My Favorite Things

“New York is wonderful but filthy. It even affects your hair—which pretty much needs washing every day. I’m certainly no expert on hair care, but I’ve sworn by Bigelow’s own shampoo and conditioner for more than 25 years.”

“If you can’t fit it in the folio we designed with Métier, you shouldn’t be bringing it to the office.”

“The only person in the world who could make riding the subway in the 70s look this glamorous is the great photographer Jonathan Becker.”

“My wife and kids think I’m nuts, but I can list more than four dozen uses for a handkerchief. These include handling a runny nose, service as a napkin when none is available, a tourniquet, a tool of surrender, and so forth. I haven’t left the house without one for more than fifty years.”

“Opening Amazon packages with scissors generally ends in tears. This is also good for keeping New York’s criminal element at bay.”

“The last word in men’s tailoring also happens to be the first word in dressing gowns. Add a suspiciously early cocktail, a jaunty smile, and you’re basically John Barrymore.”

“A hard-soled take on the classic Belgian loafer. You don’t get the bow, but you save $200 and can wear them outside the house.”

“I generally don’t splash anything on my face, aside from water. But when I’m feeling particularly festive, I pull out the Eight & Bob—a gift from a friend. The story behind this cologne—a young J.F.K., the Côte d’Azur, bottles hid from Nazis in books—is almost as wonderful as the stuff itself.”