Words by Nigel Cleaver

Seasons come and seasons go… (it’s post Oscar’s season actually at time of writing) and I was after a timeless piece, something that champions form following function, yet quietly speaks volumes. I wanted a classic Mac, one for the ages, so I took a look at some movie inspiration.

Words by Nigel Cleaver

Seasons come and seasons go… (it’s post Oscar’s season actually at time of writing) and I was after a timeless piece, something that champions form following function, yet quietly speaks volumes. I wanted a classic Mac, one for the ages, so I took a look at some movie inspiration.

PETER (CARY GRANT) AND REGINA LAMPERT (AUDREY HEPBURN)

“Ultimately, an intensely practical, ageless design was what I searched for and found in the Private White V.C. Ventile® Mac. Handcrafted, 100% waterproof and developed at the behest of Winston Churchill no less. The attention to detail here is second to none.”

NIGEL CLEAVER, ACADEMIC, WRITER AND PWVC CUSTOMER

Now, I’m not your Humphrey Bogart, Casablanca Trench, kind of guy. There always seemed a lot going on for me… flaps, collars, pleats, belts and buttons detailing. Beautiful nonetheless, though just a tad busy for my money so I’m going a different way.

I was always drawn to a simpler look, and perhaps with a romantic notion, to the one evoked by George Peppard in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Resplendent over an easy jacket, white shirt and a plain necktie. All day understated elegance, more relevant now than ever. Note to self - simple, no fuss styling.

You can’t go to the menswear movies and not mention Cary Grant. He donned an elegant Mac atop a dark suit, white shirt and silver necktie in the 1963 film Charade. Forever easy on the eye and effortless indeed. Peculiar that Audrey stars here too, might she notice me in mine…

MICHAEL CAINE IN THE IPCRESS FILE

STEVE MCQUEEN IN BULLITT

Another icon calling is Michael Caine in The Ipcress File, a clean, sharp look sporting a dark slim necktie and bold spectacles. I have bold spectacles, though I’m not quite as moody, nor as sinister, yet I spy a sartorial pattern building here…

An icon for the ages, Steve McQueen went big in Bullitt. He rocked his Mac with a necktie and raced it dirty in a roll-neck, what’s not to love? There is some conjecture as to the makers of his suede boots, regardless he floored them in that green Charger.

THE VENTILE® MAC DETAILING

“I do love that PWVC copper signature, particularly the little rivets on the hanger loop.”

NIGEL CLEAVER, ACADEMIC, WRITER AND PWVC CUSTOMER

Ultimately, an intensely practical, ageless design was what I searched for and found in the Private White V.C. Ventile® Mac. Handcrafted, 100% waterproof and developed at the behest of Winston Churchill no less. The attention to detail here is second to none. A Vandyke stitched collar, inset sleeves with copper taped internal seams, two discrete internal studded pockets and glorious Military-grade copper hardware for that something a little different. I do love that PWVC copper signature, particularly the little rivets on the hanger loop.

NIGEL CLEAVER'S MAC STYLING

Now what to wear with mine? I like a suit, I like a tweed jacket and I’m plainly not averse to colour. Pretty much traditional fare from @ignoreatyourperil too you might say. Then, lessons from these movie heroes all point to an easy elegance, a certain simplicity it is… I’m going with, surprise, a plain shirt, dark necktie, easy strides and perhaps suede kicks. I hope that works, and in such lofty cinematic company, I’ll go all out for a ‘best supporting actor’!

Between us, the chat on the awards season red carpet was the remake of Bullitt, hang on, I wonder if Private White V.C. will make an iconic McQueen Ventile® Harrington…

They do already? Of course they do…

‘Cut! That’s a wrap…’

Now, I’m not your Humphrey Bogart, Casablanca Trench, kind of guy. There always seemed a lot going on for me… flaps, collars, pleats, belts and buttons detailing. Beautiful nonetheless, though just a tad busy for my money so I’m going a different way.

I was always drawn to a simpler look, and perhaps with a romantic notion, to the one evoked by George Peppard in Breakfast at Tiffany’s. Resplendent over an easy jacket, white shirt and a plain necktie. All day understated elegance, more relevant now than ever. Note to self - simple, no fuss styling.

You can’t go to the menswear movies and not mention Cary Grant. He donned an elegant Mac atop a dark suit, white shirt and silver necktie in the 1963 film Charade. Forever easy on the eye and effortless indeed. Peculiar that Audrey stars here too, might she notice me in mine…

Another icon calling is Michael Caine in The Ipcress File, a clean, sharp look sporting a dark slim necktie and bold spectacles. I have bold spectacles, though I’m not quite as moody, nor as sinister, yet I spy a sartorial pattern building here…

An icon for the ages, Steve McQueen went big in Bullitt. He rocked his Mac with a necktie and raced it dirty in a roll-neck, what’s not to love? There is some conjecture as to the makers of his suede boots, regardless he floored them in that green Charger.

Ultimately, an intensely practical, ageless design was what I searched for and found in the Private White V.C. Ventile® Mac. Handcrafted, 100% waterproof and developed at the behest of Winston Churchill no less. The attention to detail here is second to none. A Vandyke stitched collar, inset sleeves with copper taped internal seams, two discrete internal studded pockets and glorious Military-grade copper hardware for that something a little different. I do love that PWVC copper signature, particularly the little rivets on the hanger loop.

Now what to wear with mine? I like a suit, I like a tweed jacket and I’m plainly not averse to colour. Pretty much traditional fare from @ignoreatyourperil too you might say. Then, lessons from these movie heroes all point to an easy elegance, a certain simplicity it is… I’m going with, surprise, a plain shirt, dark necktie, easy strides and perhaps suede kicks. I hope that works, and in such lofty cinematic company, I’ll go all out for a ‘best supporting actor’!

Between us, the chat on the awards season red carpet was the remake of Bullitt, hang on, I wonder if Private White V.C. will make an iconic McQueen Ventile® Harrington…

They do already? Of course they do…

‘Cut! That’s a wrap…’