Winter Blues!

We've just crawled out from what felt like a Siberian winter, a time when the (fashion conscious) male population of London fell victim to the evil hands of practicality and wept as we unenthusiastically tied the laces on THOSE sporty white trainers and cobbed-webbed wellington boots; disobeying the gospel according to fashion in order to avoid frostbite and hypothermia. However, as the last bits of ice begin to melt and the temperature rises a couple of bars, try adding a splash of blue to your footwear collection instead of wearing your conventional tanned brogues or black boots. There’s plenty of deep hued numbers that’ll give you that clean, fresh look in preparation for warmer times. Pair with a light coloured chino or clean-cut trouser with brightly coloured socks (orange and red look particularly good) for that dandyish pop. And remember... you don't want the colour to fade or the suede to ruin so wear protection...  cheeky.

shoes from top to bottom. Acne Desert High Suede Boots, £330. Mark McNairy contrast sole suede loafers, £245. Mark McNairy Suede Derby Buck Shoes, £195. All available at www.mrporter.co.uk. Office suede protection spray, £4.50. Pantone chunky orange socks, £10, available at www.asos.co.uk. Biscotti skinny trousers, £34, available at www.Topman.co.uk 

Boxpark, Shoreditch.

Ok... admittedly this is a little very overdue but because I'm crazy over the concept of this badboy pop-up mall and retail revolution I thought it deserved a post.  

Placed smack bang in the middle of Shoreditch (East London) Boxpark couldn't be located in an area more suited to its innovative and casually cool ethos. Constructed out of stripped and refitted shipping containers to create 'box-shops', it forms a compact and easily navigable shopping centre which houses over 30 realistic brands that suit Shoreditch's trendy community, along with art galleries and cafes on the second floor with are perfect for a casual sunday hang-out. 

I was there for the press launch of Boxfresh, but I made sure I had time to have a cheeky gander round the  site. It was so refreshing to be at a shopping centre which avoided all the intensity, intrusiveness and attitude of other retail locations in London where it feels like you'll need 2 aspirin and a generously filled tumbler of whisky to calm you after your standard shopping trip. Instead, each intimate 'box-shop' encourages you to have a chilled-out look around in your own time – they feel more like personal storage units so you can really enjoy brand experience, which is lost in most other places.

Though it’s only a portable pop-up mall, with most stores having a 3 or 5-year lease, it's definitely a novel and innovative way to shop. Inherently moveable, let's hope they pop up in more places (epic fail of a joke? Sorry). 

If you get a chance, then check it out...

   

                            

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