The more I write about summer clothes, and slowly accept that summer isn’t actually coming, I look to next winter and start structuring my cold wardrobe. Coats are a notoriously hard thing to get right and a single inch too short or too long can ruin not only an entire look, but an entire wardrobe (well, almost.)
The Fashionisto has lifted the lid on the latest H&M collection for A/W 2009 and this faux-crushed velvet coat has a bit of an edge on other high-street pieces. With what looks like a simple collar and in solid black, the material of this coat allows it to be easily worn with any items while being a stand-out piece in itself.
I would keep to simple tones but contrast fabrics and textures to build up the layers of an elaborate get-up. Throw in a bit of tacky bling-age to mix up the expensive looking coat but keep it minimal; garish garb is best when less.
Over coffee the other day, I was talking to a friend who suffers from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder.) Listening to the misery of days spent not knowing what to wear each morning (friends will know of how immense the impact of fashion is upon my life!) I decided to go on the lookout for a designer who can deliver trans-seasonal clothes that will carry us males throughout the year.
b Store London is edging towards the avant-garde and I wasn’t at all expecting to find my SAD solution on its site. Its b Clothing range is full of really wearable, all-year pieces and I would be proud to don this shirt-come rain or shine.
For the British, summer is a time of seaside, (dubious) sun and 99p ice creams. It can be hard to find the perfect sun ‘n’ sea outfit and I won’t bore you with details of the economy but, basically, we should all be investing in classic investment fashion pieces. Could there be anything more perfect than these cropped trousers in a brilliant azure blue. At $798 (£542,) they might be rather over-priced (okay, very over-priced) but they can be worn in the heat with a basic white tee and Raf Simons gladiator sandals or in the winter with black brogues, a black tee and a grey cardie.
The one problem? They are only stocked up to a size 4 so, as if the beach wasn’t enough in itself, you now have even more reason to drag yourself to the gym after work!
I know, I know; Topman has become a bit of a regular feature on Brandish but when I noticed this look on the label’s website during my regular internet trawl, I couldn’t resist commenting.
While I’m not too sure about the rather peculiar Alice Dellal haircut (as highlighted in a previous Brandish post.) I think he gets off with it due to his incredible look- brash patter shirt, acid-washed jeans and skinny belt…but messy enough to avoid the overly-manicured style of the 80s fashionisto.
More to come on Topman’s ‘Motel Arizona’ look soon!
(Shirt, £25 on topman.com)
These marvellous shorts are the union of two happy coincidences: OkiNi starting to feature some little known, (often Japanese) labels and a certain trend for kerrazy 80′s style pattern. Everything is great about these short trousers by Humor, the mix of colours, the brand (you’ve got to love a label that is ‘heavily influenced by the metropolitan underground music’), the cute, turquoise drawstring, THAT print. Like something spawned by a meeting of Timmy Mallet and Jeremy Scott in an elevator (actually, don’t linger on that thought) these shorts have got to bring a smile to your face, and at such a good price.
Serving Suggestion: wear with the finest of hi-tops, a sleeveless white T-shirt and some badass tattoos whilst listening to Arthur Russell on headphones.
Currently gracing all the best mens glossies is the Mulberry ad for the Eliot Tote bag. It’s rare for a particular model to be touted as the equivalent of a male ‘It’ bag but I guess Mulberry are applying a trusted formula here.
What makes this bag so lovely? The ad photography brings out the heavy grain of the thick leather looking creamier and much less starkly white than in the storefront image here. The ad styling also helps – layered neon knits under leather, low slung jeans also (crucially) in white. But nothing attracts attention away from that bag. Other selling points: the canvas handles look sturdy and practical. Its a tote – as with the cotton tote this exudes youthful exuberance, no PC-laptop lugging or sweaty footie kit here. It’s value suggests you only carry the best items – Fantastic Man natch, Tom Ford shades and it’s roomy enough to slot in your yoga mat. The price? Oh yes, a very It-bag £495.
From Catwalk Queen… This has to be the strangest news that I have read in a while (in the last 24 hours, at least). Liam Gallagher is getting his hands on the rag trade by launching his own fashion label, Pretty Green. Nope, I’m not joking either.
It seems the Oasis frontman has his sights set on fashion, why? Because “he likes clothes.” Fair enough I guess. The label is beginning with menswear, with a limited edition collection of classic pieces including trench coats, knit, footwear and t-shirts. Pretty green or pretty bad? You decide. Click play on promo video above to watch.
Spring/Summer stock is starting to roll in to BBlessing‘s online store. Known for stocking hot US brands like Patrick Ervell, Adam Kimmel and Rag and Bone, BBlessing’s own line is definitely worth checking out. Attention to detail is always spot on and the quality of the garments needs to be experienced to really appreciate their unique take on streetwear meets formality.
The latest BBlessing collection inspired (with typical obscurity) by ‘the mythology surrounding the legend of plane-hijacker DB Cooper’ comes in a rich colour palette of blues, greens, washed greys and tans, more tangibly ‘inspired by the textures and tones of the Pacific Northwest’.
Stand-out pieces include the selvedge denim jacket – made formal by being lined – and these beautiful, pleated linen shorts.
The physical store with it’s crack-pipe chandeliers and American Gothic aesthetic is a must-see stop-off if you really want to experience the excitement of the menswear scene in New York. Right in the heart of the hipster-centric Lower East Side it doesn’t get any better, though their website offers a great taster and a good shopping experience in itself.
Spring has definitely sprung – at least for now. Before we’re plunged back into another ice age, consider freshening up your Spring wardrobe with some lemony options. OkiNi have added new options to their Margiela range in some surprising colourways that lift the classic pieces out of their minimal roots.
Those very lovely Margiela hi-tops I posted about a while back are now available in a very daffodil yellow. Just as lovely as the off-white this deep yellow would look great with indigo denim.
Also eye-catching are the lemon-toned jeans in an ‘aged patina’ and this yellow graphic print T-shirt which shouts “Bring me sunshine!”
Probably unwise to wear more than one piece at once in case people think you’re founding a new religion but individually, great accents to lift an outfit.
Last week I was in search for a pair of school shoes. Beginning with classic brogues, I sampled a pair of black loafers and sneakily tried on a pair of Paul Smith Jermyns (with glorious plum laces) before ending up with a pair of not-so-exciting pointed Topman lace-ups. Inspired by this bout of school-shoe shopping I ventured onto Oki-Ni and came across their Doc Martens. Floral. Striped. Coloured. Neon. But then I came across their 1461 shoe and couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
A shoe, in simple black leather, that was more than double the price but half as nice as many of the shoes I had seen the previous day. These Dr. Martens did not look worth their £70 price tag, especially in comparison to my £35 Topman shoes. Granted, the Dr. Martens are probably better quality and might last longer but, are they even that easy on the eye? I, for one, wouldn’t want to be seen in them.
Fashion is fickle, even in times of economic recession. See after the jump for my Top 5 Best on a Budget Smart Shoes.
Pete Versus Toby are an Australian label and they are easily one of the coolest new menswear labels out there. From the incredible hair of their model to the vintage-feel of their prints, I am fast falling in love with this great label!
For their latest collection “designer Marco Zirov has collaborated with Byron Bay artsists Lex Williams and Raina Hede to develop an in house winter range that juxtaposes the falling Roman Empire (USA) with Rothschild family inspired sketches. Through developing the diverse range, a study of drug use and its effects on an artist was also important.”
The collection will be in shops soon!
(Image: The Fashionisto)
The Fashionisto has reported that Oki-ni is redesigning their website today and he has a quote from Pete Hellyer, Oki-ni Design Manager.
“While the products and mix has been constantly evolving the site has remained pretty much the same. 18 months on from the re-launch, what worked then…now doesn’t. We felt that it was time for a change, an evolution that puts the site on par with the products. And we hope that you agree.”
Prepare yourself for brilliant new labels, a blog, fashion archives and designer profiles. All exciting stuff, for sure!
Affordable quality pedallers UniQlo are making your shopping experiences that little bit easier by opening a concession in Selfridges Oxford Street. Being UniQlo the space is one of the more colourful parts of Selfridges, looking similar to a Pantone reference book which is in no way a bad thing. The move is designed to introduce the brand to a whole new demographic of buyers and really sets their move into the UK and Worldwide markets in stone. The concession being markedly smaller than any of their stand alone stores, carries an edited menswear collection including their premium ranges, still being competitively priced especially when compared with the other brands that Selfridges stock. The store opened last Monday so get yourself down there and have a shoofty.
On top of this the brand seems to be advancing on multiple fronts as this new concession in London’s shopping hot spot comes on the back of the announcement of UniQlo’s Menswear Tailoring Collection and Premium Denim Collection, both of which will be part of the edited Menswear collection Selfridges will carry.
The UniQlo Tailoring Collection caters to the formal end of the market but still holds the same attention to detail and affordable quality synonymous with UniQlo garments.The line includes blazers, waistcoats, suit jackets, suit trousers, ties and tailored shorts all intended to be mixed at matched with other items in and out of the Tailoring Collection. The line being formal as it is still holds the bright and uplifting look that all UniQlo pieces do with even the darker more formal pieces looking clean and stylish. Prices starting at £29.99 this is definitely something to keep a fashion eye out for.
UniQlo’s Premium Denim Collection is a step up for the brands usually low priced but none the less well cut denim, collaborating with Kaihara and boasting entirely Japanese production for the line this looks to be of interest to any denim heads out there. Kaihara, a brand older than my nan only turned to denim production in the 1970′s but soon made it’s name in Japanese denim producing the entire garment from yarn to finished product to their own high standard. This kind of quality and dedication to a garment sits well with the UniQlo brand going to great lengths with this line to really make an impact on the denim marketplace using raw cotton and traditional antique looms to make the selvedged denim. All pieces in the line are priced competitively at £49.99 and well worth a gander.
The more I write about summer clothes, and slowly accept that summer isn’t actually coming, I look to next winter and start structuring my cold wardrobe. Coats are a notoriously hard thing to get right and a single inch too short or too long can ruin not only an entire look, but an entire wardrobe (well, almost.)
From:What David Gandy Can Do For Your Style