F. Scott Fitzgerald famously wrote that “there are no second acts in American lives.” Thankfully, Tom Chapman is British. The influential luxury retail entrepreneur, best known for co-founding Matches Fashion and transforming it from a single London boutique into a globally recognized e-commerce destination, sold the business in 2017. But retirement never seemed to suit someone with such a discerning eye for beautiful things. Five years later, he launched ABASK, a meticulously curated platform celebrating timeless objects and the artisans behind them. Whether you’re searching for a standout host present (sterling cocktail picks!) or the perfect gift for dad (a wooden backgammon set!), ABASK is a true treasure trove for every occasion. Just in time for Father’s Day, the father of three and man who has long understood the art of good taste sits in Dress Code’s Haute Seat.
Scent: Tobacco Leaf by Miller Harris. (It helps me manage a past smoking habit.)
Watch: An IWC Schaffhausen, given to me when we sold the business [Matches Fashion]. It’s the only thing I own that reminds me to slow down and enjoy the moment.
Sunglasses: Jacques Marie Mage—bold, heavy frames that let me hide behind them with confidence.
Pajamas: Schostal. I have far too many. I get completely carried away in the insatiable chaos of their store in Rome. I really need to stop going.
Weekday outfit: Anything from Connolly.
Denim: Dark, well-cut selvedge that’s broken in just enough to feel like an old friend.
Pair of socks: Johnstons of Elgin. Cashmere, luxuriously soft, and discreetly expensive—because life’s too short for uncomfortable feet.
Weekend bag: It has to be a Métier. Even if I don’t need to take anything, I’ll still find a reason to fill it—it’s that good.
Coffee shop: I’m obsessed with Pasticceria Cucchi in Milan and its miniature cakes. Resisting them feels like a crime against joy.
Lunch, weekend: Outside at the River Café in London on a gloriously sunny day with piles of perfect pasta and zero rush.
Dinner, weekend: Unhurried, with excellent wine and conversation that flows as easily as the second bottle.
Restaurant: Eleven Madison Park. I’m not vegan but watching Daniel Humm and his team perform miracles with vegetables is pure theater. Pre-dinner drinks at Clemente Bar is also non-negotiable.
DRESS CODE: I keep it simple.
Bar: A bar crawl in Tokyo. The mixologists there are magicians. Bar Trench, Bar High Five … One perfect cocktail per stop delivers the delightful certainty you’ll be out far too late.
Museum: The Grand Egyptian Museum in Cairo left me speechless. Television series: Anything that lets me binge without guilt, Mad Men, Peaky Blinders, and Curb Your Enthusiasm are just a few.
Movie: La Grande Bellezza. That opening scene is pure sensual overload—Roman decadence, richness, strangeness, and a touch of sadness. It’s a masterpiece.
Muse: Anyone (or anything) that turns ordinary moments into something worth remembering—which ideally involves the occasional, perfectly timed absurdity.
Vision board: Horizons. Beautiful rooms. Midcentury pieces and adventures. Basically, all the places and things I quietly intend to connect with and collect.
Cocktail: A Negroni mixed by Federico at Il Pellicano. Warning, it’s an Italian pour.
Vintage store: I sometimes join my ABASK buyers in Parma and (I suspect) drive them slightly mad. L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue is dangerous. I have to sneak out without Ruth [his wife] noticing, as she’s a little fed up with my purchases.
Last-minute gift: Something thoughtful and beautifully wrapped, delivered with the confident air of someone who absolutely had it planned for weeks.
Hotel: Room 14 at Il Pellicano. Marie-Louise Scio is the ultimate hotelier. She brings the whole place to life with music, dance, and that inimitable Italian ease.
Weekend getaway: A quick city break somewhere new. Next stop, Seville for tapas, architecture, and zero expectations.
Escape: Home on Harbour Island in the Bahamas—pink sand, turquoise water, and the sweetest kind of doing nothing.
Good-bye: Always a promise to continue the conversation.
