CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

anthonymcgrath405 / 04/04/2013

Getting shirty – Budd Shirts London by Leo Parker

For those planning to add a touch of sartorial flair to their style in 2013, it is important to find a tailor who is on the same page as you and, in this respect, it is difficult to look beyond the prestigious London shirt makers, Budd Shirts.

With over 100 years of experience in supplying London’s most dapper gentleman with the ultimate in dress shirts and accessories, Budd is one of the nation’s capital best kept secrets. The calibre of the clothing that they create, which is all hand cut for you in the store, is unparalleled and if elegance is a must in your work or leisure life, you should definitely have some Budd shirts hanging in your wardrobe.
Budd is famed for the quality of its bespoke shirts and has its very own cutting room the floor above the shop. The dress shirts for which Budd have become famed are crafting from only the finest materials and their shirts can be made to match your specifications and needs.

It goes without saying that once you’ve upped your sartorial style with an eye-catching dress shirt from Budd’s extensive range, you’ll also need to complement it with a few dapper accessories such as bow ties, braces, ties and socks.

The art of shirt making is a highly skilled pursuit and one that is more or less gone from the high street in the modern times of cheap, poorly constructed fashion items so it comes as a relief to see that there are still some out there who continue the tradition of hand-crafting fine dress shirts and Budd Shirts are unquestionably one of the best in the business at this.

Style is something that is in the eye of the beholder, of course, but there is no denying that you will feel better in yourself when you are wearing a higher calibre of clothing and there is simply no comparison between a hand-made bespoke shirt from Budd Shirts and an item of considerable less quality from your average high-street store.

Budd are a bastion of British sartorial style and the superb quality of craftsmanship that goes into each of their ready-to-wear and bespoke dress shirts truly is second to none and will up your style significantly in 2013. They offer shirts that are perfect for work or leisure and just the experience itself of visiting their store in Piccadilly, London, will be an experience to remember as there are few bespoke tailors like Budd left on the high street any more.

anthonymcgrath405 / 03/04/2013

A Great result from the beautiful game – Cruyff Classics

A Young Johan Cruff relaxes while training

The way this post came about is an unusual one, while home at Christmas, a couple of rather well dressed friends of mine asked me what I thought of Cruyff ? Cruffs ? I replied rather confused, we were in a pub and it was Christmas so maybe one of two sherries had been partaken. NO Cruyff ! I rather embarrassedly, but truthfully, admitted I had no idea what they were talking about. To which I was informed I should check it out, as they were selling quicker then they could be put out on the shelves ! Brave, strong words. So after a couple of phone calls, a trade show or two and several internet searches here is the result and who would have known a rather fluid induced conversation could result in such a post.

To say Johan Cruyff is a footballing legend, is an understatement, not only in his native Holland but internationally, so much so in 1999 he was voted European Player of the Century in an election held by the IFFHS (International Federation of Football History and Statistics), and came second behind Pele in their World Player of the Century poll.

In 1979 he ask long time friend and designer Emilio Lazzarinni to help develop a functional and aspirational brand of sportswear for the technical player. The original spirit and character of their original collaboration lives on today in what became Cruyff Classics. For Spring 2013 the complete collection has been extended and revamped with more colours, use of more luxury materials and an emphasis on strong detail, with Football still acting as the cornerstone to the entire collection.

Examples of CRUYFF for Spring 2013

anthonymcgrath405 / 02/04/2013

Oslo Calling – The reissue of the PUMA Oslo

This season sees the Sport/Lifestyle brand PUMA relaunch one of their back catalogue’s most recognisable silhouettes the Oslo. A striking style that dates back to the early 1950’s the Oslo was released and named in recognition of the 1952 Oslo winter games and became the shoe of choice for athletes pre and post event.

PUMA’s reissue acknowledges the 1980’s versions and is a nod to its comfort and construction. Featuring a smooth leather upper and toebox protection courtesy of the T-toe suede overlays the Oslo’s retro styling evoke the best of terrace culture and a understated uncomplicated pride in ones very own appearance.

The notched tooling on the sole was designed to provide greater stability and traction. Now the functional flourishes ensure the Oslo has a distinct visual identity.

No detail is spared as the year of original production and article number is stamped on the collar lining. The trainer is signed off with the PUMA ‘Oslo’ branding in gold foil as per the original to ensure total authenticity as the shoe remains true to its forefathers.

PUMA round out the reissue with a series of complementing clothing and accessories completing the whole 360 offering, where it has worked to the brief of, PUMA starts in Sport and ends in Fashion.

anthonymcgrath405 / 29/03/2013

The Hedi heights of Fashion – Saint Laurent Duffle Bag

Hedi Slimane

Even if you have no interest in Style and Fashion and having been living under a very unstylish rock for the last couple of months, you surely must have, one, heard that the Parisian iconic Fashion house of Yves Saint Laurent have changed their name to simply Saint Laurent and two, the aforementioned house has a new Creative Director, in the uber talented and enigmatic designer come sometime photographer, Hedi Slimane, non ?

The appointment of Slimane to Saint Laurent has created a media frenzy, not just in the world of Men’s Fashion, as while he was Creative Director of Menswear at the House of Christian Dior his female fans included Madonna and Nicole Kidman, even though his collections were primarily Homme. Additional to this, is his love of music and young, up and coming artists. Over the years Hedi has worked with everyone from, Razorlight and Daft Punk to the man of the “moment” David Bowie and during his sabbatical from designing, which saw Slimane return to his first love of photography where he shoot for such publications as French Vogue, V-Man and Purple.

So, like folk waiting outside Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, with bated breathe, people in the same way have been looking for glimpses of what he will produce and what pieces will look like. Well, (if only I could sound a fanfare) I can reveal Slimane’s first bag.

anthonymcgrath405 / 28/03/2013

Ensuring your Ying and Yang are in balance – Medwinds X Naoto Fukasawa

Noato Fukasawa

Our more eagled eyed readers will recognise the name Medwinds from last year when we profiled the brand and their envious working ethic and environment of Barcelona, certainly beats South East London, just. For Spring 2013 the brand presents a complete collection of wardrobe staples designed with the Med lifestyle in mind. The collection aims to take the wearer from the essential pieces of the week to the comfort but versatile needs of the weekend. Medwinds have designed a range with their happiest memories in mind, summers by the beach, walks along the spanish coast and catching up on long hazy evenings with friends.

For Spring 2013 Medwinds has collaborated with the Japanese Designer Naoto Fuksawa, It’s the first dalliance into fashion for the prestigious Japanese designer, known internationally for his consulting work which focuses on evaluating companies corporate strategies and bring them in line with the mean of sociality and how we define quality of life in order to direct them towards where society is inevitably heading. The company’s social responsibilities are always a key point is Fuksawa’s findings and has resulted in many successful conclusions.

For this project Fukasawa worked with Medwinds, designing a collection of clothing and accessories inspired by the beauty of the Mediterranean, called “On the beach”, not to be confused with the Chris Rea song though.

“I walked slowly along the beach of Barcelona. Because it was wintertime there were not so many people out there but the shoreline, the decks that connect the beach to restaurants together with the line of the shops that gradually merge into the city,made me realise that there can be a series of clothes and shoes representing this transition of the culture based on the landscape. “On the Beach” is an idea that translates beach as a place for gathering, relaxing and for recreation”. Naoto Fukaswa