Grey/black jacket with notch lapel, £65, by Burton; 0845 121 4514. Bottle-green jacket, personally tailored, £450, by Gieves; 020 7434 2001. Bronze shawl-collar jacket, £339, by Boateng; 020 7908 7777

THOU SHALT COVET

Panerai watch

A Panerai watch is all about being able to cope with extreme situations, particularly underwater ones. (The company has a historic collaboration with the Italian Navy.) An update on the 1950s models, the 2005 version is part of a series devoted to men in uniform. Note the unusual mirror-polish bezel and large, 47mm case. If this is too tasteful, go for the new Slytech, created for Sylvester Stallone. You should see the size of the bezel.

Luminor Marina Militare, £5,700, by Panerai; 020 7312 6860

FEET AND INCHES

Q .My new girlfriend is the same height as me, and when she wears heels, she towers over me. She says she hasn’t noticed, but I feel uncomfortable. Can you recommend anyone who sells shoes with lifts?

A. Personally, I think having some chick towering over you in heels is a result. But extra inches are not to be sniffed at. Order shoelift wedges from www.shoelift.com and gain up to 2.5in.

POLITICS OF BARBOUR

Barbour’s classic belted jacket is so British, Italians would kill for it — and it’s not nearly as bourgeois as you think. A certain army lunatic used to wear his Cowen Commando jacket on missions to the Gulf. When he got back, he’d take advantage of Barbour’s maintenance and customisation service to have bits added or adjusted. Civilians can get stuff changed on their Barbours, too — so if you want an extra pocket for the labrador chews, now’s your chance.

Cowen Commando jacket, £219, by Barbour; 0191 427 4210

Send questions to mens.style@sunday-times.co.uk

Times recommends

• What took place in 2010...
• Can you really cure a hangover?
• Video: How to do glamorous smoky eyes