Posts Tagged ‘Top Five’
News, Suits & Tailoring, Top Five
By Will Reid on May 27th, 2009
The Times has a feature at the moment detailing the changing size of the common tie as we go through decades of economic change. Apparently John Lewis has announced “a dramatic inch-loss of nearly 25 per cent in width over the past six months” with its most popular ties. Charlie Allen, the famous tailor Brandish recently had an exclusive sit-down with over the new ‘n’ improved England kit, told the Times that “the impact of economic turmoil on tie design can be traced back through the previous recessions of the 20th century. While postwar Britain and the Swinging Sixties embraced exaggerated prints and widths of up to 5in, the downturns of the 1930s and 1980s saw sizes reduce to as little as an inch.”
See after the jump for my Top 5 ‘Skinny Summer ties’- on the cheap for your enjoyment! (They’re all under £10)
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Tags: brandish, charlie allen, england kit, new look, News, reid, river island, skinny, summer, tailor, the times, tie, ties, times, times online, Top Five, topman, will, will ballantyne reid, will reid
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Clothing, Designer Spotlight, Outfit picks
By Will Reid on April 14th, 2009
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!
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Tags: Accessories, accessory, art, bob dylan, brandish, chelsea, Clothing, gregory corso, haruki murakami, look, online, pablo picasso, reid, Top 5, Top Five, topman, topshop, will, will ballantyne reid
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Clothing, Designer Spotlight, Top Five
By Will Reid on March 26th, 2009
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.
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Tags: american, american apparel, apparel, brandish, Clothing, fashion, ford, haircut, hairspray, jumper, london, margiela, martin margiela, reid, street, style, summer, tom, Tom Ford, Top 5, Top Five, wants, will, willl reid, Wishlist
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Brand Spotlight, Footwear, Top Five
By Will Reid on March 11th, 2009
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.
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Tags: brandish, colour, dr martins, fashion, floral print, Footwear, island, neon, OkiNi, paul smith, reid, river, river island, shoe, shoes, Top 5, Top Five, topman, will, willl reid
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Entertainment, Footwear, Top Five
By Jonathan Smith on August 7th, 2008
The link between fashion and sport is undeniable, even the fashion heavyweights such as Ralph Lauren and Fred Perry have history in sporting activities of various types. Assuming you’re not head to toe in bespoke suit and a pair of wingtips it’s an almost certainty that you’re wearing some kind of sportswear, unless of course you’re reading this naked. In which case kudos.The link is even more noticeable in the street fashion scene with uber-weight sport’s companies like Adidas and Nike pretty much owning the game with vintage re-releases and limited editions.
The Fashion Vs. Sport exhibition at the V&A started this week and is running through to the 4th of January. The exhibition explores in depth the link between sport and fashion and looks to be a bloody fun and educational afternoon out. For more info get over to the V&A’s website here.
To celebrate the exhibition I have knocked together my top 5 sport fashion items, check them out after the jump!
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Tags: adidas, albert, converse, fashion, Fred Perry, nike, sport, Top Five, v&a, Vans, victoria
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Designer Spotlight, Lifestyle & Gadgets, Top Five
By Will Reid on April 14th, 2008
With guidebook and ability to say thank-you in tow, I was an innocent tourist. At least that was until I saw him from across the road. The letters emblazoned on his back in plush gold velvet shone with insecurity- “Vagina Lover.” Welcome to testosterone Euroflash-style.
It made me wonder about the power of sexuality through fashion. I’m not talking about the Azzedine Alaia flashing of flesh but the establishing of our own preference (and much more) through what we wear. A recent commentator on men.style claimed that the lowest thing a man could do was wear clothes that could be mistaken for women’s. Does that ban drainpipe denim, skinny scarves and thin knits (all within my wardrobe) from the outfits of the modern man. In my opinion a man of those opinions shouldn’t really be dabbling in the androgynous fashion industry. Read on for a Top Five of Euroflasher War Paint.
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Tags: bling, Dolce & Gabbana, eurotrash, gold, lapo elkann, Mad Men, peter stringfellow, roberto cavalli, t-shirt, Top Five
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Top Five
By Isabelle on May 23rd, 2007
Yellow can be a really difficult colour to wear, but keep the brightest yellow for accessories (left) and wear pale lemons and buttery yellows near the face for a flattering look. The creamy colour looks great with dark denim jeans, or if you’re a lemon convert try out American Apparel’s jeans. See after the jump for the rest of the pick and product details.
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Tags: Top Five, yellow
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Clothing, Top Five
By ShinyMedia on May 9th, 2007
Jeans are serious business in menswear, wearing them for months at a time without washing, sanding, dry cleaning everything is fair game to achieve the perfect wear. Small brands like Corpus (left) get you kudos but big brands are often just as good. Among aficionados the best brands are A.P.C and Nudie, but Evisu and Levi’s also score big. If you can go for a month without washing your jeans you will do well to keep the colour and texture of raw denim. Washing your jeans in cold water will also preserve as will using a handwashing detergent for dark or coloured clothes.
See after the jump for the rest of the picks.
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Tags: apc, corpus, denim, evisu, jeans, levis, nudie, pick, Top Five
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Top Five
By ShinyMedia on May 2nd, 2007
Summer is the time for me to coax you out of your summer trousers and into shorts. Smart shorts are definitely appropriate in most offices, it’s just a matter of teaming them with the right things. Short-sleeved check shirts look good, as do smart t-shirts, keep flip-flops for the beach and wear clean canvas pumps instead. For the beach or the park anything goes, wear these American Apparel shorts for a casual, airy look. See after the jump for full outfit pick and product links.
See more top fives on Brandish
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Tags: M&S, penguin, shorts, Top Five, topman
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Accessories, Top Five
By Isabelle on April 26th, 2007
If you still own a pair of wrap-around shades throw them on the floor, them stamp on them. You can’t beat a classic pair of aviators for timeless chic, and theres lots of styles to choose from on the high street. Wayfarers are the latest style to make a comeback, and they’re great for adding a retro touch to any outfit. I’ve featured Monsoon’s aviators before, but these red ones are great for adding a subtle flash of colour. See after the jump for full selection and product links.
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Tags: aviator, sunglasses, sunnies, Top Five, wayfarer
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Footwear, Top Five
By ShinyMedia on April 24th, 2007
Smart trainers are a great staple, perfect for smartening up casualwear and making suits look less stuffy, so I’ve picked five that will easily take you from work to the weekend. Starting with the Onitsuka Tiger (pictured), the bright orange adds a flash of interest and will give a high tec look to a grey suit. The Adidas Samba is a classic, and this reworked version is stylishly unobtrusive. Two Converse shoes, the first is features an eye-pleasing combo of cream and stony beige, and the second is the classic all black Mono. Lastly, the Puma 5000m is more of a standout shoe but will look great with dark blue jeans or a brown suit or cords. See after the jump for full image and product links.
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Tags: 5000m, adididas, converse, office, onitsuka tiger, puma, samba, sole trader, Top Five, trainer
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From:The Quiet Loner's guide to the top ten Quiet Loners