on design and culture, and a consultant on design exhibitions. Along with Terence Conran, he created the Boilerhouse project in the Victoria and Albert Museum in the 1980s, which evolved into the Design Museum in 1989. Bayley has written several books, the latest of which, Charm: An Essay, is available now.
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Bespoke suit by Charlie Casely-Hayford
I don’t need to wear suits to work all the time, but there are occasions when only a good suit will do. Charlie works out of a terrific shop in Shoreditch called Hostem – one of the best for menswear in London. I chose a luxurious silk-and-linen combination in a vivid black-and-white houndstooth check. You put it on and instantly feel better about yourself. hostem.co.uk
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Polo neck by John Smedley
This is a superb British heritage brand. I’ve got lots of their polo necks; they’re mostly black and look great with a suit. This is more for my “architect from Milan” look. It’s a nice compromise between formal and informal; it’s smarter than a T-shirt but less uptight than a dress shirt.
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Glasses by EB Meyrowitz
I bought these recently at their store in the Royal Arcade in London. I’ve worn glasses since I was a child. They’re a marmalade colour, and look both antique and new, which is a nice mood reference. These glasses look expensive, but they have a sort of understatement about them. I alternate between this pair and very severe black Japanese frames depending on my mood, but I feel quite mellow in these Meyrowitz ones.
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Watch by Panerai
I have several watches, and my standard one is a Rolex Explorer, but I wear this one for special occasions. I put this on when I’m meeting Italian billionaires because they notice it. With the brown leather strap it’s quite unusual.
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Belt by Slowear
I love this Italian clothing consortium and their belts are beautifully made. They are slightly quirky but ageless as well.
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Shoes by Gucci
These are my first pair of Gucci loafers; I bought them last year for the 60th anniversary of Gucci’s horsebit loafer and I’ve purchased many more since. They look both smart and self-conscious but casual too. You can dress up or down in them and they look just as good.
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