Style – Cricket Chic – how to look good when watching The Ashes
The best parody of The Smiths ever – from, err, Horrible Histories
From Paisley to Geometric – this season’s best Patterned Shirts
The 11 hottest new psych bands – Hidden Masters, Hounds Tooth, Magnetic Mind…
Calvin Harris, the Dumfries-born DJ who is often tipped with providing the backing track to the vintage wave of last summer, is currently topping the charts with his ‘I’m Not Alone’ and while watching his latest video I was suddenly aware of the BOT male’s striking similarity to another No. 1 popstar…
See after the jump for the big reveal!
When my English teacher announced we would be studying ‘A Streetcar Named Desire,’ I have to admit to a light leap of the heart as I reminisced on John Galliano‘s ‘Blanche DuBois’ collection of 1988 and Marlon Brando in all his retro glory; oozing sex appeal and hard-edged fashion prowess. With these thoughts in mind, and a bit of time spent re-watching the iconic film made in 1951, I set about creating an outfit based on the look of Stanley Kowalski.
I’ve mixed a pair of amazing chino/casual-esque trousers with a bit of a vintage feel and a thin leather belt from with a basic tee from Topman and a pair of roughed up plimsolls from New Look. This is simple and seemingly effortless but the look as a whole is incredibly effective at turning you into a rugged, alpha-male icon. Now, with the fashion bit past, can anyone do a good New Orleans accent?
See after the jump for product details and links!
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.
‘Belushi’ shirt, b Store, £115, Size S-XL
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)
Mickey Boardman is the infamous columnist at Paper magazine as well as a social butterfly and fashion extraordinaire. He is also the proud owner of a rather distinctive and intriguing look. Boardman blends paired down basics in block colours (Lacoste polo shirts, chinos, simple cardigans in luxury cashmere,) with extravagant costume jewellery and accessories. Chunky necklaces and lavish loops of gorgeous beads add a high-fashion touch to any simple look. But I worry it might raise a few eyebrows (and maybe a few fists) down at the local supermarket.
So what do you think- Yay or Nay?
Topman have a new mini-collection on their online shop and the look is ‘Chelsea Arts Club.’ The high street label (beloved by the Brandish team,) tells that “this smart trend is influenced by a sophisticated age where actors, artists and sartorialists mixed in exclusive members clubs…the overall look is quirky.” For me, this translates as unusual textures, subtle details and wow-factor tailoring. My fashspirational men are Bob Dylan, Gregory Corso and Pablo Picasso; men who looked effortlessly awesome in rolled-up trousers and paint-stained tees.
Why not buy basic items from Topman and try your hand at home-made accessories? Prepare yourself for beads on string, paperclip tie bars and old woman’s brooches pinned into buttonholes.
Pick up a Murakami novel, write a poem and carry a wicker basket- this summer is all about your inner artist!
Last summer I was down at Shiny Towers and the gloriously hot days were spent writing, chatting with my fellow Shinies, trying on Drop-Crotch jeans and touring the streets in search of aspirational street style. But despite all the joviality I didn’t quite anticipate the weather (although I refuse to take the blame for that one- when was the last time we had a proper summer?) and ended up the innocent victim of SSS (that’s Skinny jeans in Summer Syndrome.) This summer I am determined to get it right, which is why I have compiled this list of fashion needs (okay, wants.)
1. Lots of Extra-Hold Hairspray
Since Christmas and a happy accident haircut, I have been living with a bit of an 80s asymmetrical style. My super-thick hair means that I have to use extra-hold products which are effective but grease-free; the wet fro is never a good look! I will need lots of hairspray to combat the heat.
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.
This year’s Red Nose Day campaign is in full-swing and everyone from Fearne Cotton to Fern Britten is doing something funny for money. Dom Joly, the comic-genius and all-round bon viveur behind Trigger Happy TV, has joined the show Comic Relief show ‘Let’s Dance’ and last Saturday we saw him imitate the style and dance of the infamous MC Hammer.
To achieve the Hammer-style, Joly donned a pair of rather hideous Harem pants in the ever-popular gold lamé. Add chains, hi-tops and logo-print headbands and you have yourself a RND look. Remember, everyone loves the funny man!
Why not do something for Comic Relief yourself?
Week on week, the NY Times T Style Magazine delivers a fabulous fashion spread. Sometimes the editorial is womenswear-based and on occasion, we are provided with incredible style spark. This week’s magazine features the ‘Landed Gent’ editorial and with its vintage, Grey Gardens feel and stunning photography, I felt I had to share it!
Styled by Bruce Pask and photographed by Matthew Brookes, check out the gallery by clicking on the image below.
Flicking over my most frequented pages recently, I came across Jason Dike’s column at Selectism. Jason was on the Brandish team when I first started out over a year ago but sadly he left last September, leaving us all awfully down-in-the-dumps.
However, Jason is now writing a brilliant column for the equally brilliant Selectism and we can’t wait to see more of his stuff!
At a disco the other night, the theme was ‘City vs. Country’ and stuck for ideas, a friend and I decided to go as tacky tourists. Cue vintage novelty braces, high-waisted denim shorts and charity shop shirts.
My charity shop bum-bag has been the focus of much attention. While it was only a joke item, a few friends have since been talking about it and I wonder if it could be worked into an actual outfit.
Outside of an outrageously-themed disco, I think I will wear the accessory when I go to India in March with cartoon-print Harem trousers, white plimsolls, a plain white vest and vintage sunglasses (at right.) Practical and high-fashion!
Yay or Nay?
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!
When Brandon Flowers stepped onto the stage at this years Brits 2009 in that jacket I died as I felt my own wardrobe implode with sheer joy. His jacket had major shoulder pads covered in long feathers and the overall look was a mixture of indie legend and an American footballer who had been given a makeover by Jean Paul Gaultier.
I was pleasantly surprised at how many people shared in my amazement and when I set my Facebook status to something Brandon-related immediately I had replies from fashion, music and technology writers all claiming to be either in love/ mad with envy or seeing double. I, myself, felt that I recognised the jacket and it wasn’t until the next day that I realised the model Brandon had obviously been taking style tips from…
(Image: Danny Clifford/Hottwire.net/WENN.com)
I feel like a traitor to men worldwide (and that’s saying something seeing as my trouser of choice is the skinny jean and I am constantly borrowing things from friends and family without a second thought as to which sex the item was originally intended for.) I have just dissed Clint Eastwood on a pretty public scale and I can already hear the heckles and smalls rocks as they soar through the air.
But let’s be honest- he looks a complete mess. I am all for ageing gracefully and not heading in the direction of mutton dressed as lamb but this is just pure laziness. I don’t care if his luggage went missing or he was attacked on the way to the ceremony; there is simply no excuse.
How to update? I would suggest a simple white shirt to replace the sick-green polo and a pair of classic blue jeans instead of those hideous high-waisted slacks. Replace the trainers with brown boat shoes and you have a great laid-back cool for any age!
(Image: WENN.com)
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