The Effortlessly Stylish Joe Casely Hayford (1956-2019)

We start 2019 with some very sad news that in the breaking days of 2019 we loss a creative menswear colossus in Joe Casely-Hayford. As a mark of respect for today’s post we are running our interview with Joe from 2013. Journalist Tom Stubbs summed up this sorry situation in such a succinct fashion when he put it, on describing this sad news as;

”It is so very sad that Joe Casely-Hayford has died and so young. I usually don’t do RIP’s on an I.G. feed that’s about men style and people, but Joe Casely Heyford O.B.E was all about men style and people, so have to mark his passing. Joe was sublimely elegance in both style and manners. Also kind, cool, creative and funny – a rare mix in life, let alone our industry. My thoughts and feelings go out to Joe’s beloved family. I am so glad to have seen Joe this autumn at the opening of the Casely-Hayford shop on Chiltern Street. A true family affair just like how Joe did things, far beyond the strong create a partnership with son Charlie. Family around him recounted how 2018 was a big year Joe aside from the shop opening, with the family wedding and an engagement and his granddaughter starting school. I am blessed I shared Joe’s repartee again that night in October on art, style and the street and recall he was always so quietly charming and generous with his words. Joe talked about and crated style in a uniquely erudite and instinctively modern savvy way. I interviewed Joe Casely-Hayford a couple of times, and also worked with his men’s style stuff, and so much of it was memorable. He once called Ariston ‘a very sexy mill’ during an interview. No one talks quite like that about clothes now, let alone back then. Joe strongly influenced me. with the LFW man’s international shows we must solemnly note that style, London, the world is a very special man down.

Joe Casely-Hayford RIP”

Joe Casely Hayford OBE has dressed some of the most iconic and stylish musicians from over a generation, which include The Clash to Tenie Tempah. However, this only accounts for a tiny proportion in this man’s long and illustrious career.

After, he graduated from St. Martins,

Joe’s signature style of combining innovation and impeccable tailoring fast developed which soon caught the eye of leading publications of the time, i.D, The Face and Arena.

Incidentally, a little known fact is that, Casely-Hayford was one of the first designers to make the cross over and collaborate with a high retailer on an exclusive collection, back in 1993 for TOPSHOP !

He’s contributed definitive pieces of work to many fashion and art related exhibitions internationally as well as being the subject of exhibitions himself. “Through the Ages”, a retrospective of Joe’s work was held at “The Edge” space in Tokyo, September 1996.

In 2005, Joe’s sartorial vision was cemented during his successful tenure as Creative Director of the 200 year old Savile Row house, Gieves & Hawkes, taking it and opening it to a new global audience by showing during Paris Mens Fashion Week and credited as a major step in bringing the illustrious company into the 21^st century.

After a four year break, Joe returned to the industry with a new signature Menswear range, Casely-Hayford in partnership with his son Charlie. The brand ethos is built around a theme of English sartorialism and British Anarchy. So without further ado let’s see what the good man has to say for himself;

How did you get into the industry, what was your big break?

I studied at the very formal Tailor and Cutter Academy before attending the slightly” less” formal St. Martins. My first collection was based on a recycling concept. I made clothes from Second World War tents which became quite popular.

What is you most memorable moment ?

From the point of view of recognition, I guess receiving an OBE from the Queen is up there with the first time I saw my wife at St. Martins.

What track would always get you on the dance floor ?

I’m a dancing machine (in my head) there are too many tracks to even consider; this changes daily. Today it’s The Invisible “Wings” remixed by Floating Points.

Who would do you ideal diner guest/s and why ?

Tony Benn, will Self and Christopher Hitchens would interest me for their intellect and wit. Some of my ancestors would be good to talk to. I had an Aunt Gladys who was a poet, she walked with a limp but this didn’t deter her from joining a dance troupe in the Weimar republic.

In your own words what is you’re SS13 collection about?

It’s called phantasy in Tokyo and draws a comparison between the freedom, vibrancy and openness of 90s rave culture in the UK and the deep contemplative nature found in areas of Japanese culture at the same time.

What is your favourite piece in the collection?

Naturally I love the whole collection. In particular the oversized silk parka and also the hybrid pieces we’ve become known for, such as the half shirt half jacket or half Polo shirt half formal shirt.

If you could have invented anything what would it be?

The Pencil.

If you had one day to live what would be your biggest regret?

Each morning I set out to achieve my best at whatever I’m doing and to treat others with respect. Hopefully, if I can continue this until that fateful day I shouldn’t have any regrets.

What inspires you ?

I am inspired by living in London.

Who is your style icon ?

My father was pretty stylish. He had exquisite taste which was outside of fashion.

Have you ever bought a piece of clothing and regretted it ? If so what & why ?

I have a shoe fetish, and have on occasion impulse bought ill fitting shoes. Rather than throw them out I tend to forget how painful they are until the next time I wear them.

If you could collaborate with one brand (Who you currently aren’t) who would it be and why ?

I would love to be given the opportunity to develop a range of future tailoring with a forward company like Nike, combining my Savile Row experience and knowledge of sportswear with Street style.

Joe Casely-Hayford (1956-2019)

(Images by Rebecca Spencer)

Broadcaster James Stewart, is fast becoming one of the hottest new talents out there at the moment. His wit and and charisma on air, has made him a real hit with listeners of his regular Weekend shows with HEART FM. Aswell, as this he has also hosted for international entertainment TV channels including; SYFY, NBC and the live red carpet coverage at the Oscars for E!.

James is a regular face at LONDON FASHION WEEK, both behind the camera and also on the front row of catwalk shows and has worked with brands including; TOPMAN, ASOS and SUPERDRY.

His following on social media is building at a rapid rate, with fans regularly checking out his style and grooming tips on Instagram and YouTube. This has caught the eye of men’s grooming brand, JOHNNY’S CHOP SHOP who have made him their ambassador.

If you could have invented anything what would it be ?
I’d probably event a time travel device, that could only go back in time… I’m a bit of a history nerd so to go back and experience different points in history would be pretty cool, but I wouldn’t want to see the future… I like the idea of not knowing what’s ahead!

If you had one day to live what would be your biggest regret ?

I don’t have any regrets, life is too short.

What’s your favourite piece of clothing ?

I have a Burberry Mac that I’m quite proud of, it’s probably the most extravagant piece of clothing I own…but you only need one in your lifetime, so that justifies it, right?

If you could only wear one brand for the rest of your life who would it be ?

Oooooof, I’m a high street boy at heart, so I think I’d say Reiss. I think they’re great for every season, and it’s just really clean and easy to wear.

(Image by Joseph Sinclair)

Who is your style icon ?

I remember growing up, and my Dad introducing me to James Dean movies (my favourite film is ‪Rebel Without A Cause‬ ) so I think for nostalgia I’d say him. There’s a pretty iconic shot of him in New York, with baggy trousers, a roll neck and that coat in the wind which always makes my mood board for any shoot!

What piece of style advise do you live by ?

Be you. It’s great to take inspiration from different people, but ultimately, you’re the one that has to wear it, so wear something you feel comfortable and confident in, not just what you think you should be wearing.

What piece of clothing would you relegate to Room 101 ?

Crocs.

What do you have to do after this conversation?

Ha, collect my car! I bought a car recently, but forgot to sort out a parking permit for where I live in London, so I’ve only driven it once..!!

What would you like to be doing after this conversation ?

Going to LA! The weather in London is pretty naff right now…

Who would be you ideal dinner guests ?

James Dean (see above!)
Mark Hamill – I’m the biggest Star Wars fan ever, so you’ve got to have Luke Skywalker at your dinner party!
Margot Robbie – got a bit of a crush, and we have the same birthday, so we could talk about star signs….and stuff?!
‪George Michael – What he did for music was incredible, and I’d love to speak to him about song writing, his music and just life. What an interesting human. ‬

That would be it, I’d keep it small so we could cover all the bases.

(Image by Rebecca Spencer)

What is your most memorable moment ?

I got to do the Oscars live from the red carpet last year, that was pretty special, I’ll always remember that.

If you could give your teenage self advice, what would it be ?

…. it will work out!

If you could live anywhere where would it be ?

I’ve always said I’d love to live 6 months on the West Coast of America, travelling around between San Fran and LA… so there!

What would be the name of your autobiography ?

Not A Rebel, But Have A Cause.

Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given and by whom?

Never give up on your dreams, by my Dad 🙂

(Image by Joseph Sinclair)

Tune into James Stewart on Heart, Saturdays and Sundays ‪from 1am – 6am‬. James is the grooming ambassador for Johnny’s Chop Shop available at Boots

Happy New Year ! Welcome to 2018 and here’s to this year being even bigger and better than the one we left behind. Thanks for sticking with us and we promise you, this will be our best year yet.

With this in mind, we are at a time for contemplating self improvement, self betterment, mindfulness, renewing one’s gym membership and throwing out all the uneaten Quality Street, After Eights, yes and even, the Terry’s Chocolate Orange. Everyone knows Health and Fitness is the new Rock and Roll, yeah that’s right, yeah ?

ROGER FRAMPTON has been an international model for over a decade, appearing in campaigns for the likes of JEAN PAUL GAULTIER, RALPH LAUREN, ORLEBAR BROWN and AQUASCUTUM plus walked in catwalk shows for international luxury brands including DOLCE & GABBANA, ALEXANDER MCQUEEN, YVES SAINT LAURENT, MISSONI, VIVIENNE WESTWOOD and EMPORIO ARMANI. On top of all this he has over the years featured in some of the world’s highly regarded style publications including ARENA HOMME +, FANTASTIC MAN, L’OFFICIEL HOMMES and GQ.

Now after over 15 seasons of catwalks in Milan, New York, Paris and London, Roger realised the importance of consciousness in movement and created THE FRAMPTON METHOD, a combination of bodyweight exercises mixing aspects of gymnastics and yoga, but with the utilisation of consciousness. His training technique has been featured all over the media in The Sunday Times, Grazia, Esquire, Men’s Health and Elle Magazine and he has many private clients as well as maintaining an international career in fashion.

Frampton recently stood on the TED stage for his talk, Why Sitting Down Destroys You in which he talks about his refreshing approach to movement and mobility. The video has clocked an impressive 1.8 million views to date.

His first book THE FLEXIBLE BODY was recently released by Pavillion, giving readers conscious movement solutions which they can do at home and is available to order on Amazon now.

You can spend an hour with anyone from history – who would it be?

Winston Churchill. We could share a cigar & discuss tactics.

One album you would keep forever?

My model portfolio. Can’t go without that. Very important!

Describe your style in three words?

Comfort, Fitted, Stylish.

Best piece of advise you’ve ever been given and by whom?

That nobody can offend you.

Best present you’ve ever received ?

My cosy Orlebar Brown Jacket. (Thanks Adam). Ever ever?? The gift of life!

Who’s the most famous person’s number in your phone ?

999. True heroes.

What music are you listening to at the moment ?

I’m listening to a Maceo Plex mic on Frisky Radio.

Favourite hotel in the world ?

The W. The gym space is to die for.

If you could give your teenage self advice, what would it be ?

I’ll tell him that anything he wants he can have. He just has to be crazy enough to believe it.

If you could live anywhere where would it be ?

One day I’ll live in Australia. I just love the sunshine.

What do you have to do after this conversation ?

Coach a couple in their home.

What piece of style advise do you live by ?

Accessorise well! Watch/ Shoes.

What piece of clothing should everyman have in his wardrobe ?

A fitted jacket. I mean you don’t have to go to Saville Row. You can get one anywhere, and have it tailored to you.

If you had one day to live what would be your biggest regret ?

Why spend the last day of your life regretting? It doesn’t matter anyway. You won’t remember it.

Words by Charlie Britton

It’s clear that the fashion industry in particular is renowned for being a throw-away one, with fast fashion and high street retailers turning out new ranges of clothing every fortnight or so. This comes from the ever-increasing consumer demand for new product, particularly as clothing and accessories can now cost less than your daily coffee.

To our relief, brands are starting to turn a corner and follow in the footsteps of those who create beautifully manufactured, timeless goods that’ll last a lifetime if you take good care of them. Good craftsmanship should always be at the forefront of product design and it’s here, we’re thrilled to introduce Campbell Cole.

It’s true that we develop a connection with pieces we use each and every day and this is something designers and co-founders, Ian and Felicity understand phenomenally well and represent through their products. Inspired by simple timeless design, Campbell Cole produces a fantastic range of leather goods, which are of course intended to be used every day. From key wraps and card wallets, to pouches, bags and belts, Campbell Cole design and create beautiful everyday essentials for both men and women.

The craftsmanship in these products is immediately evident, with the design, construction and raw material being well considered at every respective stage of development. The result is a strong and beautiful end product and each new collection clearly represents the growth this brand continues to make.

We wanted to know a little more about Campbell Cole, so we spoke with Ian and Felicity and went through a handful of questions we had. It was a great opportunity to get to know the brains behind Campbell Cole a little better and understand the brand from their point of view;

Q : When did Campbell Cole start and what was the foundation for the brand?

Felicity and I started Campbell Cole in 2011.

After a number of years working as designers for other people, we wanted to create something meaningful for ourselves that represented our personal values and beliefs. Neither of us are big consumers of stuff. We like beautiful things that have been made to be used and loved for a long time and believe completely in buying less but better. I know this sounds like a bit of a cliché but it’s super important to us – there’s so much stuff being made with so little care and consideration – it doesn’t seem sustainable to carry on producing rubbish that’s going to wind up in landfill within a matter of weeks. We are by no means perfect in everything we do, but as conscientious designers we feel it’s important to do the best we can.

Q: What inspires you when designing products and why?

We create products that we would like to own and use ourselves. The details, shapes, colours, patterns and so on are inspired by various different things that interest us.

The Simple Coin Pouch with lanyard is probably quite a good example of this – I wanted a small zip pouch for holding a few essentials when out on my bike – couple of cards, coins, folded notes and a house key. Carrying the pouch with a lanyard works really well if you don’t have secure pockets. A couple of years ago, Felicity and I got quite obsessed with watching films about climbing in Yosemite in the 60’s which led to our use of paracord and the knot details. Our colour palette and emboss details are inspired by the paintings of Le Corbusier.

Q: What are the biggest challenges you’ve tackled with Campbell Cole?

There’s been too many to mention! But probably starting a business with no experience of running a business. Everything we have learnt, from finding reliable factories and suppliers, through to doing our accounts, we have figured out from scratch. I think that’s also what makes it exciting – learning so much, and beginning to feel in control of it – particularly now as the business is growing. It’s all starting to make sense.

Q: How has Instagram had an impact on the brand?

Instagram has been great for Campbell Cole. We are not really big ones for words so using a platform that allows us to communicate our taste and aesthetic through images is perfect for us. I’m not sure where we’d be without it really – probably still trying to figure out the point of Twitter! Instagram has also been great for meeting people. There are so many like-minded people out there doing amazing things… many of the people we have met and become good friends with over these last few years have come through Instagram. I like how informal it is too – nice and friendly.

Q: What’s next for Campbell Cole?

Next up is our new Simple Zip Corner Wallet, which we are launching at Design Junction in September.

We’re attending Design Junction in September, so we’re excited for the new release and look forward to seeing what else Campbell Cole has to offer. One thing we know for sure is here at Clothes Make The Man, we’re in strong agreement that this is one of the best accessory and leather brands we’ve come across to date. If you’re looking for a new wallet or belt gents, head on over to Campbell Cole and check out their range. We guarantee you wont be disappointed.

The Private White V.C. brand is a true heritage range based on the on the everyday wardrobe of Private Jack White, not to be mistaken with the White Stripes guitarist. The VC part of the moniker is after the Victoria Cross which was awarded to Jack at the tender age of 20 for outstanding bravery under intense enemy fire during World War I. The clothing line has a subtle nod to Jack’s military legacy, with many items based on classic wartime pieces, updated with added functionality and detail for the modern man.

After returning from the killing fields of the Great War, he undertook an apprenticeship with a local outerwear factory, Cooper & Stollbrand, which is where to this very day his Great grandson, James Eden, produces the collection inspired by the clothing he wore in his daily life, items he customised to suit his everyday activities .

The backstory to this fascinating brand, was celebrated in the Channel 4 documentary, Made in England, which looked into the transition of the Copper & Stollbrand factory from a fossil of a bygone era to the journey James Eden and his business partner Nick Ashley, dragged the business into the 21st Century. Creative Director, Nick has a long and illustrious history in the fashion industry, having worked for Kenzo, Tod’s of Italy, and Dunhill Menswear, amongst others. The son of Laura Ashley, the renowned fashion and interiors designer, Nick was immersed in design and creativity from an early age, so it was little wonder that he should follow in his mother’s footsteps.

The collection is designed by Ashley who’s designs are influenced by Private Jack White’s wardrobe and classic military garments, as well as his passion for motorcycle and car racing. Nick’s ability to immerse himself in everything he does is testament to the passion that goes into his creations. His long-standing love of history and the military make Private White V.C. an ideal outlet to unleash his inspiration.

All clothing is expertly constructed by hand in the Private White V.C. Factory in Manchester, where garments are designed and developed using only the finest regionally sourced fabrics, trims and materials.

Materials are sourced locally where possible with the majority of cloth being supplied from the mills in the surrounding area. These too have a wealth of history behind them.

You can spend an hour with anyone from history – who would it be?

Bob Marley, everything’s gonna be alright

If you could keep one book – what would it be?

The colour wheel manual, harmony is everything