17 Questions to a well-dressed man: Thomas Venneman
Photo credit: Thomas Venneman
Thomas Venneman is a young and talented watchmaker/entrepreneur from Belgium. In his atelier he assembles watches from his own brand and for other brands like for example Maison D’Longueville. He also repairs watches and is the official agent of Phase de Lune watch pouches. Before he did several watchmaking internships in Switzerland and so he knows how to find his way in the watch world. But is he only interested in watches? Most certainly not! He is passionate about everything that belongs to the luxury world. Among this of course clothing, shoes, pens etc. So for sure it will be interesting to learn a bit more about Thomas Venneman by asking him 17 questions.
What are you wearing today?
I love textured fabrics, it gives you a special feeling and an experience to understand the fabric. The fact how they make fabrics, give these this special touch and textures to it is just magic.
Light blue Giro Inglese shirt tailored by Maison D’Longueville
Midnight/dark blue birdseye trousers tailored by Maison D’Longueville
Midnight/dark blue houndstooth sock by Marcoliani
Watch (prototype skeleton) by Venneman Watches
Dark brown suede belt by Crockett and Jones
Dark brown suede shoes by Crockett and Jones
If you had to choose to spend money either on a suit or on a watch, what would you choose?
I will go for a suit. You wear it a lot of times and you need to change it more often than a watch to keep it in a good condition.
What jewellery could a man wear?
Watch
Cufflinks
Wedding
ring (if married)
little bracelet
Tie or a bowtie?
Tie because I find a bowtie more formal and I find the relation between the total length of the body and a tie more balanced. I by the way really love paisley ties for the pattern and colours, it fits to every outfit in my opinion.
Do you remember your first jacket?
My first jacket was a off-the-rack Ermenegildo Zegna Prince of Wales check. From a very nice fabric by the way! But it doesn’t fit 100% well on me, so please spend your money better and buy at least Made-To-Measure maybe at a local shop but made to measure or bespoke tailored garments looks much nicer. This is very important to remember!
What is your favourite watch?
I have 2 watches at the moment that I like and especially their complications. The knowledge that goes into this to make it is just incredible.
Breguet Classique complications 3795 (3795PT/1E/9WU)
A. Lange & Söhne Zeitwerk minute repeater (147.025)
Fountain pen or ballpoint?
A fountain pen is more elegant and it gives you a really special feel even if you are left-handed like me. Writing with a fountain pen with your left hand is a challenge in the beginning by the way.
Have you found the perfect garment yet?
I think a suit bespoke or made-to-measure is a perfect garment, because this is something that you can discuss with your tailor. This helps to put the focus at the nicest parts of your body and things that you would like to hide or mask for example. When you have a good tailor he can make you more elegant.
Explain your biggest passion in one sentence?
My biggest passion is not only watches but overall the fact that something is made by people or nature. Or connection between nature and people.
For example things made high-end/luxury by people is catching my attention always because the fact that they can make this with their minds and give this shape in the real world with their hands is just magical I think.
So we are talking about; art, cars, clothes, watches, glassware, perfume, care products and so much more….
What is your guilty pleasure?
I have several guilty pleasures. However the most important for me is driving around with my car with some nice music on the background. Discover and find nice places that inspire me.
Who is the best dressed man in the world for you?
For me, even though it is not not 100% my style but the fact that the person understand what he’s wearing, it is Hugo Jacomet.
The best book you ever read?
Théorie d’horlogerie is for me the holy grail of watch making. It’s very technical but nice when you understand the things that are described in the book.
Which city should one go shopping?
Geneva, it gives me the feeling of coming home.
Tweed or flannel?
Really difficult to choose. But I go for flannel because of the feel when you touch it.
The most elegant restaurant in the world for you?
At the moment I have a good feel with restaurant Boury in Belgium (Roeselare). Elegance is a complete impression of every impulse you receive and I like this at Boury.
Describe your style in three words?
Classic
Suitable
Safe
Best purchase you did in the last 6 months?
My last pair of shoes the dark brown suede Crockett and Jones (Hardwick). The combination of craftsmanship, quality and usability with the light rubber sole. Just great!