The Saturday Miscellany: Fashion boy wonders; filter coffee; how to avoid getting a round in

Moziah Bridges is the latest in a line of boy style icons, whose look can be described as 'gentleman-child' (Annabella Charles Photography)

The digested fad: Young fashion boy wonders

By Luke Blackall

An interview in Vogue is a dream for any aspiring designer, so for Moziah Bridges to land one aged 11 is a coup. The dapper Bridges, from Memphis, is the latest in a line of boy style icons, whose look can be described as 'gentleman-child'. Bowties are common.

Similarly in 2009, Arlo Weiner (son of Mad Men creator Matt Weiner), a crushed-velvet-jacket-wearing eight year old, earnt glowing press and fashion followers.

People tend to lose interest when such young style mavens become teens, but that won't be a problem for a while for another swish newcomer, Alonso Mateo – a stylist's son with over 53,000 Instagram followers – as he's only five years old.

A brief opinion I hold

By Chris Green

Filter coffee is the king of coffee. Made well, it's how coffee is supposed to be: strong, fresh, invigorating and sociable. It is not an Americano. Bing it.

Unfortunately, in Britain it's not done very well, so in cafés people queue up to order coffee blasted with steam from chrome machines rather than just taking a seat and waiting for a bottomless mug to appear, as unfailingly happens in the US.

Luckily, some coffee chains offer it now – although it's still nowhere near as good as the stuff you can brew at home.

So next time you find yourself ordering a soya latte with chocolate sprinkles or whatever, wake up and ask for a cup of the real stuff.

Did I mention it is also cheaper?

Chris Green is Deputy News Editor of The Independent

Instant ethics

By Ellen E Jones

Dear Ellen

Q. What's the best way to ask people on the bus to turn their music down?

A. There are those with leaky headphones, those who think their rubbish music is edifying and those looking for an excuse to stab someone. Wait for your stop, ask, then exit. Your trip will be no less miserable, but it maintains the etiquette of public spaces and you'll live another day.

@MsEllenEJones

How to: Avoid getting a round in

By Liam O'Brien

The tyranny of round-buying at the pub can turn a convivial get-together into a hotbed of angst. But the light of wallet can get by – with some help...

Do you smoke? Well you do now, so congratulations. The fag-ash dash is an effective way to avoid buying your round, putting you out of sight and, hopefully, out of mind. As soon as you see the dregs starting to swirl in glasses, make your move outside.

The breakaway round is a strong tactical move. As your regular round approaches, persuade one of your friends to go rogue and switch with you from beer to wine. Now, if you're lucky, you might only have to buy for one other person, rather than four or more.

Being a pub bore is effective. Either be the designated driver, or explain that you simply can't afford to buy anything other than something pale and nasty. It's a more acceptable admission these days. And honestly, everyone wishes they could just go solo anyway.