Q. My friend John sets the standard of dress for our small community. It has come to his notice that HRH the Duke of Edinburgh is sporting black suede shoes with black tie. I think John is keen to adopt this mode of dress but is unsure about it. I think he should stick to black leather. What do you advise, Mary? Also, should suedes be worn during daylight hours?
—G.A., Crewkerne
A. As is revealed in the forthcoming biography ‘Young Prince Philip’ by Philip Eade (Harper Press), the Duke has never been that interested in ‘correct’ dressing. In his early life his valet battled to keep him out of the visibly mended cast-off suits of his father. However, there are special rules for nonagenarian royals which do not apply to the average man. Where black tie is concerned, John should be cautious. Hush Puppies came in in 1959 and HRH was, along with Warren Beatty, an early fan. They are beloved of prep-school masters of a certain age, notably one Peter Budden, a legendary classics master at Wellesley House School, Broadstairs, who retired after 45 years last summer. Hush Puppies are certainly not cool — but they are comfortable like an old labrador. For that reason they are usually acceptable. Shipton Heneage supply them.
Q. What is the form with charity wristbands? As of yesterday I am sporting three rather colourful bracelets, all supporting excellent forces-related charities about which I feel strongly. But I’m beginning to look like a Christmas tree. Help.
—D.B., London SE24
A. Take a tip from Matthew 6: 2–3: ‘Therefore when you perform charity, do not trumpet it before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogue and in the streets so that they may praised by people; Amen, I tell you, they receive their reward.’ The Christmas tree is the best place for your wristbands.
Q. I share a flat with two other girls, one of whom is an actor and is at home all day waiting for calls from her agent, and the other who works sporadically but makes a terrible mess, leaving wet towels on sofas and cigarette butts in fried eggs etc. We are all living away from home for the first time and we want life to be fun so how can I tell this girl off without seeming middle-aged and boring?
—V.H., London SW7
A. No doubt the girl who is an actor would, theoretically, welcome the chance to earn money as she waits for calls. Why not take the culprit to one side and suggest that she offer the job of cleaning up after her to the actor. Explain that the going rate for a cleaner in London is £10 an hour and what with her generating two hours of work per day the total would amount to around £140 a week for your needy flatmate. These stark statistics may cause her to think twice before deploying fried eggs as ashtrays.
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