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This parka from YMC with it’s asymmetrical buttoning and wooden toggles is the perfect lightweight jacket for spring. It’s waxed so it’s waterproof and if you don’t fancy the beige colourway, then ASOS are stocking a navy version.
This classic aran patterned cardigan comes a ‘flame’ colour. It’s loose fitting and features leather elbow patches. This is the second wave of the Folk SS collection, and all of it is avialable either on the Folk website or at oki-ni. At the beginning of In January, Folk released a video of their SS collection and it’s available to view below.
Cardigan by Folk £340
It cannot be denied that the Sixties are having a moment right now. There seems to have been an upswing in media inspired by or set in the Sixties, from Mad Men gracing television screens to the year’s big awards contenders in film, A Serious Man, Nine and An Education. The recently released Youth in Revolt and this Friday’s A Single Man continue this trend and show that slick Sixties style is still a winner.
A Single Man based on the book by Christopher Isherwood, comes with flawless sartorial credit, being the directorial debut of the man heralded as the ‘saviour of Gucci’, Tom Ford. Colin Firth, as the main character George wears costumes designed by Ford throughout, a parade of sharp suits, crisp white shirts and slim ties. George describes his clothing as a kind of ‘armour’ that he puts on piece by piece, steeling him for battle with the world.
At first glance Youth in Revolt seems a world away from glossy, impeccable period detail of A Single Man. But note: gawky Michael Cera, in order to win over the girl next door, creates a dashing alter ego to give him the confidence to woo her. This alter ego, named Francois Dillenger and based on the French New Wave icon Jean-Paul Belmondo, rocks the causual Sixties look in a shirt by hip label Band of Outsiders.
There really is no better era for dressing to look sharp and well-put together and making you seem confident and a little louche. Granted, a new Tom Ford suit is a bit out of most people’s price ranges but you can easily recreate the look shopping on the high street. Try Uniqlo for affordable separates, especially their J+ range, their collaboration with designer Jil Sander. 
Above all, never forget the accessories.
Try the ever reliable Top Man for skinny ties, Aspinal of London for pocket squares and Retrospecs for Anglo American glasses. Add a tie clip and a tumbler of scotch and you’re ready to go.
Winter is often a season of necessity versus beauty. Unless one has enough in his wallet to buy a piece like this Alexander McQueen (a cool £1,095,) fashionistos are left to settle for cheap and not always stylish alternatives. The gilet (or body-warmer) is a fickle fashion item and this season it has been made-up in enticing chambray by label Wings + Horns.
Gilets often look awful; after all, the Michelin Man-look has never suited anyone. However, when worn over-sized and unzipped with skinny jeans and leather brogues, your padded-tube of fabric becomes the key component of a high-fashion look.
I would say ‘Yay’ to the idea of a gilet- simply follow Brandish’s style advice and you’ll be looking awesome anyway!
Giles Deacon for New Look, one of the few designer X high street collaborations for men returns next week with another collection, featuring a selection of shirts, t-shirts, jeans and knits.
We like that the New Look collections are a chance to see Deacon’s lighter take on fashion with witty t-shirt prints and bright colours. Hopefully we’ll see see pieces which push boundaries a little more in future collections but as always it’s baby steps for menswear. Having said that the designer himself wears quite simple and classic clothes, miles away from his last Pac Man womenswear catwalk show. What do you think? Take our poll and let us know!
Alexander McQueen‘s menswear collections get more and more interesting by the season. This latest show was a clear departure in mood from his last show, ‘The Queensberry Rules’.
There was still a menacing undercurrent, with vibes of tortured artist coming through, but the overall atmosphere was that of a more feminine creativity. McQueen’s traditional rustic tailoring the look reminded me of some of the Italian workmen that the Sartorialist sometimes snaps.
Onto the gushing, the patchwork shirt and jacket are utterly gorgeous, and regardless of being a woman I want! Similarly the paint effect items moves the digital print trend forwards and the paint-spattered pieces deserve to become a fully-fledged DIY blogger trend.
Best worn: When (pretending) to paint the front room of your Milan apartment.
The second instalment of our summer picks from menswear buyer Lee Douros. There are some beautiful items that will take you stylishly into autumn including a wonderful pair of cornflower blue deck shoes.
Having made their first foray into menswear my-wardrobe have got some exciting brands on board for Autumn, can’t wait for their A/W picks!
We’re still playing post-Glastonbury catchup with all the menswear shows, but the collections have set the cogs in the cranium a-whirring. First up is YSL‘s collection, which features the director, Samuel Benchetrit’s son lazing around a hotel room Nouvelle Vague style. The clothes themselves seem to be a mix of high-low tailoring and rock chic. Looking forward to seeing this in more detail.
Lee Douros is the menswear buyer for my-wardrobe and at the last press day we had a great chat with him about men’s clothing and the online side of things. Lee definitely knows his stuff, so we were thrilled when he agreed to present his top summer picks for us. If you’re still stuck for high-summer chic then this is like the holy grail. Stay tuned for pt2!
A retro silhouette dominated the Missoni collection, it was all cuffed trousers and shirts teamed with trenches and faded denims.
Patchwork knits and David Byrne-esque tailoring carried on the throwback theme. Hints of safariwear came through in the muted palette of washed-out neutrals hinted and sherbet accents provided a delicate burst of colour.
Best worn: while being a foreign correspondent in the Sahara.
[Images: Coutorture]
Clean, clean, clean. The Jil Sander show featured neat boys with bowl cuts in pale summer colours and dark, sharp suits.
Shoulders are wide, fabrics are sheer and there is only the merest hint of print in a few drawn-on pieces. Raf Simons focused on details, but they were never bitty, things like pockets visible through shirts, short shorts and racer back singlets all added definition to this simple collection.
Best worn: on a blustery northern French beach in Spring.
Princes Vintage is a cut above your average eBay store, there’s no risk of looking like a mismatched musty throwback with the goods they have on offer. Here is a selection of hot items for summer and trusty wardrobe staples:
Make no mistake, rucksacks are back and this leather one is smart enough for formal occasions. Every man needs a good suit, and if you can find a vintage one that fits well hold onto it for dear life, similarly a quality pair of vintage brogues will last an eternity and they go with a wide variety of looks. Lastly, white trousers are your shortcut to summer smart, but make sure you add an idiosyncratic twist like a neckerchief, retro watch or deck shoes in a sherbet pastel so you don’t look too trad.
Mark Ronson was snapped recently out and about in London looking particularly colourful in a bright cobalt jacket.
Good news for fashion fans on a budget, he isn’t sporting a designer label; after a chat with the paps Ronson apparently divulged that his jacket was in fact from high street staple Topman! Cobalt blue makes a hot statement and is an easy colour to add to an existing wardrobe. What do you think? Tell us on our Twitter or our Facebook wall!
Edited to add -We spoke to the Topman press office and they told us this: “No it is brand spanking new, not even in store yet he spotted it when he was at our New York press day, it is due in store the first week of June”
[Photo: Will Alexander/WENN.com]
We can forgive you if you’re not quite in the mood for summer, so we’ve decided to give you a sneak preview of Cheap Monday‘s AW09 collection.
There’s nothing in the collection that will have you scratching your head, it’s a collection of good looking staples with cardigans, colourwash marl tees and shemag-like scarves all getting a look in. Swedish designer Ann-Sofie Back recently announced her appointment as Creative Director for the brand, so we can’t wait to see what they’ve got in store for the future. Jump through to see more of the collection.
[Images courtesy of: Coutie.com]
Topman is great for its designer collaborations and its ‘Priceless’ range, designed by celebrated fashion designer and tailor Antony Price, delivers every season. The range has just gone up on Topman.com and with its wonderful waistcoats, brilliant blazers and perfectly pleated pants (in the American sense of the word,) I can’t wait to get a piece of the action! The look on the left is almost exactly what I outlined in my ‘Will’s Summer Wants’ piece only last month and the peach colour is perfect for summer.
Other standout pieces include the taffeta suits in purple and green as well as the ‘ice grey chintz’ suit. Most jackets are around £140 with trousers at £60. Why not enlighten us as to what you plan to invest in by chatting to us on Facebook?
P.S- The ‘Swim Skinny’ suit is a fash-gasm waiting to happen!
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