Style Begins at Ground Level

As I was into art, literature and 1960s music, I took a certain pride in my “shabby intellectual” style, having longish hair and wearing distressed boots, old military jackets or peacoats. I only started to put some more thought into style at college. I’d always admired the effortless elegance of some French, Italian or British guys who can look great while simultaneously looking as if they don’t give a damn about it — which in my opinion, is the secret of a good personal style.

There clearly was a gap on the market, as pretty much everyone I knew complained about not being able to buy a decent pair of office shoes here. I’ve always loved stylish footwear, knew a few things about business and therefore decided to go for it. To quote Richard Branson, I told myself: “Screw it, let’s do it!” We opened the shop last spring and it was an immediate success.

We sell a lot of shoes in various price ranges, from Loake, which have a great price to quality ratio, to the more expensive brands like Church’s or Aldens. Most of the time it’s formal or business footwear, but sometimes a young designer or architect wants something really extraordinary and we are happy to help him out.

I don’t like it when people say that Czech men have bad fashion style. That’s because they usually don’t have any style at all! The main problem is the fact that in the Czech Republic it’s usually regarded almost a crime to stand out. While in Italy, for example, men take pride in looking nice and being looked upon on the street, Czech men hate this, because they’re afraid of being laughed at by friends and colleagues. Taking care of one’s appearance has always been regarded as something effeminate here. However, this is rapidly changing with the younger generation. 

When it comes to fashion crimes, the biggest one is just pure neglect. People want to be warm and comfortable and that’s it. It’s the same story all over – wearing outdoor clothes in the city, all the ubiquitous Rejoice pants (I sincerely hate them), Gore-tex jackets, logoed T-shirts and sneakers. And don’t forget the backpack! 

In the summer you also see plenty of guys wearing sleeveless vests or T-shirts on the street or in the subway, which I find totally disgusting. No one wants to see their hairy, sweaty armpits. Men also tend to wear everything one size too big, as they only care about comfort. You don’t need a super skinny Jarvis Cocker kind of fit, but it’s nice if your clothes fit your body a little. And what I don’t get too is the ever-present close cropped hair. Just go and spend some money on a decent haircut!

Well, I think these are not seen as often as it used to be and they will definitely die with the older generation. However, it’s a great symbol of a man who doesn’t care about appearance and style. Or logic, for that matter. If your feet are cold, just don’t wear sandals!

Bata is one of the greatest success stories in the history of Czech business. The founder of the company, Tomas Bata, was an entrepreneurial genius who totally changed the industry. However, it isn’t a Czech company anymore, although it is still connected to the country. The brand is still quite popular, but it concentrates itself more on the cheaper, mass produced stuff.

I’m quite conservative. I don’t follow fashion trends much and try to create a timeless style. I hate shopping, therefore I usually buy the best things I can afford and wear them until they are really old and tattered. Many of my shirts and jackets are at least ten years old and they still look great. I also like to combine more expensive things, such as tailored jackets and nice shoes with ripped jeans and scuffed shirts. And I really love tweed, brogues, Barbour jackets and the old-fashioned British country style.

We talked for quite a long time and he was very nice. It was obvious though that he’s a professional who attends parties and events as a part of his job. When it comes to his style, it was very British upper-class, with all the upsides and downsides. His jacket was nicely tailored, but really long and narrow and therefore rather old-fashioned. Also his shirt-and-tie combination would be earn a fail from most fashion critics, but this obviously wasn’t important to him. He had that old-money “My Grandpa wore this, so I’m wearing it too” attitude. 

The choice is indeed limited. However, the situation is improving rapidly. A few years ago it was a problem to buy a decent suit in Prague, now you have lots of possibilities. Prague may never offer the same choices as London or New York, but I’m sure that in a few years it will have a nice fashion and clothing scene. 

I always tell our customers to build a base first. It doesn’t make sense to invest in the hot trends if you don’t have the basics covered. First buy one or two really nice suits, a few good shirts and ties and two pairs of decent shoes. Add some nice pair of dark jeans and a more casual jacket. Be prepared to invest into this, as these items will last you for years and will only improve with age. Regarding hot trends, this year it’s all about colourful summer shoes, like blue or green suede. If you already have some decent business shoes and want something cool for your casual Friday or weekend with friends, then put some colour on your feet!

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