APC beanie rivals grandmother’s best efforts in the “tea-cosy” knitwear category

After all those Christmas mornings spent moaning about the knitwear that granny sent you, it turns out that you actually should have been thanking her for prepping you in the future of fashion. You snotty little ingrate, you.

A.P.C.’s winter accessory range features a heavy cable-knit peaked-beanie, which is a smart and original variation on the cotton/lycra versions that have been a street fashion mainstay for the past few years. The 100% wool knit is also more likely to keep your bonce warm. If you’re unsure of the £35 price tag (which I think is great value), Topman have a very good likeness for £12. Or you could always get Grandmother to knit you one for nothing…

Triple 5ive Soul Metropolitan Canteen bag

Perfect for battling through urban warzones (or simply walking through Hackney) the Metropolitan Canteen Bag (£40) from Triple Five Soul combines medi-pack looks with everyday practicalities.

Spacious enough to accommodate a 15" laptop, the MCB also provides for your documents, mobile and music devices or just a couple of extra clips of ammo. It also has a neat plaid design on the inside of the flap.

[Via Uncrate]

Fang cufflinks from Stephen Einhorn have definite bite

I’m not really a cufflinks man – they’re usually too fiddly and no one gets to see them if you’re wearing a suit. I also dislike the way they knock against desk tops when you sit at them and put your hands down, but that’s just my own personal neurosis.

However, I may need to readdress my cufflink phobia after catching sight of these awesome Fang Cufflinks from British jewelry designer Stephen Einhorn. Although they’re a little bit gothy, I love the design, and they look as though they’d be a cinch to loop through your cuffs, lacking that annoying little swivel-bit that most cufflinks have. If the Devil wears cufflinks, these are the ones that he’d go for.

They’re quite pricey at £138, but are made from sterling silver, and come in a rather nifty gift wrap made from plaster that needs to be smashed to get at the goods, which I think is a neat little touch.

MosMea explanation mark bag. Designed for women, should be worn by everyone

Just so there are no pretenses that could potentially lead to you feeling like an idiot, this is a ladies bag, designed for women, by a woman. Wear this in the right (or wrong, possibly) circles, and someone is sure to point out this indubitable yet, in my view, irrelevant fact.

While not essentially masculine, I think this satchel by MosMea could certainly be worn by a gentleman – I’ve seen more feminine bags aimed at men – and I’d have no trouble slinging one over my shoulder.

Italian designed, which is evident in its sleek simplicity, the bag features an explanation mark that really offsets its look. I think it might be reptile effect leather but, because I can’t read Italian, I can’t be 100% sure. I really shouldn’t be so ignorant, should I.

DB Clay wallets: Vegan, vegetarian and dolphin friendly

DB Clay has just launched its new website and with it a whole range of eco-friendly and super stylish wallets. Made from a vinyl-free material called "Tope", the wallets are free from hazardous chemicals that can leach out through your jeans and into your skin, resulting in horrible diseases such as cancer and haemorrhoid’s.

And if that’s not enough, the method by which they’re manufactured ensures that there’s no heavy metal or dioxin by-products that could potentially pollute the environment and kill thousands of baby dolphins and/or orphaned elephants. But most importantly, they look totally rad, and cost about £23.

[Via Notcot]

Retro sunglasses from Original Penguin

Original Penguin, purveyors of the finest polo shirts anywhere on this good and gracious planet, have launched a range of sweet looking eyewear. Ignore the fact that our ever-darkening skies render the practical qualities of sunglasses useless – we all know that we only don a pair to look cool.

These Aruba sunnies (£160) have a definite 1980s quality about them, without actually being Wayfarers or aviators, so you can look retro and, conversely, original at the same time. Make sure you wear them with a smart polo, golfing gloves and quaffed hair for that ultimate "Caddyshack" look.

Bison brooch from Orange Button

I think this Bison brooch is meant for women but it’s way to cool to give to a partner or loved one. I love cutout wood badges, they remind me of US Tv shows where the dad has a ‘den’ and he keeps all his hunting trophies and college flags… Go-oo Tigers!
Wear it with a gruff beard for a outdoors-y look that says ‘no one can get as close to me as my pipe’. It’ll cost you $32 yankee dollars from Orange Button but you’ll have to get the air rifle and paranoid demeanour yourself.

Tartan headwear by FU-R

There is a consolation to the weather taking a turn for the worse – it means that I get to purchase lots of lovely winter-suitable clothing. And it’s not just insulating jackets, jumpers and boots that get my fashion-juices ‘a flowing. Think of all those accessories…

My first head wear purchase of the season will definitely be this FU-R Andrews hat. I’m not too sure what type of hat it is, but I certainly like it, especially as it only costs £10. And it’s guaranteed to keep your head warm as well as looking great.

[Via Antenna]

Philip Lim’s ’08 eye wear collection preview

These shades are a preview of Philip Lim’s eye wear collection to be released for the designer’s spring ’08 range. The unisex aviators will come in four colour schemes, with navy and red joining the yellow and cream ones shown here.

Less rounded than normal aviators, the sunnies still have a distinctly feminine look, despite their unisex tag and would be suited to the man with more "delicate" features.

Once released, the sunglasses will retail for a fairly reasonable £120.

[Via Notcouture]

Still Life NYC leather fedora

Still Life New York City are the purveyors of the finest head wear on their side of the Atlantic, creating hats in the styles that were popular in by gone eras. Each of their many styles is associated with a quote from a celebrity, playwright or author, which immediately makes the hats ten times cooler. I’m particularly fond of the Hunter S Thompson fedora, despite its slightly pimpish qualities.

The big draw for me though is the above leather fedora ($200) which although it looks like it would be worn by Justin Timberlake, isn’t endorsed by the star. This would look great twinned up with a half-length black leather jacket and a smart tee underneath.

Get high with All The Kings Men Midi laptop bag

I love the understatement of style and colour on the All The Kings Men Midi laptop bag, but what makes it super special is the fact that the straps are made from 100% genuine airliner seat belts. So that fact isn’t amazing in itself, but I think adds a touch of class and sets the bag apart from all the others.

The main body of the bag canvas, and is large enough to hold a 15" Macbook, plus a little extra room for your sarnies and a jazz mag. Prices are from about £90, and the bag goes on sale on the 5th of September.

Roman invasion: The Invicta Mini Sac returns

Back in early 1980s Rome, a new fashion trend exploded that saw the citizens of the ancient city all take to wearing brightly coloured, stripy day-packs, with young and old sporting the Invicta Mini Sac as both a fashion accessory and practical carry all.

And now it’s back, crossing both the continent and the Atlantic, and set to become the latest primary-coloured-craze since Crocs to sweep the globe. Fashionable or not, I love the simple, truly continental style of the Invicta Mini Sac, and it looks like the perfect sort of bag that you could take to the beach. And even if every Tom, Dick and Harry starts posturing about in one, remember what they say about being in Rome…

Incase Sling Pack bag

Incase, the same fellas who make some of the niftiest iPhone covers going, have created this neat little back pack that’s designed for your laptop (Macs specifically) but also everything else. Pared down to one strap, the Sling Pack’s (£45) draw is in its simple, economic styling and practicality, with room for all your accessories, plus a "fur" lined compartment specifically made for your beloved iPod to sit in.

[Via Uncrate]