The Daily Darren: Small Indulgences For Every Man

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I’ve been thinking lately about the things we want versus the things we actually need. Somewhere along the way we decided every purchase must come with a perfectly reasonable explanation. A coat isn’t just a coat anymore. It’s an investment. Even a beautiful object for the home apparently needs to serve some greater purpose. Whatever happened to simply loving something?

I’m all for buying less and buying better. The older I get the more discerning I’ve become about what earns a place in my wardrobe and my life (people are not exempt!). But there’s something rather wonderful about the occasional indulgence. I’m not necessarily talking about opulence or spending a fortune but something that catches your eye, makes you smile or simply brings a little joy. With the festive season approaching here are a few things doing exactly that.

Rowing Blazers: Fashion Should Be Fun

I’m obsessed with Rowing Blazers’ multi-coloured Harrison Rugby shirt. Bold stripes, unexpected colour combinations and absolutely no interest in playing it safe. More of this in menswear please.

Snow Goose: Winter With Personality

Dressing for the cold shouldn’t mean abandoning personal style. Canada Goose’s new Après Collection, shaped by Haider Ackermann, brings rich textures, bold Fair Isle knits and unexpected colour combinations to winter dressing. I’m particularly taken with this Fair Isle Shelby knit puffer. Cosy, colourful and fabulously expressive.

Casio: Wonderfully Unnecessary

Now here’s something I absolutely didn’t know I needed. Casio has transformed its iconic A168 digital watch into a miniature ring. Yes, a functioning watch for your finger. The CRW-002 is nostalgic, playful and slightly ridiculous. Do I need one? Absolutely not. Do I want one? Obviously.

CISSA: The Joy of a Great Shirt

There’s something effortlessly stylish about CISSA’s signature MEN’s stripe shirt, reworked from scrappy leftover fabrics. Each piece is a one off with unique pattern variations. Finished with Trocas shell buttons and single needle construction. It’s a men’s style made for women so just make sure to order a size up. I’d wear it with relaxed jeans and loafers. Easy, considered and very chic.

Chrome Industries x Engineered Garments: Clever Design

Seventeen pockets. Yes, seventeen. The MED PACK & EG ED combines military influences with clever urban functionality. As someone constantly travelling and inevitably rummaging around the bottom of a bag, I appreciate a design that looks good while making life easier.

NN.07 x Clarks Originals: A Classic Reconsidered

The best collaborations make familiar things feel fresh. NN.07 has reimagined Clarks’ iconic Desert Boot with premium leather and an unexpected buckle strap. Understated with just enough edge. Exactly my kind of footwear.

DeMellier London: A Little Everyday Luxury

There’s something about rich brown suede that feels particularly luxurious at this time of year. DeMellier London’s Siena Crossbody in Mocha Suede is a beautiful example. Understated, elegant and wonderfully tactile. The sort of bag that makes even the simplest outfit feel considered. And proof that sometimes the most desirable things are also the most useful.

Ultimately, great style isn’t about accumulating more things. It’s about knowing what genuinely speaks to you. Some things are sensible investments. Others make absolutely no sense on paper. And that’s perfectly fine by me.

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