17 questions to a well-dressed man – Ignatious Joseph
Photo credit: Ignatious Joseph
Ignatious Joseph is a man that is a legend in the menswear world. For regular visitors of the famous menswear exhibition Pitti Uomo in Florence he might be better known under his nickname; ‘’The Man with the Red Shoes’’. This nickname was given to him of course because of the preferred colour of his shoes which are red. These shoes are made in Vienna by a bespoke shoemaker who is working on that in the best Viennese shoemaking traditions. To give these shoes the attention that they deserve, Ignatious Joseph is wearing the legs of his trousers shorter as most people. Ignatious Joseph his style is consistent and even though we see various outfits, they all have his very own typical sense of style in it. With great passion Ignatious Joseph travels the world to sell the shirts and ties that he is creating himself. These shirts and ties are to find in the finest menswear shops and bought by appreciators of fine menswear. Since Ignatious joseph is such a legend in the menswear world, he of course, could not miss out in the series ‘’17 questions to a well-dressed man’’ and therefor I’m very happy that he was willing to participate and answer the questions. The answers are delightful and inspiring, and you can read them below. Have a good read!
What are you wearing today?
A shirt and trousers I designed, as well as calf-high stockings and red shoes, as usual.
If you had to choose to spend money either on a suit or on a watch, what would you choose?
That depends entirely on where I am at the time and what I actually needed. I am not generally driven by mere desire so I think about my overall situation before I buy anything.
What jewellery could a man wear?
When I was growing up only priests and lord mayors wore necklaces, usually called “chains”. I know there are men who do not even wear a wedding ring. In fact in some countries it was once that only the woman wore a wedding band. I have seen smart wristwatches and a few elegant rings. However I have to say that even women can be found with excessive ornament. In short I wear a wristwatch. That is usually more than enough.
Tie or a bowtie?
Neckwear is a personal matter. Of course if one is obliged to follow a dress code there are some combinations which permit only a bow. A bow has a great advantage. It takes an incredibly sloppy eater to stain it with soup or sauce while dining. Long neckwear can accent or soften other features, bodily and sartorial. Then there is the matter of dexterity. Pre-tied bows are for Christmas packages, not for a gentleman’s neck. So if you cannot tie your own bow, stick to a Windsor knot.
Do you remember your first jacket?
Yes it was my school blazer. It had to be worn to chapel and all official occasions in the sweltering tropical heat of Kandy. Sometimes I think it is a wonder I ever wore another jacket—but in the hospitality industry and especially as a manager a jacket was obligatory. So I got used to it. Now of course I have them made more comfortable and easier to wear even in somewhat warmer climates.
What is your favourite watch?
I have a simple Swiss mechanical wristwatch. Maybe it was my father’s once. I do not remember of the top of my head. It has a gold case and it keeps the time when I remember to wind it.
Fountain pen or ballpoint?
Fountain pens are wonderful if one writes a lot at the desk. However most of my writing is done underway. A ballpoint is just more practical. However since so much is entered directly into some digital device even the fine biro spends more time in my pocket than in my hand.
Have you found the perfect garment yet?
Perfect for what? I find there is always something that can be improved in any situation. That improvement may be a garment, an ingredient, a temperature or even the company one keeps. When something is perfect then there is no more life in it. I prefer everything to have some life and thus some capacity for perfectability—but not perfection.
Explain your biggest passion in one sentence?
A big passion might be a highly motorised fast car. However my greatest passion is probably finding the time to be all by self in a crowd of ordinary people moving through life—to find myself in a position of an observer, not dispassionate but calm and attentive to every sound, whether from children and the women carrying them or young lads playing street cricket, or old men playing table games in the shade. If I have to reduce all this to one sentence, then let me say—my greatest passion is that special cracking sound when a cricket ball hits the bat straight on.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Just because I went to Catholic school as a boy does not mean I associate pleasure with guilt. I will always like to travel and see places that are unfamiliar to me. Some people seem to think that travel is a sin. I don’t.
Who is the best dressed man in the world for you?
The best dressed man in the world is any man who dresses with sensitivity and a sense of self-respect, appreciating his culture, traditions and the work of those whose sartorial products he wears.
The best book you ever read?
There are some things one just does not tell other people, anyone. I read at home and like the other things I do at home, my reading is a private matter.
Which city should one go shopping?
Shopping, in my view, is not an Olympic discipline or a profession. There are places that have or did have lots of interesting shops, usually run by artisans or people who had a love of artisanal production. London and Paris are famous for such shops. However the obscenely high rents in such cities have been driving these specialty and craft shops out of town if not out of business. The high street stores in the major metropolises can be found everywhere—or one can just buy online.
Tweed or flannel?
There are places and people for tweed. However I have always preferred flannel.
The most elegant restaurant in the world for you?
Oh, I go to a restaurant to eat not for show. There are restaurants which appear elegant and are often quite expensive but do not serve the primary purpose of such an establishment—namely to supply fine dining, which always starts with the food. An elegant restaurant in my view is one where nothing distracts from the enjoyment of the meal. Good service and courteous guests create together the invisible yet tangible quality of fine dining—that you might call a kind of elegance, but not everyone will recognise that. Years ago, it must have been in the 1970s, I was in New Orleans. Now everyone who has read about New Orleans or visited that amazing Caribbean city has heard of Antoine’s. Fewer know Galattoire’s. Galattoire’s—then at least—took no reservations and accepted no credit cards. In the US a restaurant that does not take a credit card has always been a great rarity. The advantage of these two qualities however was that there were almost no tourists. The staff and kitchen concentrated entirely on the food and guests in a large dining room reminiscent of a French brasserie. The food was classic Southern-Cajun-Louisiana cuisine. White jacketed waiters served quietly. The till was in the rear of the hall and the waiters collected when the bill was paid. In those days, I would say t h a t was an elegant place. It is hard to find restaurants like that today.
Describe your style in three words?
Effortless elegance everyday
Best purchase you did in the last 6 months?
You cannot buy time. The last six months have given me a lot of useful time to observe and reflect on our current situation and where we are going in the future.