Welcome to the Archive

Here’s where the journey began — a collection of stories, style notes, and snapshots from the road. Over the years, I’ve written about the things that make life richer: good tailoring, better meals, well-made shoes, a glass of something memorable, and the places that inspire it all.
These posts are a look back at moments and musings that shaped my love of menswear, travel, and the simple pleasures that come with living well. Pour yourself a drink, settle in, and take a stroll through the archives.
Owner and Chef John of Forest Avenue wearing Kempt shirt

Kempt + Forest Avenue

Inspiration comes to us in many forms, but we’ve found that spending time around people and businesses who love what they do — and have fun doing i...

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Crockett & Jones

Crockett & Jones

We have officially welcomed Crockett & jones to the Kempt line up! Sitting down William Jones of Crockett & Jones in a coffee shop not far ...

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Cotton stripe Oxford, woven in Portugal

Woven Especially For Kempt

Working with a small family business, in an area of Europe that is producing some of the finest clothing and footwear brands operating today is som...

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Helvetia and Bristol

Helvetia and Bristol

On a trip to the Spring Summer show at Pitti Uomo, what should have been a straightforward and pleasant trip turned out to have be a disaster.

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The Rat Pack in Black Tie

Black Tie Season

For most people, black tie events are not a weekly occasion. They indicate a sense of occasion, and the rules surrounding such occasions although t...

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