What’s On – Fashionable things happening this Week

From a Paul Smith book signing to the launch of Norwegian Rain at Harvey Nichols, and Richard James’s new store, here are the three things that we think the fashionable Gentlemen of London should be doing this week…

Paul Smith Book Signing

Not just an iconic designer, Sir Paul Smith is a global trendsetter and style icon in his own right, so it will come as no surprise to you that we can’t wait to get our hands on his new book ‘Hello, My Name is Paul Smith: Fashion and Other Stories’.

His classic style exudes a sense of British tradition and a playful humour. Published in association with the Design Museum, which is hosting a major exhibition on Paul Smith in the autumn of 2013, the book not only celebrates the fashion history, collections, and collaborations but also gives insight into the inspirations and obsessions that helped to transform a small bedroom-sized shop into a global forum for culture and style.

Like the clothes he is famous for, the book is a full-on bright and rich visual experience, illustrated throughout with documentation of its assorted creative community and design inspirations, including the likes of Martin Parr, David Bowie, and Henry Moore, to name just a few.

The perfect stocking filler for a fashionable friend or generous gift for a host or hostess this festive season – add a personal touch by getting down to the Paul Smith store on Floral Street today and have it signed by the man himself.

Richard James Returns

Last week, one of our favorite Savile Row stores opened up their doors to reveal the exciting new refurbishment. Designed by the celebrated architect Andy Martin, the flagship store is now as bold and exciting as the tailoring within it.

The vast open space is now delicately divided in two main areas, ‘Seasonal’ and ‘Classic’, by an innovative translucent screen which has been treated with a dichroic film and varies in colour, luminosity and reflectiveness. A central feature of the new space, it operates both as a vibrant backdrop to the displays in the ‘Seasonal’ area and a circulation distributor, concealing the more ‘private’ areas of the Classic and Changing Rooms.

What really caught our eye was the stretched canvas ceiling, hiding behind it an adjustable ambient light system, further adding to the character of the store.

Don’t just take our word for it though, get down to Savile Row for some Christmas shopping in the coolest new store on the street.

Norwegian Rain at Harvey Nichols

Potentially the most covetable new rainwear label to hit London. Created in 2009 by the effortlessly cool due of T-Michael and Alexander Helle – both Bergen residents, this is definitely on our list of labels to watch.

Luckily for us, they’ve launched a pop-up in Harvey Nichols on the menswear floor. As last week saw the exclusive UK launch of Norwegian Rain to Harvey Nichols’ flagship Knightsbridge store. Norwegian Rain inaugurated their presence with an exciting collaborative project, ‘The Harvey Nichols Rain Project’, devised with the members of creative collectif, The COAL Project.

Look out for breathable, extremely wind and waterproof, yet still fashion focused rainwear. With high-performance technology developed in Japan and the tailors touch that could only come from the likes of a Savile Row star such as T-Michael, you’d be hard pressed to walk away from this empty handed.

By Holly Macnaghten