On Style: Lighters and Cigarette Cases...

You need only answer one question to ascertain the relevance of this post to your accessory cabinet: do you smoke?

Not: are you a smoker? That’s not the same thing. I’m not asking if you send your mates off on their hols with instructions to bring you 10,000 cut-price Super King Black back in their suitcase, or whether you wake up in the middle of the night with nicotine cravings so bad, you suit-up and head down to Esso for a midnight puff.

I mean would you smoke? If the answer is yes, you must equip yourself with at least one decent lighter (Zippos are the classic choice) and perhaps a cigarette case that matches.

Really serious puffers might want 2, or even three sets: gold, silver and bronze, but if you were to choose a neutral or statement lighter you don’t need to go so overboard.

Zippo do bright and pastel colour lighters that are cool, but look a bit childlike when you whip them out of a Jeff Banks three-piece and spark-up.

I like classic lighters – I even own a Polo cigarette case with a built-in petrol lighter, which is cool but weighs a bloody tonne.

Spend £20-30 on a good Zippo and, if the opportunity presents itself, direct friends and relatives to colour alternatives for Christmas or Birthday gifts (for a man who takes his wardrobe so seriously, having gifts bought for you that a superfluous to requirements is an irksome and potentially embarrassing endurance. For that reason, items that would compliment, but are unessential to your sartorial swag, make perfect gifts. You don’t need another Zippo, but it would sure be nice to have one. You don’t need novelty socks, and their receipt is one annoying trip to the dump that you definitely don’t want to make).

It does look cool to have a Zippo that matches your watch case, belt buckle, tie slide, cufflinks, cigarette case and business card holder, but don’t go worrying over it too much.

Just the right amount…that should do fine…


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