CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

With EDITION_004, APAR steps into a new realm of cinematic storytelling, presenting its latest collection through a visually arresting short film inspired by the late 19th-century Decadent movement. Known for its celebration of beauty, artifice and sensual indulgence, the movement becomes the perfect lens for APAR’s exploration of identity, ritual and the quietly theatrical act of dressing — and undressing.

The film frames the intimate moments that precede the day: the small personal rites through which we construct our public selves. In these gestures, APAR finds a space where clothing becomes both armour and expression — a reflection of who we are, and who we choose to be.

Like each offering before it, EDITION_004 builds upon the foundations of previous collections. APAR’s design process embraces evolution rather than reinvention, drawing on carefully chosen references that guide the season’s direction. This time, inspiration comes from Aldo Fallai’s iconic photographs of the late Giorgio Armani from the late ’70s and early ’80s — imagery famed for its sensual tailoring, cinematic contrasts and quiet, powerful glamour.

Addressing the modern concern of over-development and relentless consumption, the label’s approach rejects obsolescence. Instead, it finds novelty through reinterpretation: familiar silhouettes revisited with seasonal colours, new fabrics and unexpected textures. Freshness is not forced; it is discovered.

This season’s palette is grounded in nature — earth-toned khakis, mushroom browns and military undertones softened by silk headscarves, a subtle nod to Fallai and Armani’s creative collaboration. Among these muted hues, a jolt of colour emerges: a fuchsia crepe woven T-shirt, paired with ivory paper-cotton lounge trousers, creating a raspberry-ripple sharpness that cuts through the more sombre shades. It’s a visual echo of the collection’s title — Decadent Days, where lightness, indulgence and play coexist.

Key pieces receive quietly radical updates. A classic wool peacoat is transformed in denim, giving a winter staple a sun-lit, summery twist. Softer, fluid silhouettes sit alongside the brand’s signature structured tailoring — a belted tailored coat, sculpted trousers with corsetry boning, now positioned as eveningwear. Styled with ivory silk boxer shorts and bare skin, the looks conjure the voyeuristic, erotically charged world of Helmut Newton — a tension of power, gender roles, and the gaze.

Film — part ritual, part performance, part confession — becomes the ideal medium for APAR’s ongoing examination of the self. EDlTION_004 situates the viewer as both observer and participant, watching the many identities we assemble each day, and the quiet metamorphosis that happens as fabric meets skin.

With Decadent Days, APAR does more than present a collection. It offers a meditation on desire, identity, transformation — and the artful pleasure of getting dressed.

Few bands have shaped culture quite like The Rolling Stones. Their swagger, their sound, their unfiltered edge — it all became the blueprint for rock ‘n’ roll attitude. Now, that same defiant spirit has been distilled into something unexpectedly exciting: Subversive Scents, a new unisex fragrance concept capturing the band’s legacy in five bold, genre-bending perfumes.

Created in partnership with Universal Music and crafted by master perfumers at Nirvana Brands, this collection draws on iconic moments, legendary tracks and the unmistakable energy that has defined the Stones for more than six decades. These are not polite, background fragrances. These are scents with presence — eclectic, seductive, disruptive, and unmistakably rock ‘n’ roll.

Below, a closer look at the line-up.

Wild Horses — Eau de Parfum, 100ml

A scent built on emotion — literally. Aquatic and ozonic notes collide with soft musk to create an evocative “salty tears” accord, supported by rose, jasmine and pink peppercorn. Fresh, intimate and quietly powerful.

Top: Rose, Aquatic Notes

Mid: Jasmine, Peony, Pink Peppercorn, Salty Tears Accord

Base: Musk, Cedarwood, Amber, Tonka Bean

Sticky Fingers — Eau de Parfum, 100ml

Deep, smoky and deliciously indulgent. Think late nights, vinyl spinning and the curl of whisky in the air. A rich blend of Bourbon Vanilla, olibanum and whiskey creates a warm, resinous, addictive finish.

Top: Whiskey

Mid: Vanilla Orchid, Olibanum

Base: Bourbon Vanilla, Musk, Sandalwood, Patchouli

Satisfaction — Eau de Parfum, 100ml

A complex, modern take on a tobacco fragrance. Patchouli Leaf, electric musk and oud lend grit and depth, while bright spices and pineapple add an unexpected lift. Confident. Iconic. Unapologetic.

Top: Cinnamon, Nutmeg, Saffron, Pineapple

Mid: Tobacco, Tuberose, Orange Blossom

Base: Cedar, Patchouli, Tonka Bean

Urban Jungle — Eau de Parfum, 100ml

Raw, atmospheric, and unmistakably metropolitan. Vetiver meets a “hot concrete” accord to create a textured, industrial leather effect. A scent that smells like the city — its pulse, its grit, its unstoppable energy.

Top: Grapefruit, Bergamot, Hemp
Mid: Rhubarb, Sweet Grass, Juniper

Base: Vetiver, Hot Concrete, Worn Leather

Paint It Black — Eau de Parfum, 100ml

Dark, opulent and magnetic. Saffron, oud and benzoin create a multifaceted burning oud accord, layered with blackberry, patchouli and smoky resinous notes. A statement fragrance with real cinematic depth.

Top: Blackberry, Pink Peppercorn, Nutmeg

Mid: Saffron, Rose, Jasmine

Base: Patchouli, Musk, Burning Oud

The full collection is available in the heart of London at the Rolling Stones’ flagship store, RS No.9 Carnaby (9 Carnaby Street), as well as The Perfume Shop in Lakeside and Brent Cross, and online at subversivescents.co.uk.

Five fragrances. One legendary legacy. And a reminder that rebellion never goes out of style.

Corduroy has always been more than just a fabric. It’s a texture loaded with history: worn by kings, workers, artists, rebels, skaters, academics and every stylish misfit in between. Next week, Beyond Retro, the vintage institution renowned for championing the circular and the timeless, is honouring that rich heritage with its largest-ever corduroy release — more than 7,000 unique pieces arriving across its stores in London, Stockholm and Gothenburg.

(Banana Republic)

It’s a drop that spans centuries of stories. Corduroy’s earliest ancestor appeared in 2nd-century Egypt, woven as a luxurious cotton–linen blend before evolving into the ribbed textile we recognise today. The name may not literally mean “cloth of the king,” but early corduroy was indeed worn by the wealthy before becoming a uniform of the working class. As the Industrial Revolution reshaped Britain, the fabric’s durability earned it the nickname “the poor man’s velvet.” Milled in Manchester, it became the trusted companion of railway workers, farmers and factory hands — the people who built modern Britain.

(Levi’s)

But corduroy’s journey didn’t end with industry. After the world wars, surplus military garments found their way into the wardrobes of students, artists and free-thinkers who embraced its rugged authenticity. By the 1960s and 1970s, corduroy had slipped firmly into the hands of counterculture — beloved by academics, musicians, activists and creative outsiders who valued its warmth, texture and quietly rebellious charm. From Levi’s flares to Lee Westerners, it became a symbol of intellect and individuality. The 1990s revived it once again through grunge and skate culture, loose, worn-in and effortlessly cool. And today, as fashion continues to lean toward longevity and narrative-rich pieces, corduroy is back at centre stage.

(Boohoo)

Beyond Retro’s new drop celebrates every chapter of that story. Expect 70s wide-wale trousers, 90s chore jackets, military-inspired coats and beautifully broken-in workwear — each piece handpicked for its character and quality. It’s a tactile archive of cultural moments, reinterpreted for the modern circular wardrobe. “Corduroy has always carried the marks of its past — the ridges that tell a story of work, rebellion, and renewal,” says Steven Bethell. “This drop is a celebration of craft, culture and circularity — giving a second life to one of fashion’s most enduring fabrics.”

(Levis)

You’ll find the collection at Beyond Retro’s locations in Soho, Dalston, Drottninggatan and Arkaden, each store ready to welcome the next generation of corduroy lovers searching for pieces with personality and history.

For those who champion sustainable fashion, Beyond Retro needs little introduction. The brand is beloved for its authenticity, its curated edits and its refusal to compromise on style or principles. Together with its parent company, Bank & Vogue, Beyond Retro is part of a global movement redefining how we handle the overwhelming volume of clothing produced each year. What began in the early 90s as a passion project in a basement has grown into a pioneering circular fashion network working in wholesale, retail, recycling, upcycling and manufacturing — all with the goal of building a truly closed-loop economy.

(Banana Republic)

(Cordings)

With this latest drop, Beyond Retro doesn’t just bring corduroy back into the spotlight — it reminds us why vintage continues to matter. In a world obsessed with the new, sometimes the most exciting things are the ones already waiting for us, filled with history, texture and soul.

Footasylum is turning up the heat this season with the exclusive launch of Nike’s latest collection, available now online and in Footasylum stores nationwide. This isn’t just another drop — it’s a statement piece in motion, designed for those who move differently.

Taking its cue from Nike’s legendary running franchises, this bold release blends technical performance with street-ready design, striking that perfect balance between sport and style. Every detail feels deliberate — engineered for comfort and movement, yet built to look right at home in an urban setting. It’s sportswear that earns its stripes in the gym, but really shines on the streets.

Front and centre are high-energy colourways created exclusively for Footasylum, each one pushing Nike’s visual language into new territory. Keep an eye out for the standout bold blue Windrunner, a piece destined to become the unofficial uniform of the modern mover.

Designed to hook together from head to toe, the collection channels Nike’s new “Tech Sport” aesthetic — a fusion of athletic DNA and everyday versatility. It’s perfect for those who don’t just wear their style but live it: dynamic, unapologetic, and always in motion.

In a world where performance and lifestyle increasingly collide, this partnership between Nike and Footasylum cements both brands’ positions at the forefront of modern sportswear aesthetics. The only question left: are you ready to move with it?

Now that autumn has fully arrived, bringing damp air, rain, and muddy commutes, a common daily habit is silently destroying your footwear and could be creating a serious hygiene issue inside your home.

Experts are issuing a seasonal alert: wearing the same pair of shoes every day now that the weather has turned is the fastest way to invite mould, rot, and drastically shorten your shoes’ lifespan.

The simple, non-obvious solution is to implement an immediate shoe rotation strategy.

For most of the year, wearing the same shoes daily isn’t a major issue, but the seasonal shift in autumn changes the equation entirely.

Footwear expert Julian Nelson, at A Fine Pair of Shoes, explains that the problem is not external moisture (rain) but internal moisture (sweat) that never gets a chance to escape.

“Your feet sweat constantly, up to half a pint a day, and during autumn and winter, that moisture gets trapped inside the shoe’s lining and sole,” says Nelson. “During the summer, the shoe can dry out overnight. But in damp, cooler weather, your leather or synthetic shoes simply cannot dry completely in 8 or 10 hours. By wearing them again the next morning, you are locking in moisture that the shoe has been holding since yesterday.”

The urgent consequences of damp shoes

Wearing permanently damp shoes creates several major problems that quickly degrade the footwear:

• Foul odour and mould: The damp, dark, warm environment is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and mildew. This is the primary cause of persistent, foul smells and can eventually lead to mould growth on the leather or inside the lining.
• Rot and collapse: Constant moisture causes the glues in the sole and the stitching to break down. For leather, moisture weakens the fibres, causing them to stretch and eventually rot from the inside out. This drastically shortens the lifespan of an expensive pair of shoes.

The solution: 

Jenkins stresses that the fix is simple, cost-free, and essential for preserving your footwear and foot health.

“The solution is to never wear the same pair of shoes two days in a row. You need to invest in a second pair and rotate them,” advises Nelson. “A shoe needs a full 24 to 48 hours to properly dry out and allow the interior moisture to fully dissipate.”

Bonus tip: 

Use cedar shoe trees: While resting, place cedar shoe trees inside the shoes. Cedar wood naturally draws out moisture and fights odour, helping the shoe return to its original shape.

By adopting this simple rotation rule now, you can keep your shoes fresher, prevent expensive early replacement, and protect your feet from the bacteria that thrive in damp conditions