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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Zara Checked Blazer

Hello, my name is Anish and I am a self-confessed blazer-holic. I’m trying to curb the habit but I’m frequently confronted with new styles that are keeping the addiction ripe. This time, it’s Zara’s checked blazer that’s creating cravings.  I went in search of it today but Westfield’s didn’t stock it, so I’m hitting the flagship on Oxford Street tomorrow to have a gander. Though, personally, I’d pair it with a blue V-neck and burgundy bow tie. I’ll happy snap on my new camera and post it to LOOKBOOK (if I find it). 

                                                     Zara Checked Blazer, £59.99

Topman Design A/W 11-12

The Self-Made Man; Gordon Richardson’s A/W 11-12 collection for Topman Design

Sending tweed, tonic herring bone double breasted suits, silk scarves and fur lapels down the catwalk to the vintage-rock beats of the Chapel Club and Zoo Kid, Gordon Richardsons A/W 2011-2012 collection for Topman Design at LFW last month revived the masculine glamour of the 1950’s self-made man;  all reeking of cockiness,  audacity and self-assertion. Perfect for the young, money-making men squeezing all they can from today’s economy.

In an interview with GQ, the designer expressed that “The Topman design look for autumn/winter would not look out of place leaving a smoky jazz club during the early hours of the early fifties.” Indeed, his collection definitely boasts a carefree nature; the tailoring isn’t too restricting, the furs are dandyish and theres a bohemian, artistic, element at work in the silks. All typical of 1950’s post-war fashion, when dress changed dramatically- class barriers collapsed and the economy boomed so that anybody could become a somebody; tweeds and furs were no longer the preserve of the aristocracy but were easily afforded by aspiring men.

Definitely a concept and style that perfectly represents all that Topman stands for- affordable tailoring in rich materials for an ambitious male clientele that gives heritage brands a run for their money.  Any item from this collection will definitely give you a cheeky spring in your step. Here are some of my favorite looks:

        

               

My new camera has just arrived (can I get a woop woop) so keep an eye out for my LOOKBOOK, which I will be creating soon!

Oliver Sweeney Shoes

Feast your eyes on these high-shine badboys...

Now, I’m a firm believer of ‘investment shoes’, or, spending a lot of money on long lasting, versatile footwear that would be staples in a young man’s wardrobe. Whether it’s just my personal way of justifying expensive purchases, Oliver Sweeney’s latest collection definitely guarantees durability and the attention that most well-dressed men appreciate, expected when they are priced at between £170- 400.

Launching his business in 1989, Sweeney established his own business based on ‘The Anatomical Last’- a unique in-sole design that supported the arch of the foot and guaranteed comfort for the modern day gentleman. Yet, aside from being practical, Sweeney quickly gained a reputation as a creator of ‘classic-with-a-twist’ shoes. Not afraid of being unconventional, Sweeney injects vitality and novelty to traditional footwear such as the brogue or loafer by introducing colour or patenting. His latest collection feature innovative creations such as welted boots with decorative perforations typical of the brogue, or loafers in patent maroon or blue. My favorites are the Eubank Tan Tassel Slip (appropriately titled after the eccentric Chris Eubank) and the Farnell Blue Oxford Brogues. They-are-beauts.

When I eventually find a job I know where the majority of mypay-slip is going…

                            Eubank Tan Tassel Slip, £275, www.oliversweeney.com

                         Farnell Blue Oxford Brogues, £275, www.oliversweeney.com

The Gentleman’s Quarterly

In the last couple of months it seems as if “Britain’s leading men’s magazine” has progressively got worse since I started buying it about four years ago. Back then, its pretentiousness and focus on unobtainable clothing didn’t bother me as I was aware that, demographically speaking, it’s target audience was a white, 30-something, balding successful male; for a 17 year old boy enthusiastic on fashion I could only hope that one day I too could afford a Savile Row suit and the latest gadgets and gizmos.  In addition, its cultural and fashion updates were always good reads  (especially those by Millar and Franklin) and were unrivalled amongst its glossy counterparts.

However, though once a coherent mag that always promised value for money, its recent transformation has left it disjointed and disappointing. Adverts seemed to have increased in the last 4 months (the first 104 pages of this months issue!) making it hard to find the actual content, and the male equivalent of vogue; an expensive catalogue with a few good articles (not really the investigative journalism that it once was) thrown in for good measure.  Another recent feature seems to be that, in hope of appealing to a younger and broader audience, profiles of unobtainable women  (to match the unobtainable clothes) have replaced interviews or success stories of inspirational men who matched the ‘look sharp and live smart’ mantra GQ propagated. Sure, the women are attractive, but do I really want to read about Bar Rafaeli’s bitter break-up with Leonardo Di Caprio?  All these women pulling shapes in bikinis has lowered its sophisticated tone, instead putting it on par with soft-core magazines like FHM and Maxim, designed to titillate rather than update.  

This desire for a broader audience has been self-harming in my opinion, mixing articles that appeal to a younger generation (Daniel Radcliffe’s Harry Potter exclusive for example) with pages of adverts and style updates that showcase heritage brands at hefty prices, that most young men can’t afford, is a little unrealistic. The cheaper high-street alternatives have seemingly disappeared too. Sort it out.

I’ve cancelled my subscription…pass me ‘Esquire’ would you?