17 questions to a well-dressed man: Ken Besuijen
Photo credit: Ken Besuijen
Ken Besuijen is a gentleman with multiple talents. He is studying to become an English teacher, singing and acting on stage and also working for one of the most fantastic shops in the Netherlands; The English Hatter in Amsterdam. The songs he sings are often from or inspired on those from Wim Sonneveld, one of the greatest artists the Netherlands ever knew. I strongly advise to find some of Ken’s performances on YouTube since they are truly moving and beautiful. His style is classic British and whatever he wears from white tie and tails to a handmade pyjama, he wears it like a British gentleman is supposed to wear it. Perhaps it’s his way of being that makes it just looks better on him. For me this were enough reasons to ask Ken the “17 questions to a well-dressed man”. And the answers he gave you will find below.
What are you wearing today?
From top to bottom:
• Ray-Ban tortoiseshell clubmaster glasses,
• Royal Stewart tartan cashmere scarf by Johnston’s of Elgin,
• Harris tweed jacket from The English Hatter Amsterdam,
• White/blue cotton checked shirt by Thomas Pink London,
• Blue/white silk braces by Albert Thurston,
• Navy silk cravat with a little Rolls Royce’s Spirit of Extacy (gifted by a Rolls Royce dealer I once met),
• ‘Morning Sun’-coloured slip-over William Lockie,
• Faux golden cufflinks representing a Dutch 5 cents coin from 1956,
• Daniel Wellington watch with a brown leather strap,
• Tan leather crocheted sand-coloured gloves,
• Navy-coloured corduroy trousers by Brisbane Moss,
• Brown leather + green Donegal tweed Barbour belt,
• White doppelripp boxer short by Schiesser,
• Navy/yellow woollen knee-length Burlington socks, and
• Single burgundy ‘Malvern’ monks by Crockett and Jones. Mirror shined.
If you had to choose to spend money either on a suit or on a watch, what would you choose?
A suit, definitely. I don’t care about watches that much. I bought my Wellington watch in 2015 simply because I wanted to pick up my phone less often. Though I would spend money on a pocket watch with a fob, I already have two of those so I would go for a suit!
What jewellery could a man wear?
Mother-of-pearl collar bones. I would only consider mother-of-pearl ones as jewellery. It’s like silk pyjamas; they enhance my feeling like a gentleman. Also, tie pins, tie bars, tie tacks, cufflinks, watches, rings.
Tie or a bowtie?
A bowtie! I pull off a bowtie very well if you ask me! Even though I own more ties than bowties, bowties do help me feeling even jollier than I usually am.
Do you remember your first jacket?
It was a blue jacket I forced my mum to buy me for my ballroom dance classes when I was 12 years old. She had always preferred her son to be more casual. Alas.
What is your favourite watch?
I don’t have one. I’m not at all into watches, to be honest. I have a simple Daniel Wellington one I wear daily, and two different pocket watches I wear when I’m wearing a waistcoat. Don’t even their brands.
Fountain pen or ballpoint?
Fountain pen with royal blue ink. A written message is so much more charming when written with a fountain pen.
Have you found the perfect garment yet?
The bespoke plus-fours I had made by New Tailor Amsterdam! With long Burlington socks or plain-coloured ones from Cordings London, they fit like a glove. The opera cloak I found a year ago almost beats the plus-fours. I’d been searching for one for a very long time. I found one in a London second-hand shop off Portobello Road. Oh, did I mention my long green Loden coat with pelerine by Loden Plankl Vienna?
Explain your biggest passion in one sentence?
Entertaining people.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Visiting people all dressed up, making sure they will try better next time. It may sound pedantic, but I mean to show people that dressing up for different occasions is a way to make life more meaningful. I don’t believe in overdressed, but I do believe in being underdressed.
Who is the best dressed man in the world for you?
The current prince of Wales, the Prince Charles. The former prince of Wales, David, later the Duke of Windsor has been a great inspiration, too. But Charles is the one still alive and showing how it’s done! Utterly British. I love it!
The best book you ever read?
Stanley Ager’s “The Butler’s Guide to Running the Home and Other Graces” – a highly recommendable book for any gentleman wanting to take care of his garments properly.
Which city should one go shopping?
London
Tweed or flannel?
Tweed, in all its wide varieties. Apart to the tweed jackets and coats I own, I have a tweed iPhone sleeve, iPad sleeve, washing bag, and even tweed tea coasters. Let tweed be omnipresent in our lives!
The most elegant restaurant in the world for you?
It’s the gallery restaurant at Fortnum and Mason. It’s always a pleasure to enjoy afternoon tea there.
Describe your style in three words?
British, entertaining and engaging.
Best purchase you did in the last 6 months?
A green-blue-red checked dressing gown by Derek Rose.