March, 2012:

When my young friends, Jesus Torres and Alexis Zambrano, had difficulty finding fine men’s accessories, they took matters into their own hands, and decided to make their own!

Named after the French author Jean Lorrain’s dandy character, Monsieur de Phocas, Toress and Zambro’s brand finds inspiration in their grandfathers’ attire. Whether it be dressing “…for social functions or merely retrieving the mail…,” collar bars, tie pins and the like were requisite—the accoutrement’s that have, (Torres and Zambrano lament on their site), “…been forgotten in the rush for expediency.” As you might imagine, I’m thrilled to see these kindred spirits reviving the elegance of a lost era.

I was introduced to their company, M.de Phocas, through the brilliant blog, Le Noued Papillion, and became immediately enthralled by the marvelous and innovative things they were doing with cuff links and evening sets as well as with other accessories.

“Our creations are…for those who find pleasure…in selecting their accessories and wardrobe not through rules, but through the true understanding of style…,a statement of their own identity…[an] expression that makes a man unique and is presented in ways that enhances [his] sense of style.” - Excerpt from the M.de Phocas site.

M. de Phocas is also available to create fabulous bespoke pieces. “Whether our client’s need…us to make a monocle, a cigarette case, a cigar box, or even a golden toothpick, we always take pleasure in ambitious proposals…beyond the ordinary.”

Spending some time with Torres and Zambrano on one of their “formal Fridays,” I’m sporting a Gucci silk tapestry evening suit, with a Tom Ford white cotton micro pleated tuxedo shirt, black silk bow tie and cummerbund, black patent opera pumps, and my fragrance is Creed Imperial Millesime, and, of course, my Agate evening set is by M. de Phocas.

Feel free to follow M. de Phocas on Facebook! as well.