Archive for the ‘features’ Category
features, Sport, Sports, Sportswear
By Gerald Lynch on August 2nd, 2012
Team GB really lucked out when they managed to bag Stella McCartney’s superb skills for the design of their Adidas Olympic kit. But for some nations, the Olympic catwalk has not been so kind. Forget the empty seats at many events – for Brandish it’s been far more distressing spotting the sportswear sins some nations have forced upon their top athletes with their official kits. Here we highlight our pick of the worst five, including Team Russia, Team China and Team Germany. Scroll down to check out our picks!
Team Russia
The red and white squiggles of Team Russia's kit are supposed to be inspired by Moscow's street art. But these kit catastrophes couldn't be any further from the cutting-edge wit of street art if they tried. Perhaps they're a cast off from axed KGB camouflage gear from the seventies. You'd have blended in with Cold War-era wallpaper with ease in one of these tops.
Tags: Butlins, Graffiti, horrible clothes, London 2012, London 2012 Olympic Games, Official Kit, Olympic Games, Olympic style, Redcoats, replica kit, replica kits, roger federer, Team China, Team GB kit, Team Germany, Team Russia, Team Switzerland, Team Ukraine, worst Olympic kits, worst Olympic kits 2012, worst Olympic sportswear
Posted in features, Sport, Sports, Sportswear | 1 Comment »
features, Grooming, News, Retail
By Gerald Lynch on July 23rd, 2012
Hidden a few streets away from Latimer Road station, tucked inside a studio unit on the corner of a housing estate, is one of London’s finest hidden grooming gems. Carter and Bond, established in 2002, offers traditional cut and shave services of the highest quality, as well as a store touting a range of superb male grooming products sourced from across the globe.
Entering now its tenth anniversary year, Carter and Bond’s focus on quality, hard-to-come by goods is spearheaded by managing director Joe Cotton, whose time in the armed forces helped cultivate an appreciation for the finer points of men’s grooming practices.
“We’ve found that people want to go back to quality products that they can trust and traditional grooming and shaving regimes that were being lost,” explains Cotton.
“A lot of people were finding that they weren’t getting the satisfaction they wanted from the mass market, high street products. It’s all just cheap and nasty foams and gels out of aerosol cans, full of chemicals and propellants and razors with 3, 4, 5 or 17 blades with cartridges that you need to take a mortgage out on to be able to afford.
“Whether it’s in architecture or fashion or cuisine, there’s a desire now to rediscover a bygone era, to look at how things were done in the old days. We cater for that desire in male grooming.”
Though rising rates recently forced a move from Carter and Bond’s Royal Oak home to its current location, the new shop retains the charming decor that helped make Carter and Bond so dear to its loyal customers. Model Airfix planes litter the barber’s showroom, piles of Commando comics are stacked in every corner and tin robots gaze at you from atop glass-fronted, brush and blade-filled cabinets.
It’s a unique spin on the traditional grooming emporium, but Carter and Bond’s skilled barber Mustafa’s cut and shave work is as solid as it comes. Specialising in styles from the 1950s and 1960s, a cut at Carter and Bond is a friendly, warm and carefully considered affair, while the 30-45 minute full facial and hot-towel shave is the ultimate in men’s pampering.
Carter and Bond take their niche online too, offering the same range of classic grooming products through their long-serving website. Brands like Agua de Colonia, Baxter of California, Czech & Speake, D R Harris, Dovo of Solingen, Floris, Geo F Trumper, HeadBlade, Marvis, Merkur, Musgo Real, Pashana, Prorasoand and Truefitt & Hill can also be purchased through the Carter and Bond online store.
“As the male grooming boom took off in the mid 2000s, there were lots of bandwagon brands popping up,” explains Cotton.
“Most of them didn’t last for ten minutes. So I became cynical and skeptical about these brands and became a lot more confident in the brands that have been around for decades or hundreds of years, particularly old English brands and their equivalents in other countries.
“Because these brands are quite niche and not widely available, we find our customers are very loyal.”
In a world of flash-in-the-pan fashions and trends, Carter and Bond’s classic take on grooming style looks set to stand the test of time.
“Both online and offline, we’re in a minority,” says Cotton.
“We’ve got our speciality; there’s not many people that do what we do, and the way that we do it, and I think our customers like and appreciate that.”
The Carter and Bond barber shop can be found at 15-17 Baseline Studios, Whitchurch Road, London, W11 4AT. Open Monday to Friday and Sunday, the shave and cut services are available Wednesdays and Sundays. While you can turn usually turn up without an appointment, you’re encouraged to book roughly a week in advance, especially for Sunday sessions.
A wash and cut costs £22, a standard shave costs £27, while the full facial and shave costs £35. Double deals for cuts and shaves are also available.
For more info, click here.
Tags: 1950's haircut, 1960's haircut, Barber, beards, Carter and Bond, Cut, haircut, Hairstyles, Joe Cotton, male grooming, products, Retail, shave, traditional, Traditional haircut
Posted in features, Grooming, News, Retail | No Comments »
features, News
By Gerald Lynch on July 19th, 2012
THE DARK KNIGHT RISES IS ALMOST HERE! One of the most hotly anticipated movies of all time, it’s the final part of Christopher Nolan’s epic Batman trilogy which elevated the potential of comic book movies to Oscar winning heights.
While Nolan’s take on the caped crusader is now widely regarded as the definitive silver screen offering, the debate as to which actor donned the Dark Knight’s cowl most convincingly rages on. From Adam West through to Michael Keaton to George Clooney, Batman’s been played by a fair few thespians since being first created by Bob Kane back in 1939.
But who was best? Brandish enters the Batcave in our definitive rundown to uncover the finest Batman of all time.
Adam West: 1966 – 1968
KAPOW! Adam West stared in the 1960s super-camp Batman TV series, and a few TV movies that followed it. Far from the high-tech wizardry we expect from Batman today, West’s Batman wore just a spandex suit and a “groovy” navy cowl. His slow and measured voice showed a Batman almost always totally in control, while the show’s colourful comic caption flashes during fight scenes have become iconic. Though the West-era Batman gets a lot of stick for its playful tone, many forget that it’s a pretty-much bang-on representation of the “Golden Age” era comics that inspired it. It was a simpler time, when we could totally buy into ridiculous gadgets like “shark repellant”, which Batman just so happened to always have whenever he was jumped by one of the aquatic beasties.
Michael Keaton: 1989 – 1992
It took a long time for the dust to settle after the West-era show, but the late 1980s saw a massive resurgence in popularity for Batman, mostly thanks to comic book writer Frank Miller’s massively influential The Dark Knight Returns and Batman: Year One comics. The Tim Burton-helmed Batman films that followed, starring Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne and Batman, were perhaps the movie adaptations that came closest to the gothic feel of the comic books.
It helped that Michael Keaton was not only a great Batman, but an excellent Bruce Wayne too. Though not focussing massively on Wayne’s traumatic childhood, Keaton always effectively gave off a feeling of loneliness that is central to Batman’s character. He pulled off action scenes excellently too; the opening action scene in Batman Returns in which Batman faces off against the Penguin’s clownish thugs is superb, with Keaton’s comically timed use of gadgets giving Batman the much-needed cool factor. Though sometimes overshadowed by stellar villains (both Jack Nicholson and Danny DeVito made for amazing Jokers and Penguins respectively), Keaton had it all.
Val Kilmer: 1995
From Batman to Fatman, it’s hard now to remember how massive a star Val Kilmer was back in 1995. He was also a great Batman too, with his “chicks love the car” quip one of Batman’s most memorable silver screen lines. Val Kilmer came across as believably intelligent; in the scene where he shatters the dreams of a pre-Riddler Edward Nigma, you can totally believe he’s the head of the massive Wanye Enterprises empire. However, though his pretty-boy looks bagged him the girls as Bruce Wayne, he looked just a bit too pouty under the cowl.
George Clooney: 1997
Ugh. Batman and Robin. I’m not exaggerating when I say it’s my least favourite film OF ALL TIME. On paper, it all seems so right: Schwarzenegger as Mr Freeze, Uma Thurman as Poison Ivy, and of course, George Clooney as Batman. You’d think Clooney would be the perfect fit for Batman, but he proved to be terrible. Far too smarmy, Clooney had the chin to play the Bat, but failed to channel any of the vulnerability needed to effectively pull off all angles of the multifaceted crime fighter. And while the costume design wasn’t Clooney’s fault, the less said about Batman’s “nipple suit” used in the movie the better. For a few years now rumours have circulated that Clooney could return to play an ageing Batman in an adaptation of The Dark Knight Returns comic book, which could be great, as Clooney would make for a far more convincing middle-aged hero in our opinion.
Christian Bale: 2005 – 2012
Christian Bale’s realistic take on the Batman role, under Christopher Nolan’s superb direction, totally rejuvenated the Batman franchise. Here was a close look at a genuinely troubled Bruce Wayne, constantly dealing with the guilt he carried over his parent’s death. From stoney faced watchman to playboy billionaire, Bale’s performance covers all bases.
Bales commitment to the role is also legendary, training hard to pile on massive amounts of muscle after an astounding transformation verging on anorexia for The Machinist. He brings a much tougher physicality to the role than previous Batmen; you wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of a smack from Bale’s superhero sleuth.
Bale’s trademark Batman bark, often ridiculed, is just fine by us. Attempting to be more than a man, a terrifying symbol showing that crime won’t be tolerated in Gotham City, Bale’s Wayne completely embraces the theatrical. His aggressive tone would strike fear into the hearts of his foes, while also sensibly masking his true voice and identity. Nolan couldn’t have picked a better star for his take on Gotham’s protector.
WILDCARD – Kevin Conroy (Batman voice actor) 1992 – present day
Do you remember Kevin Conroy as Batman? Or even know who he is? Probably not, but you’ve almost certainly heard him. Conroy is the hardest working Batman on this list, having been the go-to voice actor for Batman in everything from games to animated TV shows for the last 20 years. For many comic book fans, he’s the best Batman there’s ever been, effortlessly moving between the reserved Bruce Wayne and the might of Batman better than any other person on this list. A true Dark Knight, New Yorker Conroy also helped with the clean up effort following the devastating Twin Towers attack of 2001.
THE BEST BATMAN OF ALL TIME IS…Ermmm…
Wow, it’s a tough one! For Brandish, it comes down to two actors, who we just can’t separate: Michael Keaton and Christian Bale. Both are perfect for the differing Batman visions they are a part of. Michael Keaton nails the morally charged, lonely eccentricity of the Batman comic books, while Bale’s realistic take on the Bat is so good that you totally buy into the real-world possibility of a billionaire moonlighting as a masked vigilante. When we’re after gothic gloom and outlandish thrills we’ll go for Keaton, but Bale’s tense troubled Bat gives us our intellectual kicks too.
The Dark Knight Rises hit cinemas nationwide tomorrow (20/07/2012)
Tags: Adam West, Batman, Christian Bale, christopher nolan, Frank Miller, George Clooney, Kevin Conroy, Michael Keaton, The Dark Knight Rises, Val Kilmer, who is the best Batman, who was the best Batman
Posted in features, News | 3 Comments »
features, festivals, music, News
By Gerald Lynch on July 2nd, 2012
The Stone Roses - Heaton Park 2012
Reunion shows aren’t quite the mystical occasion they once were. From the Pixies to Suede to Led Zeppelin to Pulp, long-missed musical heroes are now a staple head to the line-up of summer festivals.
The Stone Roses reunion, however, sits outside the realms of regular reunion shows . Following an acrimonious split, it’s been 16 years since the original line-up of vocalist Ian Brown, guitarist John Squire, bassist Gary “Mani” Mounfield, and drummer Alan “Reni” Wren shared a stage. With each member taken up with solo projects, other bands or ventures outside of music altogether, bassist Mani called reunion rumours “totally fantasy island”. It seemed like it was never going to happen.
But it did. Though big bucks obviously exchanged hands, this was always going to be about more than just the money. There was unfinished (monkey) business to attend to. Laying down the soundtrack for a generation with their eponymous début album, The Stone Roses took years to put out so-so follow up The Second Coming. From then on in it was a slow slide towards destruction with near misses (such as their heartbreaking headline Glastonbury show pull-out caused, by Squire breaking a collarbone while mountain biking) punctuating the run-up to the band’s inevitable implosion. The band that invented “baggy” and rejuvenated jangly indie pop never got their just deserts.
It was with genuine jubilation then, not cynicism, that fans welcomed the news of a reunion in October 2011.
Saturday’s second Heaton Park homecoming show (30/06/2012) was a triumph, silencing any naysayers and showing a band perfectly at ease with their “legendary” status. If the first night had been methodical and careful, the second saw the band enjoying themselves, playing loose with extended jams and Ian Brown prowling the stage; the King Monkey had reclaimed his throne.
Kicking things off with their traditional slow-building blinder I Wanna Be Adored, The Stone Roses powered through a set of fan favourites which included their first album in its entirety.
Though every song was rapturously received, highlights came in somewhat unexpected places. Fans sang at their loudest during first album track Made Of Stone and The Second Coming single Ten Story Love Song. A well lubricated crowd of all ages was in good, friendly spirits (a rarity in enormo-shows like these), bobbing with baggy swagger to the grooves of Fools Gold, with Squire, Reni and Mani regularly jamming segues between each song.
Though banter was kept to a minimum, Brown kept an eye on a lively crowd, commanding the swarming pit to “pick each other up if you go down”, and flying into an anti-royal diatribe before first album favourite Elizabeth My Dear.
Ending the only way an epic Stone Roses set could with an extended I Am The Resurrection, fans cheered a united, hugging band at the close as fireworks blasted overhead and Bob Marley’s Redemption Song blared out of the PA. A fitting end; after years of fighting and will-they-wont-they reunion rumours, the band have risen phoenix like, redeemed, proving their enduring relevance and position as one of the finest bands to ever hail from British shores.
The set remained identical to Friday night’s opener, and also carried over onto Sunday’s show, likely in order to help director Shane Meadow as he prepares to edit together a commemorative DVD of the weekend. Hit the Spotify playlist below to hear the Saturday night set-list in full:
Earlier in the day saw fellow Manc hero Liam Gallagher declare The Stone Roses “the best band in the world” as he lead his post-Oasis project Beady Eye onstage for the main headline slot. Carrying Gallagher’s trademark swagger throughout, a genial crowd paid most attention when the band tore through a handful of Oasis classics including Rock ‘n’ Roll Star and Morning Glory.
Beady Eye were preceded by Professor Green, whose dubstep-tinged rapping was at odds with the rest of the line-up. Despite a short barrage from hecklers, Professor Green eventually won over the crowds with hits including I Need You Tonight and Just Be Good To Green which saw a surprise appearance from Lily Allen.
The Wailers managed to bring out the sun during what was a heavily overcast day. Though few remaining members of the original Bob Marley-era line-up remain, they enjoyed mass sing alongs to One Love and I Shot The Sheriff.
Hollie Cook, daughter of Sex Pistols drummer Paul Cook, kicked off the day with a reggae/punk fused set welcomed by a crowd already fired up by a 16 year wait.
IMAGES – PA
Tags: 30/06/2012, 30th June, album, Fool's Gold, friday, Heaton Park, Heaton Park Photos, history, I Am The Resurrection, I Wanna Be Adored, ian brown, John Squire, MANI, Photos, Reni, Reunion, Saturday, Setlist, Stone Roses Heaton Park Photos, Stream, Sunday, The Second Coming, the Stone Roses, The Stone Roses Heaton Park Review, The Stone Roses reunion shows, Waterfall
Posted in features, festivals, music, News | 1 Comment »
Celeb style, features, Grooming, music
By Gerald Lynch on June 29th, 2012
Rock ‘n’ roll can be broken down as follows: 10% fashion, 10% music and 110% HAIR. We know that adds up to 130%. That’s why we’re writing for a fashion site and aren’t quantum physicists. But it also acts to highlight just how important good hair can be in the making of a musical and cultural icon, and cementing the status of bona-fide rock ‘n’ roll stars. Where would Elvis be without his quiff? Or Bowie’s Ziggy Stardust without his…his unique style? On the dole queue, that’s where. Here, Brandish pick out the 20 most iconic hair styles in rock ‘n’ roll history.
Scroll down to get started!
David Bowie
Flaming red with a quiff up top and party mullet at the back, David Bowie's transformation into Ziggy Stardust was one of the most striking in pop history. With the sci-fi influenced Ziggy Stardust look, Bowie opened the floodgates for a whole sea of androgynous stars and, to a lesser extent, made homosexuality and bisexuality less of a rock 'n' roll taboo in the process.
Tags: 1960's, 1970's, 1980's, 1990s, 2000s, A Flock of Seagulls, Adam Ant, Alternative, best, Billy Corgan, bob Marley, buddy holly, Classic Rock, costume, david bowie, David Lee Roth, Elvis, elvis presley, G n R, Glam, Grooming, grunge, Guns n Roses, hair metal hairstyles, hair styles, hairstyle, Hairstyles, Human League, ian brown, iconic, indie, Jim Morrison, kurt cobain, Led Zepplin, Little Richard, Metal, Mike Score, mod, Morrissey, most iconic, New Wave, nirvana, outfit, Phil Oakey, punk, Reggae, Robert Plant, rock and roll, rock and roll hair, rock and roll hairstyles, rock hair, rock n roll hairstyles, sid vicious, Slash, Smashing Pumpkins, Steve Marriott, Stuart Sutcliffe, the beatles, The Doors, The Human League, The Sex Pistols, The Small Faces, the Stone Roses, The Strokesmost iconic rock hairstyles, Van Halen, Ziggy Stardust
Posted in Celeb style, features, Grooming, music | 8 Comments »
Designer Spotlight, features, London Collections, Trends
By Gerald Lynch on June 19th, 2012
Jonathan Saunders Spring/Summer 2013 @ London Collections
There’s little to compare to the buzz of backstage at a fashion show, and little else still when that show happens to be the Jonathan Saunders Spring/Summer 2013 showcase at the inaugural London Collections Men’s fashion weekender. Brandish popped down pre-show for a quick look at how one of the most eagerly-anticipated and talked about events of the weekend came together.
A rabbit-warren of a venue with winding, near-vertical stairs that open out into a dramatic high-ceilinged space, Brandish climbed through the Elms Lesters Painting Rooms to meet with hair stylist Paul Hanlon. Not even a power-outage at the venue could stop him as he talked us through the Bowie-inspired look, using Fekkai products to pull back and add volume to the hair of the 11 models crammed into his makeshift salon.
Backstage before Jonathan Saunders' Spring/Summer 2013 @ London Collections
“I’m kind of trying to tap into that time after Bowie had done with his Ziggy thing. No more red hair, much more mature, more masculine, in a way, less glam rock. This was a time when he was wearing the big pants, shirts. He was much more elegant,” explained Hanlon.
“There’s elements of the fifties in there too, but never falling into rockabilly styles. I don’t want it too androidy though either, there are imperfections in there too, adding character. Think of ‘The Man Who Fell To Earth‘, all that sort of time, and you’d be right on it.”
Last minute line-up changes for the Jonathan Saunders Spring/Summer 2013 showcase @ London Collections
It’s a look both on trend and achievable, with clean lines and light sideburns, pulling blow-dryed hair back from the face through the roots with a wide-comb, strong wax and mousse for a sharp, uniform look that never veers into militarized territory.
With little under an hour till doors opened, models were still having the final touches applied, with last minute changes to the model line-up meaning a frantic rethink of how best to present the line.
Shoes by Christan Louboutin for Jonathan Saunders Spring/Summer 2013 @ London Collections
The show itself was rapturously received. Rather than a runway show, Saunders opted for a slightly more laid back static showcase, with the 11 models posing in a colourfully decorated corner of the Elms Lesters Painting Rooms. Chatting to each other beneath the striking natural light of the venue’s sloping skylight, the models entertained guests including David Gandy and Reggie Yates.
David Gandy @ Jonathan Saunders - London Collections
Rails of items from the collection were available for guests to browse, giving all in attendance the chance to get up close and personal with the range.
Rails on show at the Jonathan Saunders London Collections showcase
As Saunders first full men’s collection, the Scottish designer effortlessly played with his trademark striking colours, bringing together graphic, geometric prints on short-sleeves, suits, twinsets and casual wear. Knitwear too, used by Saunders as a “gateway garment” for men looking to add a slightly more subtle dash of colour to their wardrobes, also featured heavily. High neck lines throughout kept the line sophisticated, but the bold, retro stylings keep the collection from ever feeling stuffy. Christian Louboutin’s shoes were a perfect complement, with playful metallics and suede grounding a superbly wearable set.
Tags: david gandy, jonathan saunders, London Collections
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features, Gallery, London Collections, News
By Elisabeth Edvardsen on June 18th, 2012
The crowds were buzzing on the opening day of London Collections: – a new showcase for men’s fashion developed from men’s day at London Fashion Week – but it was nothing like the talk on Twitter when Nick Hart, the man behind Spencer Hart announced that a mystery guest would be walking the brand’s show.
Photo credit: Press Association
As the show drew closer, it was revealed that it would be genious detective, and upcoming Star Trek 2 villain, Benedict Cumberbatch, and we couldn’t wait to head to Old Selfridges Hotel to take our seats.
Nick Hart describes the Spencer Hart man as an independent thinker, which shows in the label’s sharp signature style. The spring/summer 2013 collection of the luxury Savile Row tailor didn’t disappoint; with Jazz age influences and old school glamour key looks included textured finishes, lightweight fabrics (perfect for warm summer days) and classic suede shoes. We particularly liked the mix of black and dark blue fabrics as well, often though as a no-go for many in the fashion industry.
Spencer Hart Spring/Summer 2013
Cumberbatch has long been a Hart fan, having worn his designs on several red carpet events such as the TV BAFTAs and the Golden Globes, so his guest appearance wasn’t that much of a surprise. As part of a celebrity five piece, Cumberbatch took to the catwalk clutching a cigar and a glass of whisky, while showing off an elegant black silk pyjama set. He was joined by polar explorer Inge Solheim, former English rugby player Lawrence Dallaglio, award-winning artist Stuart Pearson Wright and Michelin-starred Pollen Street Social founder Jason Atherton.
What do you think of the Spencer Hart spring/summer 2013 collection?
Tags: Benedict Cumberbatch, London Collections, Spencer Hart, spring/summer 2013
Posted in features, Gallery, London Collections, News | 2 Comments »
features, Trainers
By Gerald Lynch on June 12th, 2012
Marvel Captain America Reebok Ventilator
Seriously, what a year to be a comic-book fan. First the Avengers movie kicks up a storm in cinemas all over the world, then that’s soon to be followed by The Amazing Spider-Man and Batman Dark Knight Rises, and soon after that is the Judge Dredd movie and the Watchmen prequel comics.
And now these totally, totally ace superhero sneakers from Reebok. Above is a preview gallery of the new Reebok X Marvel collection, a collaboration between the comic book giants and the footwear veterans.
Put together by designer Anthony Petrie, these limited edition trainers include The Spider-Man Insta Pump, Captain America Ventilator and Wolverine Pump Fury HLS, the Sabretooth Night Sky Mid, Deadpool Pump Omni Lite, Red Skull Pump Omni Lite HLS, Chamber Blast, Venom Night Storm HLS as well as Freestyles for Emma Frost and Black Widow.
It’s a footwear fetish for “true believers”, as Stan Lee used to call his loyal readers!
What’s really great about the collection though is the attention to detail. I love how the Reebok logo is slashed on the Sabretooth pair, while we could totally see Andrew Garfield’s Amazing Spider-Man running around in those webhead-inspired Insta Pumps.
We’re totally loving these. While you’re at it, check out Petrie’s personal site. He’s got mad skillz.
Tags: Anthony Petrie, Batman, Black Widow, Captain America, Captain America Ventilator, Chamber, Chamber Blast, Comic Books, Dark Knight Rises, Deadpool, Deadpool Pump Omni Lite, Emma Frost, Freestyle, Marvel X Reebok, Red Skull, Red Skull Pump Omni Lite HLS, Sabretooth, Sabretooth Night Sky Mid, sneakers, Spider-Man, Spider-Man Insta Pump, spiderman, Superheros, The Avengers, trainers, Venom, Venom Night Storm HLS, Watchmen, Wolverine, Wolverine Pump Fury HLS, X-Men
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Accessories, Advertorial, features, Suits & Tailoring
By shinychris on May 14th, 2012
Written in association with High and Mighty
As a man, you may feel a bit reluctant to look to the catwalk for fashion inspiration, and with the weird and not-so-wonderful pieces that often make their sorry way down it, you’d be forgiven for your hesitance. However, one feature of the most high-profile catwalks should be allowed to infringe upon your wardrobe choices, no questions asked.
That special feature is model David Gandy. With his dark hair and tall stature, he could so easily be just another male model, but his masculine face and well-built body mean he’s a man real men can aspire to.
If you too have the stature to tower over most men, you could do much worse than to take a few tips from the model’s repertoire when building your own style. Online store High and Mighty caters specifically for tall and large men, so could help you find the clothes that fit for your own spin on David’s winning look.
In recent photos posted to his Vogue blog, David is seen with a goose of all things, wearing dark denim jeans with turn-ups, work boots, a brown leather belt, plain t-shirt and cream scarf. He finishes the look with a chocolate brown jacket for farmer-meets-history teacher cool. His facial hair rounds off a perfect casual style for the masculine man. Oh, and the goose isn’t a requirement. In fact I’d advise against it; hissing isn’t sexy in anyone’s book.
So now you’ve got the idea; simple styles worn to emphasise masculinity, yet not shying away from “softer”, more fashionable accessories that show an awareness of what’s on trend – it’s time to build the look.
Go for earthy shades like browns, olives and tans when choosing boots and belts. You can introduce brighter shades with your scarf or t-shirt, but don’t go for cartoon-worthy colours. If you are tall with very long legs and a short torso, choose longer-length jackets to elongate your upper body.
If your torso is long, wear your jeans as high as possible and expose your belt buckle by half-heartedly tucking your t-shirt in, a look perfected by David in the goose shots.
Tags: david gandy, high and mighty
Posted in Accessories, Advertorial, features, Suits & Tailoring | 1 Comment »
features, music
By Gerald Lynch on April 26th, 2012
Blur’s Parklife is 18 years old today! An ode to Blighty aimed at girls who are boys who like boys to be girls who do boys like they’re girls who do girls like they’re boys, Parklife was a wry, anthem-filled album that championed mockney Cockneys, a day at the (greyhound) races and…er…the shipping forecast.
All the people (so many people!) went out and bought Parklife that it became a pivotal moment in mid-ninteies UK culture, influencing not only the sound of music for a generation of now mid-30 something indie lovers, but also a revivalist fashion sense that saw all things Union Jack celebrated under the banner of Britpop.
Here, Brandish goes beyond the music to highlight just what made Parklife so seminal. Pop on the Spotify album playlist below and read on!
COOL BRITANNIA
Britain, Britain, Britain. The Small Faces, The Kinks, the Blitz spirit, Carnaby Street, fish and chips. We’ve got a lot to be proud of as Brits, but in the early-to-mid 90s we’d all been swept up in a wave of Americana. Dreary grunge dominated the airwaves, and in the immortal words of Morrissey “it [said] nothing to me about my life.” However, the 1993 self-titled debut from Suede sent a shiver down the spine of the lumberjack-shirted invaders from across the pond, paving the way for a more sophisticated, theatrical Anglo-influenced sound. Picking up the Brit-focussed imagery of their own 1993 album Modern Life is Rubbish and refining it into flag-waving call for patriotism, Parklife made us all realise it was as cool to be British in the 1990s as it was in the swinging 60s.
The umbrella of Britpop would later open the floodgates for a wave of copycats and bandwagon jumpers (Menswear, Gene et al) and became a contrived export marketing tool of worldwide proportions following the Spice Girls Brit Award performance and Geri Halliwell’s infamous Union Jack dress, fuelling champagne socialists and ill-conceived political partnerships. But for a short while, and in no small part thanks to the popularity and imagery of Parklife, Britain was back on the map for all the right reasons.
BRITPOP FASHION
“We wear the same clothes cos we feel the same “ sang Blur’s Damon Albarn on End Of A Century. And indeed we did, and Albarn did a fair bit to direct what we were all wearing too. After re-inventing themselves out of the ashes of baggy into Dr Martens-wearing mod warriors for Modern Life Is Rubbish, Albarn and co went a little more Carry On colourful for Parklife.
Clearly inspired by the 1970s sportswear of BBC Superstars, tracksuits from the likes of Kappa and Adidas were in, as well as Adidas Samba trainers, a little bling with a sovereign ring, polo shirts and parkas. Though pulling in brands from all over the world, it was quintessentially a melting pot of UK fashion trends from across the previous 30 years. And not a greasy mullet or plaid shirt in sight..
THIS IS A LOW
If Britpop did only one thing well it was its championing of British idiosyncrasies. It’s no better illustrated than in the swirling, epic closer to Parklife, This Is A Low. A floating journey around the the British coast, it referenced the antiquated shipping forecast radio broadcast, framing the album’s geographical pride. Pop it on now; it’ll give you goosebumps.
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Advertorial, features, Health & Fitness
By shinychris on April 25th, 2012
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Pro-10 run regular special offers, through their weekly crazy prices email and also post recipes and general fitness information on their blog along with details of their expanding product set.
If your personal fitness goal includes Muscle Building, Increased Energy, Recovery, Muscular Endurance, Definition & Body Toning, Weight Gain or Weight Loss, don’t forget to take a look at their website www.pro-10.com and take advantage of this 5% off.
Tags: body building, pro-10.com, sports nutrition
Posted in Advertorial, features, Health & Fitness | 2 Comments »
features, Gallery, Shirts, top ten, Trends
By Gerald Lynch on April 18th, 2012
ASOS - Hawaiian Print Shirt - £25
When the summer heat kicks up a wavy haze off the concrete city streets, we know it can be tough to resist the urge to laze around in just your lightest shirts and underwear.
Yet, we just can’t accept the return of the Hawaiian shirt, this summer’s slob-chic must-have. It’s like someone covered themselves in wallpaper paste, tore the pages out of a tattoo catalogue and rolled around in the scraps, off their nut on umbrella-wearing cocktails.
But who are we to judge the fashion gods? We’ve pooled together ten of our favourite offerings from the likes of ASOS and Ben Sherman, ranging from the blindingly garish to more subtle, understated prints if you’re feeling a little less daring but still want to be on-trend when the heatwave finally kicks in.
So grab your hula skirts and piña coladas and dive into the gallery above for our pick of this year’s best Hawaiian shirts.
While you’re at it, have a listen to our short 60′s summer playlist below. It’s sure to instil some sunshine-surfing spirit in you even if the clouds outside your window are stubbornly grey!
Tags: asos, ben sherman, H&M, hawaiian shirt, Karmakula, Religion, river island, Top Tens, topman
Posted in features, Gallery, Shirts, top ten, Trends | 4 Comments »
features, Gallery, Shoes
By Gerald Lynch on March 27th, 2012
Qewy Long Wing Brogues by Ben Sherman - £85
Ah, a good old pair of Brogues; the work horse of mens’ wardrobes across the globe, they’re the one pair of shoes as comfortable in the boardroom as they are down the pub.
The little pock-marked shoe has come a long way from its humble beginnings as cross-country footwear in Scotland and Ireland (the little holes were intended as drainage run-offs when passing through wet terrain) and now everyone from Kurt Geiger to Dr Martens have a fair few pairs in their catalogues.
Whether you’re going for wingtips or semis, black, tan or multi-coloured offerings, we’ve pulled together our ten favourite pairs to put the Spring in your step this season.
Click through the gallery above to browse our picks!
Tags: Adamis, Angus Tan Shoes, Augusti, Bally, ben sherman, Brogue Shoes, Brogues, Caine, Cheaney, dr martens, Dunhill, Hogan, kurt geiger, Louis Vuitton, Mr B
Posted in features, Gallery, Shoes | 4 Comments »
features, Grooming, News
By Gerald Lynch on March 14th, 2012
Razors at the ready folks; a new scientific study claims to have proven that your chin chaff is about as attractive as draping a mangy cat over your face and then combing yesterday’s porridge through it.
OK, so that may be a tad extreme, but there’s a fair amount of research backing up the anti-beard brigade this time. Haven’t we spent the last few years following in the footsteps of bands like Kings of Leon and Fleet Foxes with a “back to nature” look? What else goes with the wardrobe full of plaid shirts and hunting accessories we’ve all been collecting for the last half a decade?
Without going too deep into the specifics of the Behavioural Ecology journal, which has re-ignited the debate, cultivating all that fur seems to have been for naught. The journal’s researchers asked 127 New Zealand females and 100 ladies of Polynesian decent from Samoa for their opinions on the facial hair of 10 men each from their own race (apparently the island of Samoa hasn’t been all that westernised over the years, and produces good subjects in terms of those who haven’t been too influenced by western media views on beauty). Though the Samoan test subjects were more forgiving, on the whole, the study showed that beards are out.
The conclusions drawn were, as you’d expect, a hodge-podge of evolutionary theory (there was mention of the importance of lions’ manes at one point!), finding that, on the whole, beards merely “augment perceptions of men’s age, social status, and aggressiveness, but not attractiveness”.
On the totally non-scientific filpside however, having a chat with my female friends suggested that the blokes used as bearded/non-bearded examples in the study weren’t exactly Brad Pitt to begin with, which may go some way towards explaining why so few found the guys attractive in the first place.
Which compelled us to do a short study of our own. Called “Good Beard, Bad Beard” we’ve pulled together a handful of celebrities who, for better or worse, have donned or dashed facial hair over the course of their careers.
Scroll down for our verdict on their beardy looks!
Zack Galifianakis - GOOD BEARD
For some, beards are such an integral part of their character that getting rid of them just leads to weird, nigh-on creepy results. Take Hangover funnyman Zack Galifinakas, whose appeal lies in his off-beat sense of humour. Remove the beard and the rotund comedian starts to look just a little too respectable, and a little less relatable. And we all know that respectable isn’t funny.
Tags: Bad Beard, beard, Brad Pitt, david mitchell, facial hair, Fleet Foxes, Frankie Boyle, Good Beard, Grooming, Ian McKellan, joaquin phoenix, kanye west, Ken Watanabe, kings of leon, Radiohead, Ryan Gosling, sexy, Thom Yorke, With Beard, Without Beard, Zach Galifianakis
Posted in features, Grooming, News | 3 Comments »
Accessories, features
By Laura on February 20th, 2012
I was recently introduced to Sharp & Dapper. Based in London, the company has revived a classic gentleman’s accessory and brought it into the 21st century.
The Shirt Companion, is designed to help any self-respecting gentleman to keep his shirt tucked in and his socks pulled up. The unique ‘suspenders for men’ eliminate the hassle of continuously having to tuck in a shirt, by simply attaching the four individual braces between your shirt & socks.
Established and handmade in London’s Notting Hill and with art direction from Aneel Kalsi of Wallpaper magazine, The Shirt Companion is also worn by barmen in top class London venues such as Milk & Honey. An accessory they can rely on for the right image and impression.
Tom Soden, (Group Bar Manager of Diageo) is amongst the many who have become strong advocates of the Shirt Companion, stating:
“I bought a pair of Shirt Companions just over four months ago and I can honestly say that I haven’t worked a day without them since. It seems funny but they have become as essential to my working day as a pair of cuff links or my watch. S&D lives up to their name, it makes you look sharp & dapper. In addition to me feeling confident and fresh, customers immediately see I am a professional, experienced bartender working for a world-class company.”
The Shirt Companion is available now from Sharp & Dapper and comes beautifully packaged in a set of four braces.
Tags: Accessories, Aneel Kalsi, london, mens suspenders, Sharp & dapper, Wallpaper magazine
Posted in Accessories, features | No Comments »
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