OK, we admit it: we have a real weakness for pink gold. And for bold rings. And, for that matter, for Van Cleef & Arpels. Over the years, we've enjoyed working with some of the house's highest of high jewelry, as well as some of its simplest. So imagine our pleasure, walking into VC&A's New York boutique on Fashion's Night Out, to discover its new Perlée collection of pink or white-gold earrings, bracelets and rings (named for those tiny, pearl-like beads). Heaven.
In fact, this perfect little collection has something for everyone, from relatively plain gold bands to flashier styles set with diamonds. And while everything's beautifully made (this is Van Cleef, after all) it's also blissfully free of pretension: most items are so simple and charming, an extravagant uncle, aunt or godparent could even bestow one on a lucky child. Understanding, of course, that Mom would have to keep it safe by wearing it herself (at least for a few years).

A custom shirt is a little luxury that can make any man feel like Master of the Universe–in the hands of talented tailors, fabric can be coaxed into flattering difficult skin tones, strengthening awkward faces and camouflaging less-than-perfect figures. Think of it as a sort of sartorial sleight-of-hand. Here at FA2L, we've been lucky enough to enjoy the work of some of the world's best shirt makers–Charvet, Luigi Borrelli and Kiton among them. Most recently, we met the custom director for French label, Zilli. He took some 2o measurements (a "difficult" customer may require 3o) while explaining that he sources fabrics from mills around the world: England, Italy and Switzerland. We chose a sky blue Italian linen. We also chose to add our monogram just below the rib cage, on the left side–hand embroidered in white, with a navy drop shadow, no less.
A month or so later, a lovely box arrived in the mail–and inside was the most beautiful shirt we've ever owned. The collar is crisp, flattering and beautifully mounted; the body is elegantly trim, with long, luxurious tails that tuck perfectly into jeans or khakis; and the monogram is impossibly chic. But then, as the company's US director says, "At Zilli, to be fantastic is a daily task." Our assessment? Mission accomplished.Photographs by Noël Sutherland. Hair by Davide Marinelli at De Berardinis. Model: Parker at dna models. Fashion assistant: Evie Cutshaw.