Who would have thought that Captain Birds Eye would ever be a style role model. Well not quite but fisherman coats and jackets, which started appearing in the ranges of high end brands last year have landed on the (virtual) high street and are here to stay for 2013.
I guess many of these coats are being bought by outdoor types who want to look both sensible and smart, but even if your idea of great outdoors adventure is a trip round the park with the dog you’ll still looks fine in them.
The jackets we have rounded up are split between heavyweight coats designed to withstand the very worst that the North Sea (they are Scandi influenced) can thrown at them and more lightweight numbers that you can team up with deck shoes and shorts.
High quality fisherman's cost direct from a small, but impressive Swedish indie. The makers says that it features the finest craftsmanship, materials and details. Each coat is individually controlled by a skillful seamstress.
Stutterheim
It is now getting cold- seriously cold. Not just an odd breeze ruffling your hair, but full on Arctic howlers accompanied by temperatures that are dipping well below freezing. And let’s be honest that flat cap that has served you well through the autumn – even if it does make you look like an extra from Billy Liar – won’t cut it anymore.
Its is time to go beanie – or even bobble.
The bobble has been making a bit of a comeback in the last few years and now are the hat of choice of many a hipster. As for beanies, well every man really ought to own at least one.
You probably don’t need me to tell you but you really need to avoid hats made from cheap scratchy wool. Not only are they massively itchy they just feel very uncomfortable. It might sound ridiculous but an investment in a Cashmere hat – provided you can keep the moths at bay – is well worth it and you’ll have a hat that will last several years.
Here are five to look at from cheapies through to £50 beanie handmade by artisans in the Himalayas – I kid you not.
This 60s style shirt is in navy with white dots. It has a mod cutaway tailored collar with buttons underneath as well as two tone buttons to the placket and cuffs.
Guide London
Polka Dot shirts never really seem to go and in out of style. However at the moment there does appear to be a bit of mini renaissance with a number of High Street stores offering them alongside specialist labels and heritage brands. Maybe it is because, as we have been told, 60s Op Art looks will be big this year.
Anyhow here then are a selection of five of the best. They are all dark with white dots and range from classic 60s Mod styling through short sleeve summer wear.
Want to look like Brian Jones in the mid 60s. Well personally I’d have trouble growing out a shaggy mop of blonde hair, but I can at least get the stripey jumper. It appears that Rugby style stripey sweaters are making a bit of a comeback with several stores including Gap offering them (and they are in the sale too).
Now ASOS has just unveiled its take on the classic . This is a 100% cotton block stripe crew neck in navy and white that comes with this season’s must-have elbow patches (can’t believe I have just written that). It retails very cheaply at £22.
If that’s no good and you want something more 60s then Atom Retro has a good selection too.
Good news for Elvis, it appears that blue suede shoes (and leather ones too) are enjoying a bit of a mini revival. I saw that Clarks had added navy to its range of classics this year and they are not alone. You can also buy blue suede and leather brogues and loafers too.
Of course you have to be a little careful about what you wear them with – especially if the shoes are more navy than blue. They work well with jeans, chinos and grey suit trousers, but black trousers are obviously a no.
One for the summer? Based on the original Clarks Desert Boot, the Jink was first introduced in 1983. It is lightweight, low and has suede uppers with a leather ankle trim.
End Clothing
Villain, an east London label which was founded seven years ago by John Vullo has a pretty interesting range of items on ASOS now.
Among the best is this pair of brown-ish checked trousers. In keeping with the company’s philosophy they have minimal branding but are made of high quality fibres – in this instance 51% Polyester and 49% Wool.
They are a straight fit have a concealed fly and are hand wash only. Yours for £110. The brand’s ASOS page also includes a striking pair of blue cords, some patterned shirts and a coat with an unusual collar called the Austin. They are all here.
Here’s an interesting new label. Acanorum are from Sheffield and are on a mission to deliver contemporary British Art and Design on what they says is high quality clothing. The company has just gone live on Facebook and Twitter and released their first items.
The range looks promising and will soon be available at The Inherited Shop and and on ASOS too. These Ts will cost £24.99. You can keep up to date with the brand on Twitter and Facebook.
In some ways Duffle Coats are now classics that in theory anyone should be able to wear at any time. However unless you buy a smart one you run two risks. 1 You might end up looking a little too much like Paddington Bear. 2 Cheap ones can look a bit scruffy and won’t do for anything approaching a formal occasion.
However for long winter walks with dog, fidgeting on cold seats at football grounds or just posing by the South Bank they are ideal. In the gallery there is a section of five rather cool Duffle coats, but before we get there here are a few things you may or may not know about them.
1 They date from WW2 where they were standard issue to much of the Navy mainly in tan rather than black.
2 Their popularity in the 1950s largely stems from the huge number of coats that were bought from military surplus stores.
3 Gloverall, a firm originally set up to sell the army surplus coats, started making their own in the late 50s and what we know today as a Duffle Coat – think leather fastenings and Buffalo horn toggles with a double faced checkback fabric – stems from their original designs.
4 They were ubiquitous on the CND marches of the 50s and early 60s worn largely by students and teamed up with French cigarettes and trad jazz records. I am sure Ian Carmichael wears one in the film Lucky Jim, but I can’t find the pic to prove it.
5 Although they have always been available they have had brief period of being very fashionable in the 80s check out the priceless pic of Harriet Harman wearing one) and the 90s (mainly thanks to the Gallagher Brothers).
6 These days they are often associated with Scottish bands – think Belle & Sebastian and Franz Ferdinand.
Pics from PA Images and Gloverall (check out their site for some more amazing Duffle shots!)
This is the original, and IMO the best Duffle Coat. Aftre the last war Gloverall bought a load of Duffle Coats from the MOD and have them in stock ever since. This has the classic buffalo horns and leather fastening, shoulder yoke panel, storm flap, side pockets, standard hem, interior pocket and hood with adjusters. And of course the tartan inner lining too. It is made from rich wool.
Gloverall
Mention men in tights and I get images of thespians prancing about in medieval costumes reciting the words of the great bard. However if you believe the papers today you soon might be seeing men in tights – or Meggings as they have come to be known – on a street near you.
Meggings have apparently become a cult clothing item in Manhattan and have got both the Telegraph (taking fashion world by storm!) and the Mail (must-have fashion item) very excited this morning. Both claim that at least one high street retailer, Uniqlo, is selling them this side of the Atlantic.
But are they really tights for blokes? They look a lot to me like Long Johns which men have been wearing since, ooh, the Crimean war and are available in many high street stores. The Uniqlo ones are part of their Heattech range and have been available for ages. I guess the difference is that Long Johns are worn under trousers while Meggings are worn instead of trousers.
A quick trawl did reveal this pair from ASOS (which look like they are supposed to be worn with shorts) and also a leopard print pair - but Dave Lee Roth and other hair metal types have been wearing these for decades. You see them occasionally on Russell Brand wannabes in East London too. Mick Jagger has been spotted wearing them too – but then his crimes against fashion are notorious.
I do think this might be one fashion trend that disappears very quickly.
If you are tempted to pull them off you will need great legs for a start. Perhaps the best way to wear them would be under shorts in a way that many women do these days.
There is a bit of trend in comedy jumpers this season. You only need to check out River Island’s selection to see how prevalent they are. If you want knitwear that doesn’t have to be teamed up with paper hats and plastic cracker jewelry that you can wear all winter long then check out this lot.
These are our favourites of the season. All classic jumpers. All very stylish and a little more conservative than our last selection.
Bit chilly out, isn’t it? If you’re still running about in flip-flops and short sleeves then a) You’re mental and b) take a look at the calendar, it’s the middle of October!
Global warming may be jumbling up the seasons like a misguided game of drunken Twister, but winter’s definitely kicking in now. If the change in weather has caught you by surprise, have no fear! We’ve put together a round up of our favourite trophy jumpers for the season, meaning you’ll be able to make a statement with your knitwear while saving the pennies keeping the immersion heater switched off.
Scroll down to check out our picks!
Alexander McQueen Flower Embroidered V Neck - £695
If you're looking to really turn heads (and empty your bank account) this embroidered V neck from the late great Alexander McQueen is for you. Beautiful rose-like embroidery runs down the arms, into your pockets and steals your wallet for its £695 price tag.
And if you want something classic and stylish try this jumper selection.
Set to launch on September 25 is a new Autumn/Winter 2012 collection from Puma and ASOS. Boasting sport finishes and fashion shapes, the products will all feature embossed rubberised branding along with the ASOS Black x Puma logo.
The 40-piece collection comprises contemporary, modernised classics – strong tailored designs with a timeless sporting heritage – from gilets and padded jackets to T-shirts and knitwear, all topped out with exclusive ASOS Black x Puma bags, hats and belts.
To mark the launch, filmmaker Ben Newman has documented the lives of Brazilian graffiti collective, the Pixadores – see video below. Based in the Sao Paulo, they are regarded as being at the forefront of free expression and street culture, bombing the city with spray paint and foam rollers at night.
Involved in a renowned protest which took place in the Pavillion of the Arts Biennial of Sao Pauolo in 2008, they painted the white walls with messages of protest such as ‘down with the dictatorship’ and one of their activists, Caroline Pivetta de Mota, was even arrested.
With their blend of cultural content and guerrilla style, the Pixadores are considered the perfect ambassadors for ASOS Black X Puma’s latest range. Their message, ‘Be A Creator’, is also shared with the latest campaign. People are encouraged to express their creativity by sharing pictures, drawings, designs and videos using the #Beacreator tag.
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!
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
Its no secret that we are big fans of ASOS here at Brandish, and we can’t wait to see what they will be rolling out for their Fall/Winter 2011 collection.
To launch the collection they have created a brilliant new interactive website called ASOS Urban Tour, exploring street trends in London, Paris, Berlin, LA, and New York. The Paris video (above) follows an in-line skating crew taking the viewer on a city tour, while showing off some key pieces from the collection.
ASOS consistently demonstrate a fantastic understanding of the current fashion landscape and trends, which once again is reflected in their diverse seasonal offering. Anyways make sure to check out the rest of the campaign here.
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