Now Smell this!

Ok, I am sorry to say that most of my top ten men’s colognes are oldies, and not really available at your mainstream department store, but they are out there if you search! This is why I like them as wear one of these and people will be asking you “what are you wearing?” I really do not want to smell like every other Tom, Dick or Harry that has picked up their cologne through some advertising campaign that seems to be promoting sex, or because their significant other has bought it for them. Just realised I have something like a top twelve! I also recommend that women try these as well, I wear a lot of women’s perfumes as well and people are always intrigued as to what I am wearing. Pick one that is right for you and you will have a secret weapon of savoir faire!

So here they are not in any particular order. I haven’t included eau de cologne here because it is such a staple, that it is a given.

What is your favourite?

Monsieur Balmain by Pierre Balmain

A fresh burst of citrus heaven!



Givenchy Gentleman by Givenchy

Wonderfully Gentleman like, with notes of sandlewood, rose and leather.

Yatagan by Caron

Actually my all time favourite that takes you to the exotic east.

Eau Sauvage by Christian Dior

A wonderful fresh citrus that will bring out the savage in you (in a good way).

Vetiver by Carven or Guerlain

Nice and earthy with touches of spice

Yardley Gentleman by Yardley

The quintessential English fragrance

Grey Flannel by Geoffrey Beene

The quintessential American fragrance.

D&G by Dolce & Gabanna

A modern day classic.

YSL Pour Homme

Another fresh burst of citrus

Signoricci by Nina Ricci

Nice and subdued that has class written all over it.

Ho Hang by Balenciaga

Created in 1971 with notes of bergamot, lemon, Portuguese orange and mint.

Habit Rouge by Guerlain

Need we say anymore re the advertisement below?

Lapel Faire!

I am a bit late with this post as ANZAC day in Australia is on April 25th, however I am going to continue as I think this is something that a gentleman (or lady) can adopt that has all the savoir faire in the world.

For those of you outside of Australia ANZAC stands for the Australian New Zealand Army Corp and ANZAC day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that commemorates those that fought in Gallipoli Turkey during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all those who died and served in military operations for their countries.

A wonderful tradition is the wearing of small sprigs of rosemary in the coat lapel as a sign of remembrance and commemoration. My mother still has growing in her garden a rosemary bush that is over 50 years old taken from a sprig of rosemary that was worn by my grandfather in an ANZAC parade many years ago.


Now that the weather is getting cooler and men will be donning jackets once more I think nothing cuts more of a dash than wearing a boutonnière. However, nowadays flowers generally seem to be regulated to weddings and can be a little too formal. Instead grab a single herb and pin it to your label as below. Mint or lavender as does any herb looks fantastic. I always try and pin a little something on a lapel if I am wearing a jacket.

To be a little more unusual find some wheat or other grass with seeds and do the same. However just keep it a single variety, remember less is more!

Savoir Faire in Blue

While not particularly me, you cannot deny this sofa has some serious savoir faire and style going on!

Monday Savoir Faire

After posting on the Balenciaga and Saint Laurent men’s collections last week, which I was extremely disappointed with, thought it would be nice to start the work week off with some clothes that I would actually purchase and wear!

I have soft spot for that veritable French House of Carven. Little known these days and just a shade of its former self the house has struggled over the last decade or so to find a niche and survive. Founded in 1945 by Madame Carven who turned 100 last year the house has gone through several reorganisations over the last couple of years.

Now concentrating on ready to wear and under the directorship of Guillaume Henry, the house has refined its direction in tune with the 21st century.

The winter 2010 collection for men is simple paired down classic elegance which is instantly wearable. This is for the man who appreciates good quality and modernity without going over the edge. Good essentials to mix and match, however I do think a little splash of colour wouldn’t go astray, as some of it is a bit too muted, however will let you be the judge.

Savoir Faireaway Winners!!

Congratulations to Will of Bright Bazaar and Jason of Night is Half Gone as the winners of the Savoir Faire Giveaway! Will has won a cake of Shaving Soap from Pecksniff’s and Jason has won “King of Fashion”, Paul Poiret’s Autobiography.

Jason and Will please email me at davidtoms01@gmail.com with your details and your prizes will be dispatched post haste!

Depart With Savoir Faire

There used to be nothing like departing on an ocean liner, either for an Atlantic Crossing or a cruise around the South Pacific. These were occasions when family and friends armed with streamers, bottles of champagne and fruit would come down to the wharf to see you off. Before security, family and friends were allowed on board to help you settle in your cabin and explore the ship before the gong sounded and the cry of “All ashore who is going ashore”



If you were lucky enough to be crossing the Atlantic on any of the French Line Ships such as the Ile de France or Liberte, corridors and public rooms would be filled with red uniformed bellboys delivering flowers fruit and champagne to your cabin as a last minute gesture of goodwill from your friends and family.



I always remember as a teenager and a youngish adult whenever in Sydney going to the Overseas Passenger Terminal to see the liners and if lucky enough to see one depart. My best friend and I (with the blessing of parents) would take the overnight mail train (a journey of eight hours) to spend the day in Sydney. Late afternoon before our return journey back home would see us armed with bags of streamers, down at the wharf seeing off the Fairstar (even then a bit of a rust bucket) with 100’s of people throwing streamers and shouting farewells to those on board. It didn’t matter that we didn’t know anyone, we considered ourselves incredibly sophisticated and world wise for seeing a liner off.



We would all hold on to our streamers until the last one broke and the liner slipped away to the cheers of the crowd on shore and on board!






Nowadays liners slip out of ports with no fan fare and it is just another departure. It is just another cruise or holiday, when before it was the start of a big adventure, with a suitable fanfare.

Savoir Faire in Blue and White

All too often we see photographs of either fashion or décor in magazines or on the internet and we swoon and gasp and wish that we could achieve the same look for a fraction of the price. However keep your mind open, that what you see should serve as inspiration only. We don’t want to create looks or rooms that seem as if they have stepped out of the pages of a magazine. Take elements of what you see and incorporate them into your own life.

For example a couple of weeks ago I did a post that features a little hand painted blue and white box from Peru, that can be purchased at Ten Thousand Villages along with a matching tray.

Yesterday, while doing some research I came across the below table and mirror in almost exactly the same design, however this time the design has been created with inlaid mother of pearl and no doubt costs a fortune. The other thing here is that with so much pattern happening, I think it does look a bit overdone; however this is open to reinterpretation for your own interiors.

So of course we all want the mirror and the table and few of us can afford it or have the right setting for it, however there is no reason that with the Lucite chair, and white side table, glass lamp and said box and tray that we can’t achieve a similar look for a fraction of the price! A vintage mirror with a periwinkle blue frame would set it off perfectly!

Have Fun!