There was a discussion of him on styleforum.  I think he might've even participated there -- for a few messages at least -- thought I don't recall for sure.  Maybe it was someone similar to him.  I think he was made fun of. 

I sort of liked his site.  I liked his little essay on having the overcoat made by an off-row (east end?) tailor.

He seems a nice sort really.

Francis Bown was the original iGent - blagging freebies/discounts and writing puff pieces on his sponsors. His knowledge of tailoring appears to be minimal. My nightmare is being forced to have dinner with Bown, Crompton, Manton, Foo, RJMan and Whinny.

I just read one of his overcoat reviews and my issues with it include:

1. An over concern with dates, lineage, tradition. Typically, bad writers use this as a crutch (A/S/L?).

2. Flowery hyperbole indicates that the writer needs to be too thankful  for the experience and is writing for people who have never stood near a man in a custom made garment before.

3. Related to 2 above, the whole assumption of the purple. Assumed details that quality people select and will transport one to a magical land the reader has never been to before, and presumably, once he opens his mouth, the denizens of which will probably ask him to leave.

4. Price, price, price, price, price. It's disgusting.

5. Too specific about materials, negates selections and makes this too subjective.

6. Photos are too small

7. He makes a lot of assertions without backing them up "Fit is wonderful". How would he know? He might very well know but please tell us.

It's not a bad format though. If he spent more time thinking about how the information could serve the reader rather than the feeling that he is serving the firm he is writing about, it could be an amazing blog.

I have noticed that English clothing firms, and to a lesser extent, everywhere else's clothing firms, are extremely sensitive to write ups that have even a hint of negativity. I think that's a result of major market, marketing and consumer comsumption pattern misreads on their part. I do not think the English understand marketing and I do not think they believe there is major upside to it but do believe there is considerable downside.

I really dont like writing reviews unless I have used the item for a while or want to do it myself, usually because it fits into a broader landscape that I am interested in.

The cock on the midden.