How would you describe your style?

Co-ordinating my clothes is very important to me, wearing colours that go together. I’m not a follower in anything I do; I prefer to do my own thing. I like to do things differently, not to be different but so that I can be myself. It’s an extension of my personality, the things and colours I wear and the fact that they are co-ordinated shows how organized I am.

Where does your interest in fashion come from?

My family were always well groomed. My father was a bus driver and would wear the company’s jacket and trousers with a hat. So I think that some of it must stem from there. When I was at university I would wear a blazer with badges and a tie with a white shirt, so being well groomed was important to me even then. When you retire you are fully in charge of your life, and when I’m taking a shower I think about what I’m going to wear that day. The actual process of deciding what to wear gives me pleasure. You could call it a hunch; I actually think I live my life on hunches or intuition, and I think the same applies to my clothes. But I must feel comfortable in what I’m wearing and the process of choosing clothes has become a part of my daily life.

This is an unusual suit!

I like this suit, it has a Nero collar and I bought it from Italy, it has a purple lining and the cut is immaculate. The best thing about suits from Europe is that you never buy trousers that have already been cut. They will measure and cut the trousers for your needs as part of the service in the shop.

Where do you buy all your clothes?

All my clothes apart from a couple of things come from France. And the reason I think, is because the French respect their clothes. I use a handbag because years ago I lost a pair of glasses in France because I had them in my hands. People look at me like I’m a little odd but that doesn’t bother me. I like it, they keep everything neat and tidy and my pockets don’t bulge out!

You have a pile of clothes here!

These are all summer jumpers. I like these because they all have a shirt to match. Orange shirt to go with the orange jumper, blue shirt to go with the blue jumper. The fact that they match and go together is very important to me. I like colour, but men have always worn black or grey, but I’ve always been a little different. I think that’s what’s behind the way I choose my clothes, my desire to express myself.

Do you wear hats at all?

Yes I do. When your hair is like mine, especially when it’s windy you need to wear a hat! A grey hat to wear with dark clothes, but never with brown clothes, I have a brown hat to wear with brown clothes.

Where did your interest in colour come from?

I would like to believe that I am the master of the house but I have to say that my wife loves colours. She’s also quite a skilled seamstress; she’ll often make me a scarf or a cravat.

You ski as well?

I started cross country skiing after I retired. We went to Norway in the campervan and saw these women skiing in their bikinis, and I thought to myself, what a great idea! I went into the shop and for £43 bought myself some skis, boots and sticks. To ski you have to wear a few layers of black lycra so that you can take them off according to the weather.

Everything you own co-ordinates with each other!

This is my dressing gown and as you can see it matches the rest of the bedroom. Not only does it match the room but I also have a couple of trousers, a vest and slippers that match. I buy my slippers from France, and would never dream about wearing slippers with clothes that don’t match, so I try to find quite neutral slippers. These ones are the flavour of the month at the moment, so if we change the décor of the bedroom I’ll have to change my slippers! Remember that the décor of the bedroom comes first and then the slippers, my wife wouldn’t allow me to decorate the bedroom to match my slippers!

Would it be a nightmare for you if someone turned up at a wedding wearing the same suit as you?

I can’t see it ever happening. They would have to travel quite a distance to do that. But it wouldn’t be such a nightmare for me as it would for a woman. I’d be happy that someone has the same taste as I do. It wouldn’t bother me if there was someone like me, but I haven’t met them yet!