CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

The extraordinary mens blog for the modern man
/

A tounge twister if I ever heard one Oi Polloi x Klättermusen by Elliott Parsons

Klattermusen-at-Formby-06aBack in 1984, Peter Askulv created the outdoor company that HE needed. A brand that represents the great outdoors, Nordic ruggedness and a strong regard for the environment. Specialising in backpacks and coats for outdoorsmen, climbers and ruffians alike; Klättermusen is as Swedish as Swedish gets, far more than Volvo, IKEA or even ABBA.

Based in Jämtland, Northern Sweden; they create outerwear and bags that are perfect for the hard Swedish weather and allow you to just go and get out into the wilderness. The company originated from around a campfire, where Peter’s friend convinced him to turn his hobby of making backpacks with the spare time he was left with on paternity leave into a business.

As a climber and hiker himself, Askulv created the gear that him and his friends needed for their wild journeys as it wasn’t available on the market then, and is still in short supply today. With the name translating to ‘Climbing mouse’; this outdoor company is doing things right. Not just with the name either – they’re leading the pack when it comes to sustainable production. Back when Klättermusen was just a one-man band; being sustainable was the only way. Re-using materials to create more products and Peter’s background in Biology set the company on a course to become one of the pioneers and have worked with only 100% cotton since 2006. They phased out PFOA (Teflon) in 2008 and now use old left over fishing nets to create their products. Does this brand get any cooler?

image

/

Textual Conversation – Calum Best

image

When your the son of an international model and arguably one of the greatest, not just footballers, but sportsman ever, it must be hard to live a regular life. I mean accountancy or the civil service really aren’t options open to you as possible careers advice. This is definately the case with the subject of our Textual Conversation today. Calum Best, was born in San Jose and raised in LA, so a real Californian upbringing. Over the years Best has been a model, actor, launched his own fragrances and appeared on, literally, countless reality shows, from Celebrity Big Brother and Come dine with me to Paris Hilton’s British Best Friend and Celebrity Bainisteoir which he won, all documenting different aspects of his life and personality. Having met and styled Calum on numerous occasions I have to say, the perception of this playboy, wild child, party animal on these shows is very different to the one you meet in actual reality. The Best I’ve encountered, yes is a ladies’ man and encourages this perception, but is very much three dimensional and at times can be reserved and can hold a great conversation on all matters of different areas, he doesn’t like to discuss his various charity work and like his father has battled his own demons in their differing forms.

For his latest project, he’s displays a much more debonair, stylish and mature side to his personality teaming up with British menswear retailer Burton to produce a great wearable collection. Hero items such as the navy blue three-piece suit, clean lined grey mac, tan Harrington and black bomber jacket provide the perfect starting point for any great look. Burton has created unpretentious, uncomplicated and easy style pieces.

Calum himself said, “Entering a new sense of maturity that reflects on your style is something I can really relate to.” 

If you had one day to live what would be your biggest regret ?
I have no regrets in life , even when you make mistakes you can learn from them and make them into a positive
· What would be the one piece of clothing you would rescue from your home in the event of a fire ?
One of my many leather jackets. I love them and wear them all the time, it’s an absolute classic and will always look effortlessly cool. It’s easy to wear and instantly adds cool factor to your look.
· If you could only wear one brand for the rest of your life who would it be ? 
Tom Ford – menswear should be detail driven.image
· Who is your style icon ? 
I’ve got a couple really. I’d say Marlon Brando and Steve McQueen. Both of them were really cool talented guys with great style. They always looked smart but never too try hard. Really effortless – they wore the clothes rather than the clothes wearing them.
· What piece of style advise do you live by ?
To make sure you’re comfortable in your own skin. I’ve become more confident as I’ve got older and my tastes have got a little more sophisticated. I’d much rather go for classic pieces and build up my wardrobe around those rather than buying pieces that will be in one year and out the next. I think your clothes reflect your personality and communicate messages about you to people so it’s about manners too. It’s respectful and polite to dress smartly for certain occasions.image
· What piece of clothing should everyman have in his wardrobe ?
Every guy needs a great three-piece suit in his wardrobe, it’s not something you’re going to wear every day but you should always be prepared. It takes time to find the right suit so it’s not something you can easily rush out and buy
· Have you ever bought a piece of clothing and regretted it ?
When I was younger I was in to extra baggy trousers – combats and baggy fit jeans. I thought they were really cool at the time but looking back they aren’t one of my better looks
· Who would do you ideal diner guests ?
Bob Marley. Such a cool, talented guy and his music has the best vibe.image
· What is you most memorable moment ?
My first trip to Old Trafford with my dad. The atmosphere and importance of it to him is something I will always remember
· What music are you listening to at the moment ?
Prodigy , mgmt , Rudimental , James Bay
· What are you most excited about at the moment ?
My future! I have acting in the pipeline, building my brands and my fitness projects. Life is good.image

 

/

YEEZY Landing – YEEZY X Adidas hits stores

imageIf the designer and creator of this collection could do anything about today he would have us all abort meetings, break off plans and enforce us to make your way to the leading international department stores he has deemed worthy to showcase this collection as of today, as YEEZY SEASON 1, this year’s most hotly anticipated collaborative proposition designed by Kanye West in partnership with Adidas, arrives.

Eighteen months in the making, the extensive collection cherishes universality, comprising relaxed T-shirts, sweatpants and sweaters as well as heavy duty outerwear, footwear and apparel. The final woven low top Yeezy Boost 350 sneaker is also released.

Muted tones and a strong military edge define the collection. West’s goal is to relieve consumers from daily dressing stress by creating a line of high-quality, comfortable and unpretentious essentials that can be combined in endless ways, well this and running for the President of the USA in 2020. Texture is added through oversized flap pockets, distressed edges and puckered hemlines, with a voluminous and relaxed silhouette. Largely based on West’s personal style, sweaters billow over form fitting trousers tucked into heavy duty boots, the effect – an edgy and androgynous look.

Darren Skye, Head of Menswear, Harvey Nichols, one of the selected international department stores carrying the collaboration says about the event.

“We are really excited to be one of a limited selection of retailers stocking the entire YEEZY SEASON 1 collection. The collection defines a style that matches the relentless pace of our contemporary lives. The silhouettes, fabrications and colour palette make this a highly desirable collection and we anticipate that this is something our customers will identify with and buy into.”

image

/

Molton Brown’s new Tobacco Absolute Collection

imageMolton Brown are a quintessential British company, the finest of ingredients are expertly blended in London, their collection of signature fragrances for her and him, bath and shower gels and home and hand care luxuries have claimed iconic status with their vibrant colours and bold scents.With ingredients carefully sourced from around the world, each creation is intricately composed by some of the world’s best perfumers for a truly indulgent and memorable experience.

Of course, their latest concoction reflects this this trait with the launch of their new men’s Tobacco Absolute Collection, is an exploration of masculinity. Borne from the cultivated world of botany through the tobacco plant, it includes an eau de toilette, bath and shower gel and deodorant.

imageThe inspiration behind this blend is the distinguished, eighteenth century British botanist Dr.William Houstoun and his discovery of a tobacco plant specimen in South America. Houston, originally born in Renfrewshire, Scotland and who’s writings and plant specimens, now preserved in the botanical department of the British Museum was a leading botanist. Following in Houstoun’s footsteps Molton Brown when also sourced their hero ingredient for the same area. Redolent of Molton Brown’s own nature of uncovering the world’s rarest ingredients, Houstoun’s pioneering spirit is contemporised in this nuanced, earthy scent.The intriguing fragrance further enriches this season’s leading men’s collection by bringing to life the story of a modern botanist.

Creator of the scent, Elsa Chabert of Fragrances Essentielles, comments,“Tobacco Absolute is a complex, warm combination of woods, Paraguayan tobacco, balsam and musks lifted by a hint of citrus.The mature authenticity of tobacco absolute balances the sensual depth of Peru balsam as it intermingles with Argentinian grapefruit and bergamot for a subtle though decisive freshness.”

image

/

No Coaching needed here – COACH

imageCOACH, was established in a Manhattan loft in 1941, by six artisans handcrafting a collection of leather goods using skills handed down from generation to generation. It soon established a reputation as a leading design house of modern luxury accessories and lifestyle collections with a rich heritage of pairing exceptional leathers and materials with innovative design. Customers the world over seek out the unique nature of Coach craftsmanship partnered with our American attitude and design.

imageIn September 2013, Yorkshireman, Stuart Vevers (above) joined Coach as their Creative Director, to give this American institution an international perspective. Vevers’ journey started humbly enough when he moved to London at the age of 18 to study Fashion Design at the University of Westminster. Vevers established his career at Calvin Klein and then moved on to successful roles at Bottega Veneta, Givenchy and Louis Vuitton.
In 2004, Vevers returned to London to become Creative Director at Mulberry, where he was instrumental in the early stages of the house’s transformation into the recognised design house it it today. But it was in 2007, when he was appointed Creative Director of Loewe, the almost two-century-old Spanish leather house owned by the luxury powerhouse LVMH (Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton). Where Vevers radically transformed the traditional accessories brand, revitalizing all aspects of the business.

imageHowever, for Autumn 15 he based his Menswear collection for Coach on a sense of freedom inspired by a cinematic vision of the American landscape, with an individuality born of New York. Muses for the collection included The Beastie Boys, the Kennedy boys, Steve McQueen, Gus Van Sant.

To cement Coach’s international commitment they have recently a opened a 600 square meters flagship store on Paris’s Rue Saint-Honoré (below), which was designed in partnership between
William Sofield of Studio Sofield and Vevers himself fusing a distinctive NYC attitude with the brands evolution into Modern Luxury. At the opening he commented, “The relationship this city has to the concepts of ‘luxury’ and ‘heritage’ are unlike any other — which is why the opportunity to bring Coach’s take to Paris is so exciting for us. Our version — modern, American, forward-looking and ease with itself — is one that I think will feel both authentic and refreshingly new here.”

image