Minimalistic try-on shoes

I was at my shoemaker the other day for a fitting on my latest shoe project which will be ready by the end of march. The shoes are going to be in a plain whole cut design from soft suede in a reddish brown (see the shoe in my last picture). Wholecut shoes typically come in one of two variants: With (finished either with a "dog's tooth" or an additional strap of leather to protect the seam) or without a seam at the back. I opted for a design with a seam for one simple reason: durability. A seam at the back makes the shoe less prone to odd deformation. Also, in case of a refurbish, the lasting process is a bit easier.

The soles will be relatively thin and finished with a natural edge-trim. They will also have a step between the waist and the heel plus a special heel design called the "Thomas heel" which is longer on the inside than it is on the outside, with the two sides joined by a wave line.

Much to drink you still have, young Padawan

More wine (including one of the best non-champagne sparkling wines around), accompanied by yet another plate of unremarkable pasta. Oh well, even poor students need to eat and drink from time to time.

Basic and unremarkable

And now for something a little different...

Friends of the Neapolitan tailoring tradition be warned: These photos may contain the exact opposite of your viewing habits. In the first picture, you can see a traditional Austrian jacket with nehru collar and bellows pockets. The last one shows a bolt of silk lining which is commonly used in these jackets. In between is my version of a contemporary women's blazer which I designed for my girlfriend. If everything goes well, it will turn out rather sharp and Tom Ford-esque with full-cutaway quarters, narrow skirt, shirred shoulders and rounded back hem. It should be ready for a first fitting in march.

Wine, Vibe and Gesang

The other night, I was drinking one of my current favorite wines. Guess what: A white. Guess what again: A Riesling!

Gernot Kollmann, known to the wine geek as former winemaker for Roman Niewodniczanski's Van Volxem (another one of my favorites), has revived a once-famous estate called Immich-Batterieberg in the Mosel Region. The estate's few hectares are planted with Riesling — and Riesling only. The name originates from the unusual way the main vineyard was brought to life: Batterieberg (German for "cannon hill") was man-built using canon fire in order to achieve optimal exposition.

Kollmann's wines are razor-sharp, although not analytically dry. Prominent but ripe acid builds the backbone of the 2010 "C.A.I."(a tribute to the original founder, Carl August Immich) in my glass, which is accompanied by lemon, lime and very clear slate minerality. A real pleasure to drink, especially at 10 % vol.!

By the way, you can get an idea of Gernot Kollmann's wines at a tasting event in Munich called WineVibes. Klick the link for more information and tickets.

Yes, we are well...

Despite the, err, not so troublesome update cycles at the moment, we are pleased to report that we are well and busy as ever. Paolo is in Naples (again!), bossing around some of his latest, hand-sewing finds while Yours Truly is playing the attentive student. In between, we are enjoying healthy snacks like the one pictured — Austrian Faschingskrapfen.

If I were to wear glasses...

... they would have to look something like this model from Lunor. Classic elegance, engineered with cutting-edge technology. This specific piece is made of italian cellulose acetate, drum-polished for several days (most manufacturers have their frames polished only for two to three hours in order to save time and money) and assembled by hand in Germany. Lunor also made Steve Job's famous round, non-frame glasses.

Christmas Day Lunch

Christmas Day is Heavy Lunch Day at the south-bavarian Suitorial headquarters, which traditionally means roasted turkey with Serviettenknödel (that is "napkin dumplings" in English, a regional variation on the sphere-shaped dumpling made of bread, milk, egg and parsley) along with some other, not bit less intense courses. Now that the meal is slowly starting to settle, here is what some of it looked like.

Autumn cuisine

Home made Orecchiette with chestnut and smoked duck breast — delicious autumn comfort cuisine.

As per your request...

... dear reader (whoever you are) who asked for pictures of my new bespoke shoes in the wild — here goes.