CLOTHES MAKE THE MAN

anthonymcgrath405 / 19/08/2013

Whatever the Weather – Six of the best Trench Coats

The weather at the moment is as reliable as a TfL train schedule, don’t get me started. You wake in the morning it seems a bit dull and overcast, by the time to get to work the sun is cracking the stones, you fly out to grab some lunch and it pours down and by the time you’ve arrived back to the office the sun has dried you off via its natural radiation, or it can be any of the mixed up aforementioned scenarios, literally four season in one day.

To combat this infuriating conundrum and make your life a little easier we’ve selected six of the best, of a piece of outerwear that EVERY man should possess, the Trench. Thin enough for the transitional period, thick enough to tackle most things Mother Nature can hurl at you, essentially enough to see you through whatever the weather and still having you looking sharper then sixpence, whatever that means ????

OK lets start with something a little left field and not your traditional Trench, from Belstaff @ Harrods.com

This is a classic in every sense of the word and if you look after it, it should return the favour. Jaeger @ House of Fraser

This trench is a must for the season and is from Marks & Spencer’s Autograph Collection so you can be assured of quality and price

Within Trench coat history there is an on going argument as to who first invented the Trench, with Aquascutum claiming they did.

Within Trench coat history there is an on going argument as to who first invented the Trench first, with Aquascutum claiming they did.

Whereas the other contender to this title, also holds the Royal Warrant. It is of Course Burberry, this example of the classic is from Burberry Brit at MrPorter.com

Fancy something a little more contemporary but that won’t go out of fashion ? Go for this Trench from Reiss available from JohnLewis.com

anthonymcgrath405 / 15/08/2013

All Good in the Hood – The Goodhood Store launches its own Clothing line

The Goodhood Store labels itself as a style retailer rather than a fashion retailer. Unlike many of its counterparts it isn’t led by what they deem as fickle passing trends. Goodhood is a truly independent store offering carefully selected goods for the independent mind. It opened its doors in 2007, with a mission to showcase select goods from across the globe. This ‘curational style of buying’ was rooted in design, quality and creativity; and as an ethos has stuck with the store ever since. Over the years the Goodhood name has built a cult creative following and a global reputation for it’s pioneering approach to retail, with ‘curation’ at the epi- centre of everything they do. Founders Jo Sindle and Kyle Stewart’s design backgrounds are evident throughout the store.

The labels and goods carried in-store and online offer a spirit of maturity to the streetwear market, providing customers with a sartorial selection of desirable goods. Brands stocked range from the more well known such asVans, Retro Super Future, Norse Projects, Neighborhood, Surface To Air & Comme De Garcon, down to local, and not so local, independent labels such as Aries, Lonely Hearts and Gasius to name a few.

So after five years after it’s conception and a successful number of design collaborations with the likes of Norse Projects, Soulland & Paul Smith’s R.Newbold the Goodhood team decided to channel their creative energy behind a collection of premuim branded goods, of their own. With the anticipated launch of its own menswear line ‘GOODS’ dropping this August, as well as the the recent opening of The Goodhood Life store located across the street. This new offering presents a prime selection of ‘lifestyle’ goods, from stationary to lighting, homeware and accessories; all fitting synonomosly within the GOODHOOD ideals.

To mark the imminent release, Goodhood Creative have released this preview short film. Shot on location in London this summer, the film shows Yo Yo champion CJ Garner exhibiting his talents.

Goods by The Goodhood Store Summer 2013 from The Goodhood Store on Vimeo.

anthonymcgrath405 / 14/08/2013

All the wardrobe you need to be a dapper Chapar -The Chapar, The internet shopping service

All of us nowadays have less time, whether it be because of offspring, work commitments or plain and simple just undertaking too much, which therefore means we have less and less time for other activities. Of course a huge proportion of us would confess to buying new clothes as dropping down the list of our priorities due to time restrictions. Well, what if I were to say I could take this weight off your shoulders and offer a stress free and easy solution where you discuss your clothing likes and dislikes with an expert over the phone who could become almost like a personal stylist to answer your sartorial needs ? The Chapar, offers this, literal, life saving service.

Sam Middleton, the man behind the idea is a truly global citizen having spent different stints of his life in Auckland, Stockholm, Brussels, London and started his life in San Francisco. Graduating with a degree in Economics from the University of Warwick, Middleton entered the corporate world with IMG, the multinational Sports and Entertainment giant. After two years in the corporate world Sam saw an opportunity in the menswear fashion market that he felt was a sure fire success. He moved on and set about creating The Chapar – the personal shopping service for working men. He quickly developed a dynamic team of creatives with a disruptive business model that has grown at a staggering rate.

The premiss is simple, all the best ones tend to be, all I need to do is dream up the one that’ll make me a million, tut. You register online at their website, answering the obvious questions, name, telephone number, address etc then after a short period and at a mutually convenient time, you receive the call ! A highly skilled stylist contacts you and basically gets a feel for you, brands you like, fave colours, your vital statistics. Then comes the interesting bit, from your conversation they then go off and put together a personal edit specific to you and you alone. Now the stylist does have a great deal of brands to choose from, The Chapar currently stocks brands including Albam, Baracuta, John Smedley, Scotch & Soda, Sunspel and Woorich, to name a few. The trunk, as they like to call it, then arrives at a pre-organised destination of your choosing and then the fun begins, without the need of stomping up and down your local overcrowded mall, no smelly changing rooms, no attitude shop assistants, in fact, all rather stress free a complete package of apparel covering all product categories and selected all according to your taste arrives.

You then follow these 5 simple steps –

1) Try your selection on.

2) Decide what items you want.

3) The pieces you don’t want you place back in the trunk.

4) Stick the enclosed pre-paid return label onto the box.

5) Call or email your stylist to arrange a day to pick up the trunk from an address, where so you please.

Yes it is that easy I promise !

anthonymcgrath405 / 13/08/2013

Action Replay Guaranteed – FC Barcelona sign deal with Replay

FC Barcelona is pretty much considered one of the most prestigious football clubs in the world and its current first team is held by many to be amongst the best of all time, which currently boasts such figures as Gerard Piqué, Cesc Fábregas and of course Lionel Messi. Founded in November 1899, the Club has over 170,000 members, who, unlike many other football teams, owned by billionaires, the fans are collectively its owners. Throughout its history, Barça have enjoyed plenty of success, in particular 4 Champions Leagues and 22 Spanish League titles. The Club is also known for its slogan “mes que un club” – more than a club – which reflects its social commitment, its Catalan identity, the wide range of sports it practices, a commitment to home grown players, which has earn the side a kudos many football teams can only watch with envy from the sidelines.

For the forthcoming season the Italian company Fashion Box, owners of the Replay brand,- has signed a four year deal with the FC Barcelona as the official sponsor of clothing and footwear for the first team and the rest of the Club’s sportsmen and women.

Replay will create both an official clothing and a “smart casual” line for the first team. The deal between the Italian company and Barça – who are famous for their singular and popular to watch style of play, represents a pioneering commitment to innovation. Replay have promised to invent a new way to use denim, where the traditional jeans concept enters the realm of fine tailoring. The famous indigo fabric will, for the FC Barcelona athletes, become a deluxe textile creating a unique and exclusive super light suit, don’t think 1970’s double denim.

Fashion Box CEO, Matteo Sinigaglia, commented:

“We are more than thrilled with this alliance. Both Replay and FC Barcelona make the maximum effort to get excellence in their respective fields and Barça are not just a partner for us, they are also a great source of inspiration. This is the first time that a denim company have moved into the world of football. We are certain that the product we are developing for them will surprise the whole world”.

anthonymcgrath405 / 09/08/2013

Craig Tate – Nicholas Deakins – Textual Conversation

Craig Nicholas Tate, whilst studying for a BA Honours degree in Fashion and Textile in London established Nicholas Deakins in 1991. An initial collection of only four styles was then made in England by, the historic Northampton based, W.J Brookes to exploit a niche in the market and the brand quickly became a favourite with the sharply dressed ravers of legendary nightclubs of the time including the Hacienda, Cream and Renaissance plus the well turned out residents of football terraces around the country, this earning a loyal and dedicated fashion savvy following.

Now based in Tate’s hometown of Leeds, the Nicholas Deakins collection includes a full line of clothing and footwear, with the brand’s flagship store situated in the city’s uber trendy shopping location The Victorian Quarters. Nicholas Deakins continues to evolve, introducing new materials and production methods, whilst holding true to the classic British styles on which the brand has built its name upon. Recently we’ve seen collaborations with British Stalwart brands Harris Tweed and British Millerain, plus with the likes of The View, Devlin and Rizzle Kicks all fans of the brand, not bad for starting as a sideline while your studying, hey Mr Tate ? Anyway enough of me what has the man himself got to say ?

If you could collaborate with one brand (Who you currently aren’t) who would it be and why?

New Balance, a market leader who is immensely proud of its British heritage and continues to have a manufacturing base here in the UK.

If you could live anywhere where would it be & Why?

Easy, New York ! Such a creative, dynamic city with fantastic restaurants, bars and museums. You can lose yourself in the different neighbourhoods as each one offers a completely different vibe to the next. It also has 4 distinct seasons a year with extreme variations of hot and cold.

If you could give your teenage self advice, what would it be?

Listen to your elders!

How did you get into the industry, what was your big break?

The Nicholas Deakins business was started in the recession of 1991 during the summer holidays whilst studying a BA Honours in Fashion and Textile. I guess the big break was selling the first four designs into Strand (Leeds), Life (Manchester) and Psyche (Middlesborough) which just about launched the business overnight.

What track would always get you on the dance floor?

Playing with Knives – Bizarre Inc, brings back those Hacienda memories, happy days!

What piece of clothing best describes you?

A slim fitting three piece suit in navy blue.

What piece of clothing would you relegate to Room 101?

Juicy Couture tracksuits.

Have you ever bought a piece of clothing and regretted it? If so what & why?

Yes, far too often I’m afraid which is the disadvantage of being an impulse buyer – sometime it comes off and sometime it doesn’t! I cant remember a specific piece but do try to avoid being suckered into a purchase just because of a massive discount, remember there’s a reason it’s in the sale!

Who is your style icon? Why?

Steve McQueen, have a look at some of his photos…no further explanation required.

If you could only wear one brand/Designer (other then your own) for the rest of your life who would it be? Why?

Ralph Lauren, has everything you need.