Dandy & Dapper

I saw some great blazers with modern details, including a hoodie/jacket the other day. Where can I buy some?

Mr Dapper: I have only one thought: don't. Why spend extra money for something you already have? It's not difficult: 1) Slip on hooded sweatshirt 2) Put on blazer 3) Pull hood out so it hangs over the blazer's collar. There you go, in three easy steps.

Mr Dandy: Oh, get with the times. There is nothing more interesting in men's fashion than innovative items that make you do a double-take. A fab example is the C'N'C grey blazer and nylon hoodie hybrid (HK$5,500; I.T, Times Square, Causeway Bay, tel: 2506 0569). Transfiguration makes jackets with detachable hoodies (HK$1,990; D-Mop, 11 On Lan Street, Central, tel: 2840 0822) but our favourite collection of contem- porary blazers has to be the amazing- ly constructed ones at eYe Junya Watanabe (HK$8,800 to HK$9,850; 22 Wyndham Street, Central, tel: 2868 9234). Beyond the hood, other designers have added studs to a traditional jacket's lapel (HK$1,790; Blues Heroes at D-Mop); and sleeves-within-a-sleeve (HK$6,599; N. Hollywood at I.T).

I need to find one of those long-sleeve shirts with a fold on the shoulder. I've been looking for one for ages but I just can't find them. Please help me. A wide variety of colour choices would be appreciated, but what I'm really after is white, light blue, etc. And not too expensive, please.

Mr Dandy: Where exactly have you been looking? We saw them just the other day, going, going and probably now gone on the sales racks at Zara Men (Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui, tel: 2629 1858) for HK$199 to HK$399, in solids or stripes, cotton or linen, short or long sleeves, and so on. If you still think Esprit is all about 1980s paint-splattered T-shirts, you're wrong. It has a pretty good variety of this style, too (HK$369; 1/F, 50 Queen's Road Central, tel: 2523 1900).

Mr Dapper: Halt. Before you go anywhere, let's get your terminology straight. The ornamental shoulder details you're looking for are generally called epaulets and they have long been used on military uniforms. We like the clean cut of Ralph Lauren's black or white cotton shirts with looped fabric epaulets on the shoulders (HK$2,290; The Landmark, Central, tel: 2869 0388). However, if you really can't find what you're looking for, then take advantage of Hong Kong's colonial history and the many tailors who used to fashion uniforms for military men posted in the territory, such as Yuen's Tailor (HK$480 and up; 233 Escalator Link Alley, 80 Des Voeux Road, Central, tel: 2815 5388).