CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

The traditional style of male nightwear, the Pyjamas have always carried a certain sexy association to them, no we’re not talking the flannelnet type. You know, when worn by leading men in classic films from the golden age of Hollywood. They can work miracles to increase the masculine persona of a gentleman. In the same respect, images of the fairer gender either stealing or share her rugged partner’s night attire have served as fodder for Mills & Boon novels for decades.

This season, High Street retailer, Debenhams‘ hugely successful Hammond and Co. collection by the rakish and sauve British Designer, Patrick Grant. This collection, offers true gentleman’s attire by fusing Savile Rowe tailoring with a contemporary take on modern wardrobe staples. The range offers casual to sartorial elegance from Harrington jackets and denim to overcoats and three piece suiting. But for this season, Hammond and Co. Move into the more  seductive arena of  loungewear and underwear, meaning you can still look the your dapper self well into the wee small hours.

Pyjama sets are available in a variety of styles suitable for every modern gentleman. With prints ranging from the house check to polka dot, ensuring it had never has been so stylish to retire to one’s suite, quarters, bed, to where the magic happens.

Hold on one cotton picking second there, Clothes-Make-the-Man, don’t be trying to pull the wool over our eyes, those shoes look remarkably like Clarks Wallabees. Well you’d be right dear reader, would I ever try and deceive you ? Or in the words of 90’s one hit wonders, Messers Charles and Eddie, “Would I lie to you Baby, would I lie to you, Ohhh yeah!”

Yes eagle eyed readers, these are infact Padmore & Barnes shoes, who up until 1987 were under the ownership of C&J Clarks and played a huge role from their Kilkenny factory in the global success of the Wallabees.

These specific range are a collaboration with the wonderful British Design duo of Fraser Moss and Jimmy Collins, who back in 1995, borrowed industrial designer Raymond Loewy’s slogan, ‘You must create’, in order to name their nascent clothing company. YMC, as the company swiftly came to be known, took initial inspiration from work wear, the football terraces of the early 80s, the tradition of outward bound attire and American and British military wear. From the uniforms and sportswear they borrowed precision and crisp functionality and from punk they took a dark humour and well aimed iconoclasm.

This season the two brands have come together to create an exclusive capsule collection of classic footwear. Comprising of six iconic styles the collaboration perfectly compliments YMC’s distinctly British design ethos. YMC’s relationship with Padmore & Barnes goes right back to the brands inception in 1995. 20 years later, as part of their anniversary celebrations, the two brands have come together to revisit this unique partnership.

The hero style is undoubtedly the ‘Original’ Padmore & Barnes shoe and boot, an exclusive women’s style that has been out of production for 15 years. Available in black, burnt orange or oxblood each style comes in a classic suede finish. The ‘Natalie’ is another style which YMC have brought out of the archives; available exclusively for men. The Natalie is produced in conjunction with cult menswear retailer Oi Polloi and is available in black or dark brown colourways. The ‘One Piece’ is offered in classic laced design or as a monk strap, each version crafted from a single leather upper.

You must have heard that phrase before, “The best ideas are always the most simple ones”, and don’t you just hate when you see a brilliant idea and you think,   ” I wish I’d have thought of that.” Well that sums up the subject of today’s post. Those clever little design geeks over at high Street retailer River Island, have been hard thinking up great ideas, including this lil gem.

“Style Staples” is all about a carefully curated edit showcasing those timeless styling essentials that transcend trend. Those pieces, you know, the overcoat, the Denim Jacket, the Oxford Shirt etc those wardrobe classics that form the foundation of every man’s wardrobe. All pieces have been handpicked by the River Island design team after long drawn out research into “what is your style staple?” . In short, key wardrobe basics for, literally, every man. With this 38-piece edit, they have your wardrobe classics covered for this entire season !!!!

The campaign was shot by Director and photographer Nick Griffiths, under the concept, hero’ing the “everyman”, shot as a series of stills and film exploring the background of men from all walks of life and how they wear the collection. In the film (see above) men from diverse backgrounds wax lyrical about their passions and experiences, donning their Style Staple of choice; from the creative and the bold in cult poet Mikill Pane and TV adventurer Leon McCarron – through to the tradesman and the grafter in builder Phillip Zecivic and native gardener Fenton Joseph-Zywicki. It’s all about showing different men from different walks of life wearing it.