This Menswear Paradise is Hidden in a Tiny English Village | IGNOREATYOURPERIL
"Hey, how you doing?"
When our rural village of Wollaston is mentioned in conversation, people from outside normally know it for one of two things. One is the historic British music venue, the Nag's Head Pub, and another is the famous style of derby boot that is still produced in the village to this day. What people might not realise is that tucked away in the corner of a hidden courtyard is one of the finest menswear specialists in the country.
The astutely named IGNOREATYOURPERIL, is run by Nigel Cleaver and his wife, Ali. Within it are a litany of books, memorabilia, and historic curiosities that punctuate one of the most well curated clothing stores in the country. It's a warm and inviting location that surrounds you with beautiful, one of one items that showcase truly how beautiful classic tailored style can be.
The IGNOREATYOURPERIL approach to dressing well is less about following steadfast rules and more about discovery, learning things for yourself and building confidence in your own style. Nigel has a very real care for fabrics, cuts, and heritage, and has explored his own journey in menswear in great detail through his Substack or more recently his in his book "A Stylish Year".
Something that comes through is how this personal style journey manifests in the shop itself. Open by appointment only (except on Saturdays) Nigel's sense of style is one of the leading reasons people visit.
More than willing to share his knowledge of the menswear space, Nigel ensures IGNOREATYOURPERIL does one of the most valuable things any clothing retailer can do - he hands his customers the tools they need to discover and understand their own way of dressing. Much like his writing, his advice is unpretentious, practical and should be heeded whenever somebody sells anything you might wear.
While he doesn't exclusively buy clothing for his own wardrobe, his curations reflect a sense of identity that is aligned with the craft, heritage and values that he cares for in his every day life. Barbour, John Smedley, and Harris Tweed all sit nicely in the space, nestled amongst fine Italian fabrics, traditional neckties and Northamptonshire footwear. Through the rails and shelves of shirts, ties, coats, trousers, shoes, or whatever else, IGNOREATYOURPERIL perfectly expresses the intersection of classic menswear with a well lived in modern British rural lifestyle.
Talking to Nigel, his interest in all things menswear is very clear, but his understanding of good footwear is unmatched. Shoemaking was the industry which actually lead him down from his home town in Derbyshire and settle in Northamptonshire in the first place. IGNOREATYOURPERIL then, as you might imagine, has an impressive range of footwear from the region. Across the space you will find everything from contemporary makers to names that have fallen silent amidst inevitable problems competing with manufacturing overseas. You'll spot the very finest examples of rare footwear from the likes of Trickers and Paul Sargent, as well as a hand picked selection from our own factory, just a short walk from the shop.
Were you to look for something a little more personal, they also offer a made to measure tailoring service, partnering with Monèt Bespoke for suiting, and Nigel himself is an excellent style consultant. So If you are in search of something specific or need to refine your own look, IGNOREATYOURPERIL is more than worth the trip.
We are always delighted to be able to spend time with such an inspirational neighbour, who we are very lucky to have nearby. Whether you are a fan of his work as a writer, a stylist, or content creator, we can assure you that Nigel, who is always interested in how everyone else is doing, is doing a great job himself.
