Penfield still continue where they left off last year
dominating the outerwear market. This is just a handful of what they have:
Hats
Gloves
Focusing on fashion, fantasy and lifestyle for the street sartorial…
Wednesday, 12 December 2012
Winter warmers
Here are some of the winter warmers I would recommend, some
at very good prices at that.
Sunday, 11 November 2012
My trip to Copenhagen
On a recent trip to Copenhagen, I stumbled across a generous
handful of outlets selling top of the range street clothing/casual wear. I’m
talking about brands such as Norse Projects, Suit, Henrik Vibskov and Penfield to name
but a few. I visited the actual Norse
Projects store as well as Illum, Wood Wood, Naked
[a specialist in women’s street clothing] and a few other smaller boutiques.
From the fancy bakeries, specialist tea shops [in which I
bought a bag of Mojito herbal tea] to the upper echelons of menswear outlets -
Copenhagen is definitely a city for style.
Copenhagen is the first city I have been to that puts men’s
fashion on a par with women’s. For example, department store Illum had two
floors dedicated to men’s fashion and only one for women. I can’t think of any
department store in England that would give men so much floor space – acres of
it. The town centre and the backstreets are full of shops which specialise in stylish
menswear. Despite men’s clothing having prominent shelf space, most street
clothing stores also had a female section which is also nice to see. This dispels
the myth that brands such as Penfield and the like are only suitable for men.
Copenhagen is definitely a city I would recommend for
fashionistas and fantasistas. London can learn from Copenhagen in terms of its
appreciation that men also have an interest in style.
Next stop New York?
Friday, 7 September 2012
A moving picture says a thousand [and one] words
Lookbooks are generally that - a compilation of images in the
form of a book, showing off the latest season’s collections. I have always been
a fan of lookbooks, but I must confess, they haven’t always made sense to me.
Some are more ambiguous or dare I say, enigmatic than others. Obscure shots of
the clothes, more shots of nudity, no prices, no names, extreme locations…some
are just eye-candy. And maybe that is the aim, hence some brands increasingly
opting for moving lookbooks. Some moving lookbooks are like movie trailers and
some are more advanced and appear like artistic mini movies. Take a look at a
couple that have caught my eye recently.
Edwin
Eastpak
Edwin
Eastpak
Wednesday, 1 August 2012
Snapshot at a glance
Colour: Maroon [employed subtly]
Pattern: Houndstooth pattern aka dogstooth [employed subtly]
Cut: Tapered jeans
Kicks: Asics, Reebok Classics...
Brands: Scandinavian brands...
Style: Pocket squares, tie clips...
Kicks: Asics, Reebok Classics...
Brands: Scandinavian brands...
Style: Pocket squares, tie clips...
Sunday, 8 July 2012
Sartorial wealth doesn’t fall out of trees
Nothing is easy in life, you have to work hard for success...blah blah blah
But only a man with no aspirations or a man who has never tasted success would regard the aforementioned statement with contempt.
Success with style also requires a level of work above the average. Irrespective of the size of your wallet, you need to do some leg work if you want to bask sartorial wealth, so to speak. In other words, you have to use your brain, eyes and imagination if you want to look good. You can’t just go and buy items and expect them to somehow formulate together to make your outfit look good. Nor can you have a blasé attitude about clothes and expect to be on par with the fashionistas. I know a lot of ladies with the latter mentality, while men tend to suffer from the former.
My tips:
If you are serious about style, noticing style should become second nature. I observe people and style everywhere I go.
See something you like? Check out stockists. Check out their social network…one door should open another door – one brand leads to another brand…
When in shops/boutiques, don’t be afraid to speak to the staff. Although not all are experts, you will get a feel for who is and who isn’t. Take note of what they are saying.
Lifestyle websites and publications are a great place to learn about new brands, line extensions etc.
Use your brain and eyes when making purchases. Think about colour co-ordination. Think about clothes you have at home that may go with what you are about to purchase. This doesn’t mean you have to be like the rappers who will have a matching red cap, t-shirt and kicks. Go for subtle and clever co-ordination. The best colour co-ordination is not always the most obvious.
Don’t be afraid to think differently. This doesn’t mean your entire wardrobe should become outlandish and garish, but don’t always go for the safe option. Black, navy, charcoal are incredibly safe colours and good colours. However you can mix it up a bit. Be subtle with your change, no need to be like Robbie “trying too hard” Savage. Subtle changes will soon grow into bigger and more daring changes. Maybe try shirts or jackets with subtle colours for example. Autumn rustic colours are vast yet subtle.
And sometimes, just sometimes, you will have to splash the cash. But then on the flip side, if you have patience and have your eye on the ball, you can be very successful in the sales.
Put some of these into practice and let me know how you get on.
But only a man with no aspirations or a man who has never tasted success would regard the aforementioned statement with contempt.
Success with style also requires a level of work above the average. Irrespective of the size of your wallet, you need to do some leg work if you want to bask sartorial wealth, so to speak. In other words, you have to use your brain, eyes and imagination if you want to look good. You can’t just go and buy items and expect them to somehow formulate together to make your outfit look good. Nor can you have a blasé attitude about clothes and expect to be on par with the fashionistas. I know a lot of ladies with the latter mentality, while men tend to suffer from the former.
My tips:
If you are serious about style, noticing style should become second nature. I observe people and style everywhere I go.
See something you like? Check out stockists. Check out their social network…one door should open another door – one brand leads to another brand…
When in shops/boutiques, don’t be afraid to speak to the staff. Although not all are experts, you will get a feel for who is and who isn’t. Take note of what they are saying.
Lifestyle websites and publications are a great place to learn about new brands, line extensions etc.
Use your brain and eyes when making purchases. Think about colour co-ordination. Think about clothes you have at home that may go with what you are about to purchase. This doesn’t mean you have to be like the rappers who will have a matching red cap, t-shirt and kicks. Go for subtle and clever co-ordination. The best colour co-ordination is not always the most obvious.
Don’t be afraid to think differently. This doesn’t mean your entire wardrobe should become outlandish and garish, but don’t always go for the safe option. Black, navy, charcoal are incredibly safe colours and good colours. However you can mix it up a bit. Be subtle with your change, no need to be like Robbie “trying too hard” Savage. Subtle changes will soon grow into bigger and more daring changes. Maybe try shirts or jackets with subtle colours for example. Autumn rustic colours are vast yet subtle.
And sometimes, just sometimes, you will have to splash the cash. But then on the flip side, if you have patience and have your eye on the ball, you can be very successful in the sales.
Put some of these into practice and let me know how you get on.
Wednesday, 20 June 2012
Off to Scandinavia
I’ve always thought that one of the hallmarks of a fashionista or fashionisto
is their ability to think outside of the box. This is what separates them from
the laggards or even the early majority. There is a danger however, that innovators
end up adopting the Columbus-ego, claiming to have discovered what already existed
before the eyes of many men.
The Bible also confirms what every fashion house already knew, Ecclesiastes 1:9 :“ What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”.
As this is my blog, I make the rules and on this one occasion, I will adopt the Columbus-ego and reveal to you these hidden treasures from Scandinavia. For years in England, British, American, Western European and Italian brands have dominated the closets of those in the know. But this is a new era…a new world…this new world is Scandinavia. These relatively young brands combine high street fashion with catwalk fashion. I know that sounds cliché, but that is what they do and they do it well. Pastel colours, different cottons, chinos and trousers more than jeans, cardigans with subtle and or daring patterns.
Once again, I write this with a slight feeling of selfishness. These are not brands that the average fashion man or woman considers. These are brands that don’t come to you, you have to find them, like treasure. Take a look for yourselves.
The Bible also confirms what every fashion house already knew, Ecclesiastes 1:9 :“ What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again; there is nothing new under the sun”.
As this is my blog, I make the rules and on this one occasion, I will adopt the Columbus-ego and reveal to you these hidden treasures from Scandinavia. For years in England, British, American, Western European and Italian brands have dominated the closets of those in the know. But this is a new era…a new world…this new world is Scandinavia. These relatively young brands combine high street fashion with catwalk fashion. I know that sounds cliché, but that is what they do and they do it well. Pastel colours, different cottons, chinos and trousers more than jeans, cardigans with subtle and or daring patterns.
Once again, I write this with a slight feeling of selfishness. These are not brands that the average fashion man or woman considers. These are brands that don’t come to you, you have to find them, like treasure. Take a look for yourselves.
Monday, 16 April 2012
Evolution of the giants
Nike and adidas have built their reputations on pioneering technology, cutting edge designs and premium endorsements. Oh and the streets. No, not the music band, but the streets, the hood, the ghetto, the road. And who would argue against the overwhelming influence people from the streets have had on these two brands.
Since the 1980’s, there were signs that these brands were no longer just sports brands. From Run DMC, the football casuals subculture to the break dancers of Paris, all have contributed significantly to the perception of the sports brands. And subsequently [albeit indirectly], have contributed to the way Nike and adidas position themselves. Adidas have retro shops worldwide which focus purely on lifestyles and sub-cultures. Collaborations with Missy Elliot and Ghost Face Killah are clear demonstrations of the direction of adidas is willing to move to.
The legacy of Jordan, although closely linked to the genius basketball player, is one of the strongest examples of Nike clinging onto a lifestyle associated with the brand. Years after Michael Jordan’s retirement, Nike still churn out Air Jordan shoes on a regular basis. Most of these are worn on the streets, not the basketball courts.
The excessive regurgitation of the road man’s favourite, Air Max 90 shows a shift in the positioning of Nike. A shoe which is over 20 years old is still one of their main assets and the bubble doesn’t look like bursting soon.
You only need to look at adidas’ ad campaigns in recent times to see a change in their image. The focus has been on sub-cultures, namely urban sub-cultures, rather than sport. Their ads are now peppered with musicians and TV personalities. Their tracksuits are uniforms in inner-city subcultures.
The excessive regurgitation of the road man’s favourite, Air Max 90 shows a shift in the positioning of Nike. A shoe which is over 20 years old is still one of their main assets and the bubble doesn’t look like bursting soon.
You only need to look at adidas’ ad campaigns in recent times to see a change in their image. The focus has been on sub-cultures, namely urban sub-cultures, rather than sport. Their ads are now peppered with musicians and TV personalities. Their tracksuits are uniforms in inner-city subcultures.
The influx of ‘sneaker mags’, sneaker fairs and other sneaker paraphernalia shows a complete evolution in these brands. And more recently, Kanye West’s collaboration with Nike firmly underlines the evolution from sports brand to fashion brand.
Neither adidas or Nike can class themselves as purely sports brands anymore. They are now lifestyle brands. Their endorsements may still primarily come from sport, but their income and influence is from the streets.
Older heads will quite rightly argue that this has always been the case. But to see the brand’s finally accept and acknowledge this is probably the most significant aspect of this evolution. Look out for adidas’ Olympics 2012 ads which feature David Beckham [who is more fashionista than footballer], Keith Lemon, Daley Thompson and Wretch 32. None of the aforementioned will be competing in the Olympics by the way.
Sports brand? Lifestyle brand? What do you think?
Friday, 13 April 2012
A picture says a thousand words...
Just a quick heads up. A picture says a thousand words. So rather than
explaining why you should get this or that, analyse the new look book by Street Casuals,
it speaks for itself. It’s a bit of a
treasure chest – there are plenty of gems in there.
Enjoy!
Enjoy!
Wednesday, 21 March 2012
It’s not rocket science, its Catchphrase!
It’s not rocket science, its Catchphrase – in other
words, I say what I see, and if I like what I see, I tell you about it.
Summertime is steadily approaching. The pressure to get fresh kicks is
approaching faster. The early bird catches the worm and all that.
These are some of the gems which have caught my eye
recently:
Sometimes buying kicks is like buying a flat, you have to
be able to see beyond the fancy wallpaper and sweet smells. Those Asics are a
perfect example of my point – not that there is anything fraudulent about them.
The average eye can’t see beyond the “bumblebee” yellow and would be turned off
straight away. For a kick off, yellow is a prime summer colour, whether you are
walking the UK streets, Miami streets or Marbella streets, these are perfect.
Fresh, eye catching and kinda sexy. Analyse the pics, check it from other
angles. Now do it again. They are lightweight, perfect in shape, subtle
and simple in design and actually quite versatile. Like I said it like buying a
flat, you have to envision the future and what you will rock with them before
you can truly appreciate them. You can’t just buy them on first impressions,
you have to visualise and romanticise. Strip down your barriers and then see
the great potential you have.
Tuesday, 14 February 2012
And the winner is...
There was a time when it was all about layers. Mad assortments to keep yourself warm. With a good eye for style, this could be pulled off to great effect. Mad accessories on top. Another plus to layers is you generally rock what you’ve already got, just on top of each other, so no need to buy new clothes.
Just a thought: No one ever compliments someone for wearing layers, but when you’ve got a nice coat, people pay attention.
In the past few years, it seems, or in my eyes anyway, the top brands have stepped their game up for winter gear. Last year in particular, Penfield definitely stepped it up and to put it bluntly, smashed it! Their Stapleton jackets were not only super warm, but looked just as stylish as some of the stuff Barbour were doing. Maybe not the best comparison, but in terms of super brands manufacturing winter wear, Penfield knocked all completion out of the water. Where Timberland and The North Face are probably seen as great functionality brands for winter wear, Penfield somehow pulled that off and with style to great effect in 2011.
The Jamieson’s collaboration oozed unique style, was contemporary and the down insulation took care of any winter wars. The Rockford and Rockwool down insulated jackets were also winners. I even read on a forum, someone complain that their Penfield was too warm. Gimme a “too warm” winter jacket any day. Who wants to freeze their bits of in the winter? Speaking from personal experience, I’ve not even had to layer up when wearing my Penfield. It’s a winter jacket that works – Eureka! The pricing wasn’t too offensive in comparison to some of their rivals. And if you catch any of it in the sale, you’re laughing. The Penfield Autumn/Winter collection for women also hit the spot; fitted and shapely jackets with the obligatory insulation for winter.
No need for layers anymore!
On a side note, Dunderdon make jackets worth checking. Cheaper in price than some of the aforementioned, but just as close for warmth.
Sunday, 15 January 2012
Kicks I’m feeling right this minute
Reebok Pump and Nike Air
Flow. But Nike needs to come with better colourways for the Air Flow. That’s a
diamond in the rough right there.
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