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Tuesday 3 November 2026
Gentleman Coded Live well. Behave better.
A black wheeled cabin case with its handle raised, standing on the floor of a bright airport terminal, with travellers in the distance Machines

Carry-on only: the six cabin cases worth buying, from £298 to £1,895

Six of the best cabin cases, compared on the numbers that matter at the gate. Which one to buy, what the airlines actually allow, and how to pack so it all fits.

By Rupert Ashcombe · 7 minute read
The winged Aston Martin badge and the Aston Martin name in chrome letters on a dark car, reflecting nearby buildings Attire Breitling will build you a watch to match your Aston Martin, if it’s a Valhalla Red wine being poured into a large, thin-stemmed wine glass held by the stem against a plain grey background The Cellar The object: the Zalto Universal glass
Red gift boxes tied with gold ribbon beneath a frosted Christmas tree with red baubles The Christmas guide Christmas gifts for a gentleman, from £59 to the unforgettable Things he'd never quite buy for himself, made well enough to last a decade. Our Christmas gift guide for men, from Riedel glasses at £59 to a Globe-Trotter case. Read the guide
A black umbrella covered in water droplets, against a blurred grey background Attire The object: the Fox umbrella A man in a dark shawl-collar dinner jacket, black bow tie, double cuffs and white pocket handkerchief, adjusting his watch Attire Black tie, properly: the rules and where you can bend them Whisky being poured from a bottle into a tulip-shaped tasting glass, beside a second glass and a glass of water The Cellar Whisky for beginners: five bottles that teach you everything

The Code

The standard of dress, conduct and taste, written down one rule at a time. Short enough to remember, explained well enough to live by.

Read all 28 rules
  1. XXVIIILift the bag for whoever can’t reach the locker.
  2. IDress for your hosts, not for yourself.
  3. IIFit before fabric, fabric before brand.
The red-brick front of Claridge's hotel in Mayfair, London, with Union flags above the entrance Escapes A gentleman’s weekend in London A hatter from 1676, a wine merchant from 1698 and a martini worth crossing town for. A well-dressed, unhurried weekend in St James's and beyond. A plated dish and glasses of white wine on a candlelit restaurant table Escapes How to tip around the world, and how to do it with class Too little in New York is an insult. Too much in Tokyo causes confusion. What to leave in the places you're most likely to go, and how to do it gracefully.

The sections

Attire Tailoring, shoes, watches and grooming: how to dress well, buy once and look after what you own. Machines Phones, audio, home technology and cars, judged on craft and on how they feel to live with. The Cellar Whisky, cognac, wine and cocktails: what to buy, how to order and how to serve it well. Conduct Etiquette, hosting, gifts and letters: the manners that make other people comfortable. Escapes The hotels, restaurants, bars and cities worth travelling for.

A guide to living well and behaving well: the finest things, chosen with taste, and the manners that go with them. About Gentleman Coded