What Caught Their Eye: Luke Adams, Editor-in-Chief, Valet
Over the last few months on this newsletter, you have seen me share a variety of things I love, what I’m buying, and more. Well, I’m happy to be handing the reins over to someone else from time to time!
This is “What Caught Their Eye”, a guest edit section of my Substack to introduce my readers to executives, artists, creatives, and everyone in between.
Keep reading to find out more about my next guest, Luke Adams.
Introducing Luke Adams, Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Valet
Luke Adams is the editor-in-chief and founder of Valet. His background is in literature, and he remains astounded that his labours in that discipline have culminated in anything other than long-term unemployment. He is, however, thankful that they have, as he has neither the talent nor patience to do much else.
Follow Luke: Here
What Caught Luke’s Eye
MrPen Fountain Pens
I'm aware that this series often features entries for writing implements and in particular fountain pens. Nevertheless, I feel duty-bound to make a similar submission of my own on the strength of my acquaintance with a brand of fountain pen that is—as with all beautiful things—going to ruin in front of our very eyes.
Italix is a British line of fountain pens devised by a certain Peter Ford, who in 2021 at the age of 74, retired. His beautiful pens were famed for their hand-ground nibs, all ground by Peter himself, and their absolutely superlative model names; names like 'Parson's Essential', 'Churchman's Prescriptor' , and 'Freshman's Notator'—these alone are worth the—extremely reasonable—price.
The reason I couldn't bring myself to leave mention of Italix off my list is owing to the fact that the company is in the process of closing down for good, and are selling off the remaining stock while it lasts. I implore you to get yourself one of these pens while you still can!
Buy: Here
A Girl in Winter, Philip Larkin
Philip Larkin remains one of my favourite poets. Indeed, my very first piece in the very first issue of Valet explored Larkin's use of clothing to create arresting imagery in otherwise formally simplistic poems. Famed, of course, for his poetry, far fewer people know that in his student days he actually wished to become a novelist (and that his life-long fremesis and successful novelist Kingsley Amis wished to be a poet. O, cruel fate!).
A Girl in Winter is an absolutely heartbreaking novel, but so beautiful. Owing to Larkin's poetical eye, it is suffused with imperishable scenes and images that still bring tears to my eyes.
Buy: Here
DelMonico Cuenca Extrafino Panama by Tesi
No item of the gentleman's wardrobe has suffered such a swift and regrettable decline as the brimmed hat. Its function in so plainly valuable, and nothing has since come along that performs that same function better, or even as well!
I have a some what easier time empathising with those who choose not to wear one in inclement weather (even discounting the fact that no honest person can eye a scene from an old black-and-white photograph or films from the '40s and think that literally every man in-frame, besuited and be-hatted, didn't look a damn sight better than our contemporaries), for it is decidedly 'a look' and such things as umbrellas exist. However, when summer roles around and the hatless multitudes begin to emerge their slumber, immediately pink-flushed and bedewed about the forehead, I simply throw up my hands up in incredulity.
Any chap worth his mettle needs a decent Panama hat—and I don't mean an expensive Montecristi (though if you can stretch to it, why not?); the most important aspect of a good Panama is that you feel comfortable in it and enjoy wearing it. And like all wisdom, the best is that born of experience. I had donned and doffed the same Panama for years, never having been fully happy with it. Small things: the shape was not quite right; the fit not perfect; the brim a shade too wide; the weave a trifle loose and so annoyingly floppy in high wind. And so for a while I'd had one toe in the market for a new number.
Finally, this summer, I found it. My perfect Panama hat. Made by the Florence-based firm Tesi, it scores highly on all the front previously mentioned. The shape enjoys that touch of gravitas for which the Italians are known, and the additional feeling of security engendered by a brim that in a gust remains staunchly where it should be is the difference between a trip to the Aegean being hellish or heavenly. Luckily for me, it was the latter.
Buy: Here
Tsubota Pearl Lighters
I've never been one to put much thought into how I light my cigarette, often settling for a cheap Bic lighter from whatever off-licence is nearest me when the craving is acute and I am out of gas.
With smoking having now become in many places so rare and threatened a pastime as to be approaching the realm of affectation, I figure I may as well make the most of the experience while it lasts and tart it up a bit. Enter the Tsubota Pearl lighter range.
Based on the incredibly simplistic (and genius) Zippo mechanism, these lighters offer just that little touch of sophistication—no surprise given their Japanese origin. They strike me as being quite elegantly old-fashioned and modern, and work a charm in any conditions (see again their Japanese origin).
Buy: Here
Music for Insomniacs, Tommy Mandel
Last week I got to interview Tommy Mandel, a New York City-based composer and keyboardist who since the '70s has enjoyed a hell of a career, having toured and played keyboard for such superstars as Bryan Adams, The Clash, Dire Straits, the B-52s, Tina Turner, Cindi Lauper, and more which you can google if you like.
Only now, however, is he being discovered for his solo pioneering keyboard work, which I adore. His latest album, 'Music for Insomniacs', which was reissued from a 1984 private press cassette, is a foggy dreamlike soundscape. Heavy on synth and soft drum machines, the album was inspired by 'waves of sleep'. Whatever that means, I'm digging it.
Buy: Here