On Style: In Praise of Color

A visual diary

As I write this I’m getting squared away for an evening flight to London, and then on to Italy a couple days later. By the time you receive this, I’ll be on foreign soil, nearly a week into relaxing with my first out of office message ever.

Any time I head to London (it’s been once a year for a several years, with a COVID forced break) my first plan is WHERE TO EAT. It’s my ideal dining city, a mix of classic joints and cutting edge spots with exciting international cuisines on offer. You can enjoy some of my previous London highlights here:

• Eating London

• Eating London: A Bonus

• Shopping London

• Mapping London and Copenhagen

• London Calling (Part One)

• London Calling (Part Two)

• Considering St. John

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Prepping for a trip to London isn’t complete without considering a meal at River Cafe. I won’t make it this time, but the riverside icon is one of my consistent favorites, an evergreen choice. Beyond the stellar food, the room is one of favorites. They’re blessed with an abundance of light spilling into the space, amplified by brilliant use of assertive pops of color, from the Klein Blue carpet underfoot to the assertive pink oven and the yellow pass, where the chef on duty expedites each service.

The whole thing has got me craving a bit of pop, panache, and COLOR. Perhaps it’s time for me to shed the navy and grey that is so comfortable and lean into a bit of whimsy, and the youthful energy of color. And perhaps it’s time to leave behind the tired style moodboards of 80’s and 90’s stars (Harrison Ford and Tom Selleck have been making the rounds in recent menswear roundups) and lean into architecture to guide our style choices this season.

Working from this notion, and looking to River Cafe (and the late Richard Rogers, husband of Ruth Rogers), I declare this the summer of POP.

The dining room at River Cafe. Klein Blue carpet, pink oven, yellow pass.

The private room at River Cafe, with a bold and wonderful choice of hot pink carpet.

Ruth Rogers of River Cafe was married to the late architect Richard Rogers. I love his work for Centre Pompidou in Paris, innards exposed and colored to great effect.

Richard Rogers house in Wimbledon - a riot of color.

Richard and Ruth’s house. Look at the bed! And the casual Guston adorning the bedroom wall.

Richard Rogers. I love the pink Grandad collar and the green sweater.

The assertive blouson from a personal favorite, LEJ - also based in London.

A case for a soft, dusty pink - also from LEJ.

My own version with my trusty pink LEJ Oxford, a pair of vintage pants, and an orange sock from Paul Stuart.

That pink shirt again.

My son getting into the fun with royal blue shoes, fuchsia socks, and a Kelly green backpack.