Style

The Rubirosa six-ply cashmere roll-collar pullover is named in honour of the Dominican diplomat Porfirio Rubirosa.

Rubirosa was born in the Dominican Republic in 1909, but spent his early years at his father's diplomatic posting in Paris. This upbringing obviously served him well as he proceeded over the next six decades to carve out a worldwide reputation as the ultimate playboy.

His first marriage was, naturally, to the daughter of the then Dominican President Rafael Trujillo. This was a highly risky strategy given Trujillo's reputation as a bloodthirsty dictator but seems to have paid off as Rubirosa not only survived but thrived. He proceeded to move around the Dominican embassies - at least the fashionable ones - and marry both prodigiously and, some might say, very successfully (two heiresses and two actresses in addition to the aforementioned President's daughter).

During this torrid time and despite saying that he "had too much to do to have time to work" he amazingly found the space and the wherewithal to run his own polo team and race cars at Le Mans and Sebring - it can safely be assumed that he had a way with living.

Rubirose was always impeccably turned-out, whether he was carrying out his diplomatic duties, racing cars, or squiring people like a young Zsa Zsa Gabor (it should be pointed out that he squired the young Zsa Zsa Gabor, since there has never been anyone like the young Zsa Zsa Gabor). He once said “I am, and will always be, a man of pleasure.”

Of course one cannot write about the man without mentioning the fabled reason for his untouchable success with women. How to put this delicately? Suffice to say that the colloquial term for one of those excessive pepper grinders beloved of Italian restaurants is "a Rubirosa".

However that kind of thing can only get you so far - and a sumptuous article of clothing ideally suited to a man who knows what he's doing and where he's going is always going to be a better route to channelling the man and the life!