Australian Members - Part II - if you read the first post, you'll get what this is all about.

[Kuro Kujikiri]

Coming down to Sydney for the week, attending a conference. Staying on York St, will be on the hunt for some good burgers. Any recommendations on dinner spots/ bars/ must-do's nearby? Baxters is already on the ticket.

I can't help with burgers, but...

Get up at the crack of dawn, get a bottle of Krug from the fridge and take it with you to the Sydney Fish Markets where you can pack it into a big Styrofoam box, chilled and filled with freshly shucked oysters, lobster sashimi, yabby pate and caviar, then go on board a water taxi to take you to Shark Island in Sydney Harbour (you need to book and pay a nominal landing fee to NSW National Parks in advance) where you enjoy your breakfast picnic while watching the city's ant workers come to life. Don't forget to instruct the water taxi to come back to fetch you after a few hours - otherwise, it is only a short swim across to the shores of Rose Bay!

Mr. Wong's wagyu and truffle puffs, their crispy calamari and molten foie gras dumplings and their mud crabs (either wok fried with garlic butter or steamed with ginger and shallots) consistently work their magic together to offer the best tasting lunch in town.

After such a demanding lunch at Mr. Wong, it is time to relax completely at the Day Spa in the Park Hyatt, where you detox with a thermal mineral body scrub, then unwind and snooze away the afternoon while warmly wrapped up inside a sea kelp and Australian clay cocoon, before waking up, refreshed, to an invigorating, full-body, ginger-oil massage.

Dinner at Bentley's is reliably one of the best fine dining experiences in Sydney - with a superb wine list, and even a few of their non-alcoholic drink creations are awe-inspiring masterpieces of the bartender's art.

 

[sliq]

Mr Wong's is nice but it's a bit over priced for what is really glorified Chinese food.
Forgot to mention Frangos for great chicken burgers!

 

[am55]

If the North Shore is game, the Bathers' Pavilion whilst not an absolute standout in food quality has quite a good ambience right in the middle of Balmoral Beach. Bourke St Bakery seems to have opened in Neutral Bay but it isn't as good as I remember the original 5 years ago (complacency decline or hedonic treadmill?).

My favourite meal in Sydney was at Farmhouse. It's quintessentially Australian - low key, relaxed, not fussy yet high quality, focusing on the essentials. Mike is an amazing host as well as a great chef, which I think is why the experience is memorable (the Japanese "omotenashi"). I've been trying to go back for 2 years but the combination of dinner only and King's Cross gets in the way.

 

[fxh]

As he is 20, he will most likely grow some more over the next couple of years - I certainly did.

Therefore, at the risk of being a party-pooper, I wouldn't bother with spending too much, as unless he's going to be getting a lot of wear out of the suit over the next year or two, the money will most likely be wasted as he'll quite likely grow out of the suit.

MJ Bale sounds like a good idea, if their slimmer cut suits him.

I'm inclined to Journeyman's view.

If you let most 20 years olds have their way they would buy a bright mid blue shiney suit - (or a black suit) - usually too tight pants and jacket too tight and too short. The pants will puddle up on the light tan crap shoes they team it with. Combined with a button down shirt with stingy collar and contrasting button hole stitching plus skinny black tie - they will feel like a million dollars and 99% of the friends and old aunties and uncles will think they look great.

Unless someone of that age is already interested in clothes don't go all SF/AAAC on them.

I generally steer them to a good deal - Peter Jackson or MJ BAle or 3 or 4 of those shops on Bridge Road Richmond. Get a suit for less than $500.

Steer them toward a slightly darker blue, than they go for but not navy blue, on young looking people navy blue just makes them look like a boy. Try to make sure the pants aren't puddling up on the shoe - with a bit of negotiating you should get the alterations chucked in if you are nice.

Go to T M Lewin and buy at least one medium spread collar white shirt that isn't too loose or tight at the neck. Let them choose their own too skinny black shiney satin tie. Give them $100 to get a shirt with contrasting buttons or stitching of their own choosing.
Shoes - go to Aquila or Florsheim who these days have some reasonable conservative looking shoes. Steer your charge away from the light tan and toward a mid brown pair of captoes that aren't too pointy. Get them a belt - reversible with brown one side and black the other.

You should have about $600 left out of $1500. Trouser it and tell the auntie that you tossed in $200 extra of your own money but, don't want recompense as you consider it a privilege. Tell the nephew that this is entry level stuff - there's more to know - when, and if (ever) he's ready

 

[Mr Tewkesbury]

I'm inclined to Journeyman's view.

If you let most 20 years olds have their way they would buy a bright mid blue shiney suit - (or a black suit) - usually too tight pants and jacket too tight and too short. The pants will puddle up on the light tan crap shoes they team it with. Combined with a button down shirt with stingy collar and contrasting button hole stitching plus skinny black tie - they will feel like a million dollars and 99% of the friends and old aunties and uncles will think they look great.

Unless someone of that age is already interested in clothes don't go all SF/AAAC on them.

I generally steer them to a good deal - Peter Jackson or MJ BAle or 3 or 4 of those shops on Bridge Road Richmond. Get a suit for less than $500.

Steer them toward a slightly darker blue, than they go for but not navy blue, on young looking people navy blue just makes them look like a boy. Try to make sure the pants aren't puddling up on the shoe - with a bit of negotiating you should get the alterations chucked in if you are nice.

Go to T M Lewin and buy at least one medium spread collar white shirt that isn't too loose or tight at the neck. Let them choose their own too skinny black shiney satin tie. Give them $100 to get a shirt with contrasting buttons or stitching of their own choosing.
Shoes - go to Aquila or Florsheim who these days have some reasonable conservative looking shoes. Steer your charge away from the light tan and toward a mid brown pair of captoes that aren't too pointy. Get them a belt - reversible with brown one side and black the other.

You should have about $600 left out of $1500. Trouser it and tell the auntie that you tossed in $200 extra of your own money but, don't want recompense as you consider it a privilege. Tell the nephew that this is entry level stuff - there's more to know - when, and if (ever) he's ready

Interesting input, however, Mark is sartorially savvy enough to know the aforementioned look will not do. As for Aquila/Florsheim, no. My end of the bargain is shoes, C&J they will be.

 

[sliq]

OR..... find out what his size is, and "pop some tags" at your local op shop. you would be genuinely and markedly surprised as to what you can/will find, and for the price. I have seen Brioni, Canali, MJ Bale, Herringbone Sydney, Hickey Freeman, Zegna suits for <$20. The only restriction you really have is time and whether you are really fussy.

 

[The Ernesto]

HK private equity buying out Herringbone/R and B.

Let's see what happens. Possibly nothing good.

 

[am55]

I don't ordinarily do this but it's quite a good deal, and if I wasn't currently on hold on all fashion purchases I'd have already pulled the trigger on this SF favourite. Orban's suede monks for EUR 120 (+ 35 shipping, in my last order).

The only contributor to the Orban's thread except for the OP seems to have been me. My conclusion was (and still is, having worn the shoes regularly since then) that they are a step above Meermin in quality, so long as you stick to the shoes with a proper sole (i.e. not the Dragon or bookbinded models).

NB Orban's also has cheap Saphir (by Aussie standards).

 

[Styleternity]

HK private equity buying out Herringbone/R and B.

Let's see what happens. Possibly nothing good.

Firm in question is AO Capital. SMH describes them as having "some retail heritage". Minimal presence online, only really well documented info is that they specialise in early stage venture capital - dunno if that is particularly well suited in the present scenario.

Honestly, the R&B/HB brands can keep getting passed around but until they find decent designers with a relatively focused creative brief I won't be too invested.

On the fashion business side of things, Antonio Ciongoli has also just left Eidos. Pour one out.

 

[The Ernesto]

Honestly, the R&B/HB brands can keep getting passed around but until they find decent designers with a relatively focused creative brief I won't be too invested.

Yes.

The new owners have obviously had a look up the skirt and decided there's a sustainable business model to be had. We will see.

 

[Journeyman]

Interesting input, however, Mark is sartorially savvy enough to know the aforementioned look will not do. As for Aquila/Florsheim, no. My end of the bargain is shoes, C&J they will be.

His feet will probably keep on growing for the next couple of years, too, so he'll probably grow out of his $600 C&Js, as well. Most growth happens before the age of 18, but most men keep on growing, by smaller amounts, until they reach 21-22 years of age.

 

[Mr Tewkesbury]

His feet will probably keep on growing for the next couple of years, too, so he'll probably grow out of his $600 C&Js, as well. Most growth happens before the age of 18, but most men keep on growing, by smaller amounts, until they reach 21-22 years of age.

Perhaps he will, perhaps not. I have a 21 year old pair of Lobbs that were purchased when I was 19, still fit like a dream. The budget was set with several criteria in mind, my sister is quite aware that the suit (especially) will not serve him for long.

 

[Geoffrey Firmin]

Perhaps he will, perhaps not. I have a 21 year old pair of Lobbs that were purchased when I was 19, still fit like a dream. The budget was set with several criteria in mind, my sister is quite aware that the suit (especially) will not serve him for long.

My son is a tradie 23, and he bought MTM suit for a Rugby formal last year. I went with him and was able to ensure it fitted properly. He's worn it twice since then. So unless he's at Uni and needs it for job interviews or graduation it's pointless spending big on a suit at this point in time.

 

[Mr Tewkesbury]

My son is a tradie 23, and he bought MTM suit for a Rugby formal last year. I went with him and was able to ensure it fitted properly. He's worn it twice since then. So unless he's at Uni and needs it for job interviews or graduation it's pointless spending big on a suit at this point in time.

Have listed some options for M to think about and we have agreed to Thursday, should he go MTM or OTR it is ultimately his decision now. However, I suspect he will choose OTR and given his build this could be a problem. Will see.

 

[Geoffrey Firmin]

For the Horologists AFR Watch Appreciation in magazine today.