CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

To say Marks & Spencer has an enviable heritage is, frankly, stating the obvious, with nearly 140 years of trading under its belt. As the UK’s largest clothing retailer,   it’s no wonder the vast majority of us in this country own at least one item of their clothing in our wardrobes. M&S have recently launched their limited-edition M&S Originals collection. The specifically curated collection of twenty-five hero items, reimagines archive pieces fit for 2021 to highlight M&S’ unique British design and the renewed interest in vintage, with a focus on more sustainable materials and responsible processes.

The Originals collection focuses on reinvested styles inspired by pieces from the M&S archive in Permanently housed at Leeds University. These iconic archive pieces have been reworked in modern cuts with renewed considered details with a confident and easy approach to style. The collection revives styles that are just as relevant today, from wool pleat trousers to a patch-pocket British wool worker jacket and a modern cut blazer in Harris tweed. Loose fit recycled cotton denim, a raglan sleeve oxford shirt and undyed organic cotton t-shirts and rugby’s are modernised through cut, fit, and attention to detail. The waterproof leather Chelsea Boot is also reworked in a modern silhouette for an updated take on this classic wardrobe staple.

The knitwear range revives iconic classics. Many knitwear pieces from the first archive edition are made from responsibly sourced pure merino and Lambswool and include modern loose fit cardigans, chunky Aran cable tanks and crewnecks alongside a fisherman Gansey, and a heritage fairisle featuring a patch pocket in a modern palette of team red, airforce blue and cream.

Each piece from the collection is made with care, using more sustainably sourced materials including natural wools, organic cottons and recycled fabrics, linings, buttons and threads that have a low impact on the environment.

In the second of our sourcing the advice of some of Menswear’s wisest and best informed figures, this time we set them the question.

What is your favourite piece of clothing for Autumn/Fall 2021?

Damien Paul, Head of Menswear – MATCHESFASHION

“A relaxed leg trouser should be a staple in every man’s wardrobe and is a great example of minimalist ease – clean lines and a loose structure create a flattering and timeless silhouette whether in the office, the comfort of your own home or dressing up for evenings out. Look to brands such as Brunello Cucinelli, E. Tautz and Jil Sander.”

Pete Parry, Founder, Stranko

“Personally, my favourite is the Harley of Scotland knits that have just dropped. The colours are just beautiful and the fit and feel are luxurious.”

Adrian Gibson, Menswear Buyer, Robert Goddard

“We have seen a real trend for hybrid pieces this Autumn combining either sweats or knitwear with other fabrics such as nylon. This a great example from another new collection to Robert Goddard this Autumn, Swedish brand J Lindeberg. The Benny hybrid knit is made from mulesing free merino wool and features a quarter zip funnel neck. With added nylon arm panels and a zip finished chest pocket it has a soft handle but technical look that showcases the DNA of the J Lindeberg collection. The brand has New Head of Design for this season, Neil Lewty, who was previously at Hugo Boss and Tommy Hilfiger and he has successfully helped elevate the line whilst maintaining its previous commerciality.

We are going to be opening our brand new store in Harlow this month which is the first of a new updated shop format for Robert Goddard.”

Simon Longland, head of menswear at Harrods

“The Jil Sander double-breasted overcoat in grey is amazing and the large collar is just beautiful. Either that, or high and roll neck sweaters – you just can’t have enough for the cosy season.”

Daniel Greengrass,Buyer/Store Manager , Wellgosh

“I’m a sucker for a good over shirt. The Cav Empt Cord Design Big Shirt is one of the best we have in stock right now. I massively rate Cav.”

Harry Block, Owner, Copperfield

“My favourite piece for autumn winter 21 is the Engineered Garments FA Pant in black

Another item I’m most proud to be stocking this season and my favourite piece for AW21 are the Needles mohair cardigans. There’s been a big movement in menswear into the classic v-neck cardigan and Needles have mastered the fabric, patterns and shape that everyone wants right now.”

Spider-Man is set to be this year’s most popular Halloween costume, a new study has found.

Creative resource Design Bundles conducted new research comparing how much major film character costumes have been Googled in the last 12 months in the UK.

The study used data analytics to discover the amount of times character names followed by the term ‘costume’ were searched and found that Spider-Man came out on top.

The superhero played by Tom Holland in the Marvel Cinematic Universe was the most searched Halloween costume this year. Five other Marvel characters appear on the list and four names from DC. The only character not originating from either DC or Marvel is Harry Potter.

1. Spider-Man
2. Harley Quinn
3. Harry Potter
4. Wonder Woman
5. Deadpool
6. Batman
7. Hulk & Iron Man
8. Wolverine
9. Black Panther
10. The Joker

Spider-Man has the most popular character costume, appearing at the top position at an estimated 6,800 average searches per month. Marvel Studio’s announcements of Phase 4 content in December 2020 spurred on the hype for the latest Spider-Man instalment in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. The trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home has accumulated over 60 million views on YouTube since the end of August.

Harley Quinn placed in second position with 5,400 searches following her recent appearances in The Suicide Squad and Birds of Prey: Harley Quinn.

Originating from the works of the British author J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter appears at number three on this list despite not being featured in a cinematic release since 2011. The wizard’s costume accumulated 4,100 searches.

In fourth place is Wonder Woman’s costume at 3,200 searches after the character’s appearances in recent films such as Wonder Woman 1984 and Zack Snyder’s cut of Justice League.

The comical mercenary Deadpool, brought to life in recent years by Ryan Reynold’s passionate portrayal of the character, accumulated 3,100 searches placing the costume at number five on the list.

With multiple portrayals in recent years, from Christian Bale to Ben Affleck and the upcoming performance of Robert Pattison, Batman comes sixth on this list with 3,000 searches.

Costumes of Hulk and Ironman came joint seventh position at 2,900 searches each. Both live action cinematic portrayals were last featured in 2019’s Avengers: Endgame. Two more Marvel characters follow, with Wolverine in eighth position at 2,600 searches and the performance of the late Chadwick Boseman, last seen on screen in Avengers: Endgame before his death in 2020, puts the Black Panther costume in ninth position with 2,300 searches.

Finally, The Joker’s big-screen reinvention by Joaquin Phoenix in 2019 and Jared Leto’s comeback in Zack Snyder’s justice league in 2021 have placed the Joker in tenth place with 2,200 searches.

Commenting on the study, a spokesperson for Design Bundles said “With Halloween approaching and an ever-growing list of characters appearing in major films, people in the UK have more inspiration than ever for their costumes. Spider-Man has been a popular choice for many years, so it’s interesting to see how comic book characters consistently dominate in popularity over other franchises.”

Although there doesn’t seem to be any new Star Wars movies on the foreseeable horizon and we are having to make do, hey I’m not complaining, with the likes of The Mandolorian, our appetite for all things from a galaxy far, far away shows no sign of diminishing.

With that in min Watch brand, Citizen has just launched their new Ana-Digi Star Wars Collection, drawing inspiration from the vast Star Wars galaxy.

The Star Wars Ana-Digi Collection was created to have a vintage appeal and authentic styling that pays homage to the original trilogy from the 1970’s. Citizen originally introduced the ANA-DIGI TEMP model in the 1980s. This model was both popular in the local Japanese market as well as globally. As the name suggests, this watch combines both analogue and digital elements together in a unique design.

The ANA-DIGI TEMP does more than just display the time, it is a multifunctional watch that also includes a Celsius temperature sensor. This popular model with its iconic, retro- futuristic square shape was reissued in 2018 in collaboration with Japanesse brand Beams.

Citizen is now adding eight exciting new limited-edition models with designs inspired by popular Star Wars characters to the ANA-DIGI TEMP line-up. Elements from Star Wars characters including R2-D2, C-3PO, and Darth Vader are integrated into the mechanical-inspired design of the ANA-DIGI TEMP, which includes colours and motifs unique to each on the watch face, as well as the Star Wars logo and character illustrations engraved on the case back.

Two models available now are the Rebel Pilot themed watch and the Trench Run themed watch. Both watches include dual time, an alarm, digital time, the temperature and themed sub dials. The Rebel Alliance logo and the X-wing with Rebel inspired colours are featured on the Rebel Pilot-inspired model, and the X-wing and TIE fighter pilot are shown on the Trench Run- inspired model.

Each watch features the Star Wars logo and an illustration of each character engraved on the case back. The mechanical-inspired design combines both analogue and digital elements along with a host of practical features including a chronograph, alarm, temperature sensor, and calendar. All models are presented in an original limited-edition box.

This Autumn, Citizen will be releasing another six models: R2-D2, C-3PO, Darth Vader, Boba Fett, Stormtrooper and BB-8 inspired watches. The R2-D2-inspired model features white, blue and red colours as well as the distinctive patterns on the droid’s body. The design of the disc-shaped second hand at the top right shows R2-D2 as seen from above. The C-3PO-inspired model’s two analogue dials on the top of the watch represent his eyes and is finished in his distinctive gold colour. The Darth Vader-inspired model is presented in the character’s signature black tones, with the display at the top right featuring a Death Star-inspired circular second hand with a green superlaser beam indicating each second. The dial design at the top left incorporates Darth Vader’s iconic helmet. The Boba Fett-inspired timepiece not only has his signature colours but the display at the top right is an homage to his helmet design. The display at the top left also includes the Mandalorian symbol. The Stormtrooper model features the iconic helmet on a white dial with stainless steel bracelet, this model. Lastly, the BB-8 model features a yellow-tone dial with orange accents reminiscent of the iconic character.

WELLGOSH, the streetwear store in the heart of Leicester, that is home to some of the most prestigious brands such as Stussy, Aries, Yeezy & Evisu; share their exciting latest drops and this Autumn’s  hottest picks. 

ENGINEERED GARMENTS BUCKET HAT INDIGO

The Engineered Garments Bucket Hat in Indigo features Daiki Suzuki’s strong Americana influence, with an exaggerated deep-set crown and short brim. This piece is made in the USA, with stitched detailing on the brim and a pure cotton construction.

PATAGONIA TORRENTSHELL 3L JACKET SUPERIOR BLUE 

The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket in Superior Blue is a fully waterproof coat featuring a clean, minimalistic design and 3-Layer H2No™ technology. The hood and waistband are fully adjustable, with a breathable micro-fleece neck lining ensuring all day comfort. This lightweight jacket packs down into the left pocket for ultimate portability.

POP TRADING COMPANY ARCH HOODIE ANTHRACITE 

The Pop Trading Co Arch Hoodie in Anthracite is a cosy, heavyweight 100% cotton hooded sweatshirt from the Dutch “skatewear meets streetwear” brand. A vintage-look stitched POP logo decorates the front of the sweatshirt in a trio of block colours, accompanied by an embroidered underarm logo and embroidered rear neck graphic. Other details include stitched underarm vents, a three panel adjustable hood, a kangaroo pocket and ribbed hem and sleeve cuff.

UNIVERSAL WORKS TRACK PANT FOREST GREEN 

The Universal Works Track Pant in Forest Green features a breathable, dry feel 100% cotton loop backed jersey construction; inspired by vintage American sportswear. An adjustable drawstring elasticated waistband, accompanied by elasticated ankle cuffs, dual front and rear pockets tick all the boxes of what a track pant should be. These premium quality joggers are produced in Portugal.

AAPE BY A BATHING APE LACE SHOES BLACK (MULTI)

AAPE by A Bathing Ape arrives at Wellgosh. This season sees the iconic A Bathing Ape Camo feature on the canvas lace up pumps and coloured up in a clean Black camo colourway.  Other key features include AAPE by A Bathing Ape branded foxing around the midsole, AAPE rubberised flag sign off and AAPE sign offs on the heel. The AAPE by A Bathing Ape Lace Shoes are available in various colourways to buy now at Wellgosh

THE NORTH FACE 1996 RETRO NUPTSE JACKET ARROWWOOD YELLOW 

The The North Face 1996 Retro Nuptse Jacket in Arrowwood Yellow is a warm, water-repellent down filled nylon puffer jacket with a design based on the original Nuptse design of the 90’s. The jacket has a durable, ripstop construction with a two-tone block colour finish, also featuring dual zipped side pockets, a hidden internal zip pocket, pack away hood and dual embroidered logo.

ENGINEERED GARMENTS EXPLORER SHIRT JACKET INDIGO 

The Engineered Garments Explorer Shirt Jacket in Indigo is a pure cotton denim shirt and jacket hybrid, with a military-inspired super utilitarian design featuring three large front pouch pockets, two mini front facing pockets, a large pouch pocket on the left sleeve and two additional pockets to the rear of the coat. The button down fastening is accompanied by a middle and collar fastening strap, with a vintage fit inspired by original American workwear.

WACKO MARIA X BARACUTA ANIMALIER LEOPARD  

The Wacko Maria X Baracuta G9 in Animalier Leopard is a reimagining of Baracuta’s most prolific jacket, the G9. This jacket has remained a staple since it’s creation in 1937, and has been copied thousands of times over by various designers; but is yet to be bested. The G9, also commonly referred to as the “Harrington” jacket after menswear retailer John Simmons coined the term following a character of the same name wearing the jacket on screen in 60’s soap opera “Peyton Place”, has been seen on such celebrities and musicians as Elvis, Joe Strummer from The Clash, Steve McQueen, Miles Davis, Liam Gallagher…we could go on. The jacket was also adopted by such subcultures as the Mods and Skinheads if the 60’s, and the Punks of the 70’s; essentially, this jacket is never going out of style. With Baracuta’s rich history in westernised culture, and Wacko Maria’s fascination with all things film, music and art; this collaboration celebrates the influences of both brands in the form of a velvet-feel animal print jacket, with a traditional Fraser tartan lining, ribbed slightly cropped waistband, internal pocket and button closure funnel neck. The original shape of the G9 has been tweaked slightly, to give a slightly more relaxed, unisex silhouette and is made in England.