Post-Christmas and the inevitable unwrapping, posing and dressing that occurs as a direct result, I find myself on the hunt for new purchases to slyly absorb into my wardrobe (NYE Resolution: hide fewer credit card bills!)
I have decided to bring back an old Brandish feature- the ‘Wishlist.’ I begin with the ‘Unisex Circle Scarf’ from American Apparel.The scarf can be worn a mesmerising 12 ways for girls (as shown in a diagram on the label’s website,) but I think us boys could get just as much fun out of this great winter accessory.
When your own boss writes that he wants to burn his stripy scarf it’s time to write a definite guide to scarves.
We featured a stripy scarf pick way back in November but we need to go back to basics. The obvious purpose of a scarf is to keep your neck warm, but sartorially speaking a scarf has a multitude of uses, jump through for our guide to the scarf, and burn that stripy scarf!
“…remember that there are no jokes when it comes to airport security.” Sage but inaccurate words from Bruce Schneier an aviation security expert commenting on what is currently the biggest joke in aviation security: the Gun Suitcase available from kidslivedesign.com retailing at a gun toting £98.
This suitcase is causing quite the stir in today’s climate of moral indignation and scare mongering from the media, but what do you think? Let us know on our Facebook wall or even write to the Daily Mail, they love this kinda crap- if only we could somehow link it to immigrants…
Stripe scarves are starting to become so ubiquitous that they’re joining Taz socks and Homer Simpson ties in the naffness leagues, not any old stripe scarf though, it’s the fine stripe stretchy knit scarf with usually comes in a burgundy melange of colours and has fringing on the ends.
Originated by Paul Smith who tried to update the wool school scarf (which is still a glorious accessory despite the association) and then copied by every high street retailer going, this is the one item that everyone seemed to get for Christmas if they didn’t already own it. Pick a tube carriage at random and you can bet at least ten men have got one of these scarves round their neck. No more please!
Stick around to see our alternatives to the stripy scarf tomorrow and jump through to find out who the culprits are. Are you a proud owner of a stripy scarf and can’t see what the fuss is about? Let me know on our Facebook Blog page.
Available as part of the new Jil Sander collection at OkiNi are some very lovely accessories that are the very essence of the pared-down but colourful 60s-themed collection. I particularly like this key ring – pricey at nearly £100 quid – but surely to be replicated elsewhere at more affordable prices. The Timex watch strikes a new note in an unusual colourway that only confirms that one way to make a statement this S/S is through strong colours. Meanwhile this chunky, plaid tie would look awesome over a smart, chambray shirt. Finally, the Jimi rubber wallet available in a range of luscious colours is almost edible. Themes for SS09 accessories? Cute, colourful, retro and graphic. How clear is that?
You know when relatives get Christmas presents that just get under your skin? Well, Hama beads were that present during this holiday season. Whether in my pockets, in my shoes, woven onto my laces, down my skinny jeans (don’t ask!) they were everywhere. The trick with this gift is that you make designs out of the beads and then iron them for a minute to get a solid design. When a young cousin made me a heart it all clicked- these Hama beads were a replica of the It-accessory of the moment as seen on Kanye West and Brandish. And they only cost £3.75 off Amazon and for that price who cares if the recommended customer age is 5?!
Check the pictures of some designs that I managed to snap over the holidays!
As videos go this one is kinda dull. There are no explosions, guns or tits nor is there a girl satisfying a horse/dog/herself (delete as applicable) so it’s doubtful that this is the kind of fodder we would usually ogle on our TVs or behind our bedroom’s locked door. However there are shoes, lots of lovely shoes. The video is from Band of Outsiders and showcases their collabo with Sperry bringing some awesome deck shoes for the coming season.
Hit play to see what to look out for in the coming months.
Over on the newly facelifted hypebeast.com is a slightly gushing but none the less interesting interview with Tommy O’Gara of Dita. Dita sit happily in the high end of the eyewear market making their name over the years for excellent craftsmanship rarely matched by other brands. Concentrating most of their efforts on the ever stylish Californian and Japanese consumers O’Gara describes the brand as having a “retro modern edge” which fits nicely into the current climate of retro style- definitely one to look out for.
Right so hopefully by now you have your look squared off to a tee, but as I may have mentioned before style does not begin or end with your clothes so now it’s time to adorn your bed with some uber cool bedding. From the mad caps at Bless comes this bed spread with a life size sleeping couple printed onto the set, I love it- even if it is a little bit creepy.
The set is available from Azita along with other Bless items.
Like most things in fashion the popularity of glasses waxes and wains, right now it’s waxing- which is lucky for me, a closet speccy four eyes- thick rims and in particular Ray Bans are hot shit right now so much so that people with perfect 20 – 20 vision are donning pairs with clear glass lenses in. Now is the perfect time to announce some exclusive and pretty unaccessible frames for you to drool over, to the left is the Moscot Lemtosh frames in a whole new colourway, these frames have outlasted entire generations spanning pop culture from Buddy Holly to Johnny Depp and to the right is the latest collab between Stussy and Kotake Cyobei Saku, more contemporary than the Moscot this pair of the already proven Naomi frames takes a subtle edge with an all black rim.
Both these glasses are slated for release only in the east; the Moscot from Visual Culture in Hong Kong and the Stussy from their Harajuku store and their Japanese website from the 2nd and 3rd of January respectively, so if your heading that way in the new year then lucky you.
I love it when a good fashion mystery gets solved, and last week Style Salvage unearthed the names of the two siblings we featured recently on Love the Look.
They’re called Dee and Ricky and they make the cute Lego heart badges snapped by the Sartorialist and sported by Kanye West. They come in classic red, multi or for the dead inside, black. It’s too late for Christmas but they would make a perfectly non-soppy Valentine’s gift, or even better a post-Christmas treat for yourself should Santa’s haul prove to be disappointing.
The other day I posted an alternative to the bow tie .. and here’s another. The kerchief worn as necktie adds a jaunty, hipster edge to your shirt collar. There are several ways to knot, consider your personal style and what you’re wearing it with. Ideally find something vintage. Silk always looks dashing or use that spotted pocket square you’ve never had a use for.
A recent Facehunter post shows this accessory idea off to stunning effect though it’s something that The Sartorialist has also featured before, and can even be spotted in current Uniqlo window styling.
So take a break from Christmas shopping and dig out that gem. But be advised to go for subtlety in colour and proportion: unless you really ARE channeling Quentin Crisp.
Everyone is guilty of it, (well not everyone, I have a colour-coded Google Docs spreadsheet, natch!) but last-minute Christmas shopping can often leave you with gifts that have an air of desperation about them.
These picks have something for every wallet and they all carry an air of “What this? I bought this in November” insouciance. The Habitat lamp is a tasteful nudge for every Ikea junkie, and the watch will help the wearer get the ‘Sexy Cab Driver’ look which is going to be very important in ’09. A ‘To Do’ tattoo list is useful when compiling all those New Year’s resolutions, and all the more useful because they’re temporary. Resolution, what resolution?!
Christmas is fast approaching and if you’re still stuck for ideas then Franklin Prince’s bracelets (£10) make the perfect stocking filler or thoughtful Secret Santa. Hippy chic is not something you often see on Brandish and to be quite honest I’m glad, but these bracelets are like a smarter, more grown-up version of the tat you wear around your wrist as a teen; men’s jewellery doesn’t get much better than this.
Lapo Elkann, Fiat heir and Gianni Agnelli’s grandson wears similar style bracelets with a suit to personalise a formal look and it’s a damn sight more stylish than donning a pair of novelty socks which lets face it, no one wants for Christmas!
A far cry from the traditional design of the Rolex Submariner, New York based watch brand Nooka has added a couple of new pieces to its Christmas 08 collection. Both pieces sporting interesting design features and high quality construction and materials. These watches are for the man who feels a traditional dial watch is beneath him, though I don’t know how well I’d fair at reading these with a skin full of Christmas Spirit.
Post-Christmas and the inevitable unwrapping, posing and dressing that occurs as a direct result, I find myself on the hunt for new purchases to slyly absorb into my wardrobe (NYE Resolution: hide fewer credit card bills!)
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