Dandy & Dapper

Published: 12:00am, 5 Feb 2012

Let me preface this by telling you I'm not really a fan of the clothing, but I've used Ed Hardy's cologne for a while and am a bit stumped now that the store near my office, in Exchange Square, Central, has disappeared. Am I going to have to give up weekend time to schlep all over town for this?

Mr Dandy: Relax, buddy, no judging here (except by Dapper, of course). I like Ed Hardy's tattoo-inspired stuff for the right occasion on weekends. (Did you know it was created in honour of tattoo artist Don Ed Hardy?). And I wouldn't think any less of you if you actually did like and wear the clothes. There is this French guy called Christian Audigier who's based in Los Angeles. He's the designer behind the Ed Hardy brand, not the tattoo man. Anyway, the brand's store in IFC Mall closed a while ago. Although you can still stock up on Ed Hardy gear at the Christian Audigier flagship store in Kowloon (Gateway Arcade, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2375 4505), it doesn't sell the colognes. So, after all that, just go to Amazon.com. By the way, there are a few Ed Hardy scents for men. Which do you want?

Mr Dapper: What? Exactly how many espressos fuelled that ramble, Dandy? If you had read the gentleman's question carefully, you would have surmised that he is very much likely to consider a trip to Kowloon as exactly the kind of 'schlep' he is trying to avoid. Moreover, if you send him into one of Hong Kong's largest and busiest mega malls, you might never hear from him again. Dear reader, apologies. Here is the advice you requested: go to your nearest Sasa shop, where Ed Hardy scents are sold for about HK$500 each. On my last stop there, I saw the original Ed Hardy eau de toilette, a blend of citrus, clary sage, mint, musk, wood and amber, and also the blue Hearts & Daggers for Men, mixing pear, basil, white pepper, papaya, rosemary, suede, patchouli and sandalwood. I have also checked the full store list for you on its official website, www.sasa.com, and have concluded that the most convenient location is near Lan Kwai Fong (6 D'Aguilar Street, Central, tel: 2530 3933).

I really liked what Daniel Craig wore in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, especially those jeans. Was he sponsored by a brand? If so, which one?

Mr Dandy: Sorry, we're not as lucky as the ladies on this one. H&M came out with a Girl with the Dragon Tattoo womenswear capsule collection at the end of last year, but it didn't do one for men. It was made in collaboration with the film's kick-ass costume designer, Trish Summerville, who's been hinting that she might do a menswear line next. In all the interviews I've seen with her, she talks about giving Craig's character a handsome, casually elegant and layered look, and how she sourced the outfits from various brands, including lots of Scandinavian labels. So, I thought the jeans might be by J Lindeberg, Acne or Cheap Monday. But no. Turns out they're by Amsterdam-based label Scotch & Soda (about HK$1,300 to HK$2,700 a pair; www.scotch-soda.com), which is sold at Lane Crawford (tel: 2118 7777, www.lanecrawford.com). Ta-da!

Mr Dapper: Well done, Dapper, you've got the basics. Now let's give them a few more relevant details. Scotch & Soda does more than one style, right? Craig was put in the Ralston slim fit, part of the Amsterdam Blauw project, inspired by American and Japanese denim traditions. It is available in various washes (Craig's was dark) and the actor is said to have liked them so much, he got several pairs for himself. Director David Fincher seems to have created a more debonair, Hollywood-handsome interpretation of Stieg Larsson's Mikael Blomkvist. That Craig should have a specific brand association was a valid assumption, reader, considering his wardrobe for the James Bond film Quantum of Solace was designed by Tom Ford while Casino Royale saw him dressed by Brioni, the Bond tailor since Pierce Brosnan took on the role in 1995. (In case anyone is interested, Sean Connery went to Savile Row for his suits and Turnbull & Asser for his shirts, and Roger Moore went entirely bespoke, too.)

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