What David Gandy Can Do For Your Style
Blur’s Parklife turns 18!: The Britpop classic comes of age
Quality sports supplements at low prices
ALOHA!: Ten almost-tasteful Hawaiian print shirts
Here at Brandish, we are always on the look out for new up and coming designers. One that recently caught our attention was Common Sons. Their inaugural AW/11 collection, carried by both selfridges and ASOS, and is best described as British made knitwear for the modern gent. They draw inspiration from traditional sherman knits, while bringing giving it a contemporary twist and a little humor.
All the knitwear is made in the UK, in family run factories and printed with organic dyes. Knits range from £65-95 and are available here
From the classroom to the boardroom, the humble shirt has been your go-to garment for years and now gentlemen, the time has come to show it a little respect. So raise it forth from the depths of your wardrobe, free it from that sad wire hanger, and get ready to stand proud in a shirt fit for the finest of modern men.
As with any good relationship; look after your shirt and it will look after you. Think about it; George Clooney, Bradley Cooper, David Gandy – all perfectly turned out at any given occasion, and all with beautiful women on their arms. The obvious conclusion? Women love a well ironed shirt.
“But what about me?!” we hear you cry, fumbling to pull close your jacket over that crumpled excuse for an outfit. Well fear not, for we’ve teamed with Philips to bring you some top ironing tips… and no hanging your shirt in the shower “to steam it’ is not on the list!
Philips recently released the Man Iron to help those of us who are a bit more domestically challenged. This near-indestructible, sports-car inspired iron packs 2400W, a scratchproof soleplate and advanced steam technology, which should be enough to meet the requirements of any modern man. So for perfect shirts every time follow these five tips:
1) Cotton on to quality:
To look your best you need to wear your best. Choose a cotton shirt and avoid easy-iron fabrics – they are made with plastic so don’t look as fresh.
2) Heat it up:
Chose the right setting for your iron. For cotton shirts, chose a high heat and use steam to power out any stubborn creases. When it comes to removing folds, steam is the dream. The new Philips Man Iron delivers 100g punch of steam to bulldoze through even the toughest creases, leaving you to spend your time looking wholesomely debonair.
3) Get hot under the collar:
Start with the double thickness areas; the collar and the cuffs and iron from the centre
outwards. As the toughest parts, they’ll keep their shape and won’t crease while you work on the rest of the shirt. An iron with a slimmer tip will make it easier to ironing collars, cuffs and other harder-to-reach parts of the shirt.
4) Sleeve-sy does it:
Iron the sleeves next, as they can hang loose when you move onto the body – again preventing creases. Once they’re done, flip the shirt over and iron the back but be careful to avoid the buttons as they can leave button prints on the back of the shirt. Finish with the front of the shirt making sure that every last crease is out.
5) Hang and admire:
Like a fine piece of art, your shirt deserves to be hung properly. Ditch the wire hangers and find a sturdy wooden hanger. Not only will your shirts hang better on them and keep their shape for longer, but your wardrobe will look like that of a true gent. Win win.
With the worst humanitarian crisis in the world currently unfolding in the Horn of Africa, Threadless, BBH New York and the U.S. Fund for UNICEF have partnered to launch GOOD SHIRTS: a unique clothing line with 100 percent of the donations going to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to support relief efforts in the famine and drought-affected region.
We love the idea behind the Good Shirts collection, as each shirt represents aid items urgently needed in the Horn of Africa and is available at the cost of those items. So if you make a donation of $18.57, the exact cost of three insecticide treated mosquito nets, you will receive a t-shirt featuring a foiled mosquito. One generous individual donated $300,000, the cost for UNICEF to transport aid from Copenhagen to Nairobi, and in return received a shirt featuring a cargo plane. Its a simple yet effective way of creating awareness of the humanitarian crisis currently unfolding in Africa.
Shirts are currently available on Threadless here.
With Christmas parties just around the corner, many of you will be looking for the perfect suit for the night. To help you pick the right suit for your shape, we spoke to Nicholas Charles Tyrwhitt Wheeler – Founder & Owner of the London based menswear brand, Charles Tyrwhitt.
As Tyrwhitt says “a suit should make a gent look smarter, stand taller and feel more confident,”so while there are plenty of options for good off-the-peg-suits ,getting it right still requires some time and effort. With this in mind Tyrwhitt.has shared his Suits for all Sizes guide:
The Bigger Gent
Many men’s shirts have a roomier fit to accommodate the larger frame, as do some suits for the more strapping sort. However, there is nothing worse than a suit that fits correctly around the middle but extends well past the knuckles in the sleeve (a common gripe for larger chaps). The key thing to remember is that you should steer clear of anything that makes you appear larger than you already are; give three-button jackets a wide berth, choose a one-button jacket instead. This way you can show more tie, thus breaking-up block colour ways which can make you appear larger. Look for a store that offers bespoke tailoring service which will help the mighty man get everything in proportion and achieve a slick, sharp overall look.
Broad Shoulders
When choosing the right suit jacket for broad shoulders, you should remember that the waist area unfortunately suffers all too often. It is a common sight to see a broad gent sporting a suit jacket that accommodates his generous shoulders, but is far too baggy through the middle. Again, using a bespoke tailoring service will work towards avoiding this pitfall. Bear in mind that getting the right shoulder fit in a suit jacket is arguably the hardest thing to achieve in terms of suiting, so it is worth considering alterations for your off-the-peg buy. A skilled tailor will get the shoulder fit just right whilst nipping in the waist of your jacket just enough to produce a harmonious silhouette.
Long Arms
Achieving a smart look when you have longer than average arms shouldn’t be too arduous; a tailor will be able to properly adjust the length of your jacket sleeves in no time at all. As a rule, you should show no more than a ¼ of an inch of shirt outside your jacket sleeves, as anything more than this will make the sleeves appear too short. No shirt sleeve peeping out looks just plain odd, and should be avoided at all costs.
Muscular Builds
A common mistake that the built bloke makes is opting for a skin-tight suit to show off his fine physique. This is not only unnecessary but also perilous as he will only end up with a suit that is far too tight. If you are lucky (or dedicated) enough to be Herculean in build then this should come across in the way you hold yourself; not in the tightness of your smart attire. Perhaps consider buying your suit as two separate pieces- a jacket and trousers independent of each other- as this will allow you to choose a jacket large enough for your chest, arms and back without having to buy trousers which are too big for your slighter bottom half.
Shorter Men
The watch-word for diminutive dandies is “proportion”. Less-than-lofty lads ought to keep everything in proportion: sleeve, trouser and jacket length should all be exact in terms of measurements as this will work towards you looking the part. Furthermore, it is important to know what to avoid when dressing correctly for your height; bypass fashionable short jackets (the preserve of the more statuesque squire) and just say no to shorter trousers (a la Thom Browne) as these simply will not work.
In a nutshell, it is about being honest with yourself; knowing your size and shape, your pluses and negatives and your limitations.
The Manchester-based brand, Stone-Dri, are back with their first collection since the 1960’s. Despite the lengthy hiatus, the new collection sits confidently amongst other contemporary brands.
The Autumn/Winter ’11 collection, clearly pays great attention to the importance of functionality, utility and comfort using traditional outerwear fabrics such as blended wools and waxed cottons in a masculine colour pallet of gun metal, burgundy, traditional green and navy blue.
This simple attention to detail not only means it is a collection made up of timeless and heritage styles, but offers an uncomplicated and understated style, all fundamental to the restoration of this classic brand.
We absolutely love the collection and hope to see a lot more from Stone-Dri in the future.
The collection is available from www.stone-dri.com or from their boutique on ASOS
Marketplace.
I absolutely love the latest collection from the British fashion house Alexander McQueen.
Overall they have created a minimal but elegant collection. A few of my favourite pieces include the beautiful Prince of Wales check suit, the Fair Isle Jacquard knit button-up, and a cashmere turtle neck featuring the McQueen skull on the front.
They also have a few more casual pieces such as the bomber jacket, the cashmere pony-print v-neck sweater and classic skull motif scarf.
Adidas have rolled out the much anticipated third installment of the popular David Beckham / Design by J. Bond collection for Fall/Winter 2011.
The collaboration between sport and style icon David Beckham and Undefeated founder James Bond has been widely celebrated in the past, and will yet again see a contemporary range of footwear, outerwear, and accessories.
Much of the inspiration has clearly been pulled from collegiate imagery and has a very traditional American sportswear feel to it. This is something we have seen a lot of in the last two seasons. The varsity jacket in particular seems to be making a comeback. What do you make of this trend – will you be rocking the look this Fall/Winter?
A few weeks we announced that the upcoming fall/winter +J collection for Uniqlo would be the last. The lookbook is now out, and I have to say this is possibly the strongest collection yet.
There has undeniably been plenty of hype surrounding this final collection, but I can’t get enough of the contrasting colors, linear cuts and the mix of tech-infused materials with traditional fabrics.
Jil Sander’s was one of the first high-fashion designers to collaborate with a mass-market brand like this, and in many ways really set the benchmark for these types of collections. She has continually brought her own unique, dark and structural aesthetic to the Japanese retailer, and this collection is no exception.
One of the most interesting features of this collection is the mix of sportswear with highly tailored pieces. Although it might seem an unusual combination, it is a look that we are seeing quite a bit of at the moment, and something we expect to take off this winter.
The fianl J+ collection will be Available soon in Uniqlo stores the world over.
With summer days numbered, we have been looking at some of the trends we expect to see this coming fall/winter. One trend that continues to stand out for us, is the focus on the ratio between the softness and volume of garments. Expect to see everything from slick tailored pieces juxtapose with slouchy long cardigans to skinny jeans and warm chunky knits. One brand that is really owning this trend is Avelon.
Avelon was first discovered by Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana for their multibrand boutique Spiga 2 in Milan. It is now listed among the 3 bestsellers, and it is not hard to see why.
The collection has a really urban industrial feel, and plays beautifully with shapes and proportions. Leather features heavily through out the collection and appears on almost everything from denim to knits, shirts and tops in the form of elaborated detailing and patchworks. This dedication to detail, is what really makes this collection really stand out for me. I love all the subtle details, such a their signature metal zip lined with bright blue satin.
The label has built its philosophy around the idea of constantly mixing different materials and textures in order to create the most unusual effects, this collection does exactly that.
I predict that Avelon is a label we will be hearing a lot more from in the future.
Summer seems to have escaped this year with a chilling 14 degrees this morning when I left the house. But as much as I love sun and park life, I can’t help but to love the colder months when you get to wrap up warm in wonderful clothes – my growing up in the Arctic could also be a reason for this… and my love for ‘look-at-me’ knitwear.
If you’re looking to invest in your winter wardrobe but want to do it in a green way, Edun is the place to look. The brand of Ali Hewson and Bono – yes that Bono – has an amazing collection out for this autumn/winter that will make you look dashing.
Using layers and dimension to create a well-travelled feel that is juxtaposed with modern silhouettes, Edun offers unique styles with added pockets, stitching and darting details, and the sweaters and knits span the spectrum, from lightweight layering to a fresh twist on vintage Fair Isles patterns.
Trousers range from clean, slim and straight tailored to tapered leg and drop crotch. Something for everyone! The denim is work wear influenced and most of it is made from recycled fabrics in Africa, with an organic wash to finish.
The seasons’ colour choices are inspired by natural elements such as stone and ash accented with petrol and ice, whereas red brick and cranberry wine play off sediment black and dark neutrals, like storm and tar, are accented with raisin, mulberry and peacock.
This is definitely style with substance!
The rain is back and although I hope this is not it for Summer, I can’t help but be a bit excited for cooler days, drinks in country pubs next to roaring fires…. and of course knitwear. Okay, Okay I am obsessed I know, but if we have to suffer through months of dark rainy weather, we should at least get to look good doing it.
So like any knitwear obsessive, I have been keeping a close eye on what to expect this winter. One of my favourites so far has to be from the Italian fashion house Esemplare. This is their second collection to hit the UK and consists of knitwear to outerwear.
Esemplare has built a name for themselves with high quality wardrobe staples, with innovative treatments combined with sartorial detailing. Alessandro Pungetti, Creative Director of Esemplare, spoke about the collection stating ”in life there is much more to do and discover, this collection was designed to give life to a menswear line which is essential but never to casual. We maximize the fundamental details to give each garment greater charm and personality”
This season expect ‘city slicker’ overcoats paired with heavy knits and hobo chic jackets. Knitwear made from deluxe Jacquard Norwegian wool in an array of Autumnal colours. All the outerwear is treated and garment dyed to create a worn vintage feel. The addition of detachable collars and hoods in the lightweight jackets, make these items transitional pieces from Winter to Spring.
What do you think of the collection?
In May, Levis introduced the Commuter line. The latest collection aimed specifically at cyclists. In order to highlight the features of this groundbreaking product they have created a short video dubbed The Commuter. The moving background sets the tone, as we see the different features of the jeans in action. These technical jeans are surprisingly affordable and a great purchase for an urban cyclist. To find out more about the jeans check out original post.
Hart Schaffner Marx have launched their Fall/Winter 2011 collection, with a great short video featuring Joseph Abboud as he takes the viewer behind the scenes of collection photo shoot. I have been a big fan of Abboud’s classic yet sophisticated design for some time now, so was quite excited to see what he has in store for this coming season.
Based on the video we can expect to see elegant colors and textures, key sportswear basics and effortless tailoring. Take mental notes now!
Dockers have been doing a great job re-brand themselves recently, proving they are no longer just for your dad. The latest product to join their line-up is the Alpha Khaki. To celebrate the launch Dockers have partnered with the New York barbershop, The Blind Barber. Despite the fact they have only been open for a year, they have developed a cult following and are best known for their quality cuts in a subdued lifestyle environment – qualities mirrored by the Dockers.
The Alpha khaki combines aims to combine the sensibilities of denim including a slimmer fit, lower rise and beefier construction with the comfort of khakis. The Alpha features “reinforcement, topstitching and over-lock seaming details, along with some of the dressed-up touches of a more tailored trouser. Similar to a pair of jeans, the ‘Alpha’ is cut from heavier-weight khaki fabrics, specifically selected to wear, wrinkle and age in ways denim would soften and break in over time.”
Expect to see the Alpha in stores from August in 12 different colourways.
From:What David Gandy Can Do For Your Style