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Hubble Telescope Snaps Stunning Nebula Photo for 23rd Birthday
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has snapped a spectacular new...
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Ercol
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A modern take on Sister Corita Kent’s timeless rules for learning and life, hand-lettered by artist Lisa Congdon.
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A Fishing Bag
The worst thing about being interested in men’s style is that you can easily begin to obsess over details that don’t matter....
Style Inspiration - @mrporterlive The Mr Porter Post:
Just dropped through my letter box, the excellent Mr Porter Post.
It’s a bit too infrequent for my liking, but when you also have the weekly Journal, an multiple emails each week, some might think that overkill.
Not me; there is something more serious about the printed medium and I have a habit of hoarding too, so have filed away the last few editions.
A rare mix of useful style education, bucket loads of inspiration (even for a guy on a budget like me) and adult, rather than laddish, features - this is a publication I come back to time and again, regardless of the season it is talking about.
Highly recommended, free - yes, I say again, free and worth signing up to here.
Design Inspiration - @timothyeverest Memento Mori:
As you will know, I am a fan of Timothy Everest and has varied and inspiring blog.
One of the more interesting recent posts was the feature on Hormazd Narielwalla, who created paper skulls from the paper patterns of deceased tailors.
Its a warm and noble way to honour their craft, and striking to boot.
As always, a good read which can be seen here.
Style Inspiration - Daft Punk by YSL:
Talking of the new album - Random Access Memories, YSL styled the boys with the help of Hedi Slimane to make this the best looking cover art this year.
Design Inspiration - Daft Punk, Get Lucky:
Thank goodness, they are back. Like robotic phoenix, rising from the ashes of …. well .. so so previous albums, months of teasing is finally over.
Hitting us hard with a Nile Rodgers riff and Pharrell Williams vocal talents, we are definitely lucky it has been worth the wait!
Style Inspiration - Hanon x Clarks Traxter Ventile
It’s rare for me to be ahead of the game in the style stakes; to be honest, I am more of a follower than leader of fashion.
However, for once I might have just edged it a little. Out tomorrow (16th March, 2013) are these great looking Clarks/ Hanon mashups.
Based upon the Traxter Mid, this has been brought bang up to date with a sharktooth sole, sheepskin lining, toggle laces and best of all, a Ventile construction.
So, finally, a pair of Clarks Originals you can wear in the wet.
Result!
(via hanon shop :: XNews :: General :: Hanon x Clarks Traxter Ventile Video)
Over the years H&M has built a reputation for some super stellar collaborations - McCartney, Marni, Lavin and, recently … er…. David Beckham.
However their latest collection as seen them literally hit the streets thanks to East London’s Brick Lane Bikes.
The collection comprises of 11 bike friendly pieces, all tested by the guys at Brick Lane - ensuring that they remain stylish and fit for purpose.
Keeping in the low impact spirit of cycling, the range is made from a mix of sustainable materials including recycled wool and polyester, alongside organic cotton.
Stand out pieces for me are the custom cut chinos, with pre articulated knees, D lock belt loop and reflective tape on the inside seams:
There are three great jackets too; one is a tweed look stretch cotton jacket, there’s a quilted long tail jacket and a wind/ waterproof technical jacket:
Unsurprisingly, given H&Ms pricing strategy, these three are already out of stock online and will no doubt appear shortly on ebay at extortionate prices.
Ah well, at least there’s no sight of lycra in any of these lot!
Style inspiration - Barbour x Tokihito Yoshida:
I always loved a good jumble sale when I was a kid. There was a real thrill to find some golden nugget in all the crap of the local Church hall or Bring and Buy sale in support of the latest Blue Peter appeal.
That feeling continues today with every trip I make to TK Maxx. My girlfriend hates the place, but I love it. I get a real hunter-gatherer feeling as I work my way through the rails (or more normally, what is strewn across the floor), like I am seeking out an elusive prey.
There is a lot of crap in TK Maxx and I do mean a LOT. Avoid anything from William Hunt, who appears to have sold out to them; there is tons of CK this, Superdry that, or can’t be arsed lad brands that will appeal to the masses. However, with a little brand knowledge, it is a treasure trove.
One last trip last year unearthed a selection of NN.07 items, including a pair of selvedge slim fit jeans and Linen Blend summer jacket - cost £80, saving £300+
Other previous visits have unearthed Tag Sunglasses, Loake brogues and Belstaff jackets; all at great prices.
However, my last visit resulted in a stunning find. On a final look through the jacket rail on the way out, I caught sight of a Barbour logo on the inside of a jacket - a rush of excitement.
I then caught sight of a very special patch in the centre of the lining which read:
Next I checked the size, a medium; tried it on, it fits.
At which point I stopped breathing.
Then I looked at the price label … £59.99.
I think my heart stopped.
It turned out to be a Cycling Jacket from the SS12 Barbour Beacon Heritage range. Apparently, an update from the popular Motorbike Shirt.
This was the 5th season that Tokihito Yoshida had been working with Barbour on this now legendary range of clothing.
Up close, there is a real attention to detail at all points on the jacket, from the open venting on the arms and back, to the hood design - all concentrating on the needs of the user.
Unlike the mainline Barbour wax range, the cut is very slim, but that results in a more contemporary look to a traditional garment and material.
The To Ki To range is a really inspirational approach to making the traditional feel relevant yet bang up to date at the same time.
Worth checking out.
(via Barbour Beacon Heritage Spring/Summer 2012 | Definitive Touch - Men’s Contemporary Style.)
Style Inspiration - Home Style by Little Doodles:
(via little doodles)
Style Inspiration - Menswear by Little Doodles:
(via little doodles)
Design Inspiration - @littledoodles:
Kate Wilson is the creative brains behind Little Doodles and has quickly become a go-to fashion illustrator.
Quirky and light hearted, her style is fresh and inspiring. At the heart of her work is The Little Birds - colourful and beautifully drawn fowl, in sometimes unusual settings
She has already worked for the great and the good, including ASOS, Liberty and Links of London … and who knows, maybe Lost for Inspiration one day!
While looking through her blog, I also came across some great style picks too - which I will post shortly.
Meanwhile, just enjoy what she has to offer
Shopping Inspiration - @timothyeverest sale!
Arrrgh! Timothy Everest’s sale is now at 70% off selected lines.
Credit card its gonna get hammered with some pocket square purchases:
Or maybe one of these beautiful jumpers:
There is a a really great, and growing, movement about designing and manufacturing in Britain.
We have a fantastic history of creativity, inspiration, build and manufacture, which has been sorely under-utilised over the last few years. Fortunately, there is a ground-swell of feeling that, returning to British-made is a way to drag us out of recession.
Great businesses like @PrivateWhiteVC and @albamclothing are ably championed by influential advocates like @makeitbritish or @TheseIsles. To get a sense of this, there is a good article in The Guardian this month.
So, how does this relate to Merchant & Mills?
For me, These guys encapsulate what is great about this movement.
Operating from a small location in Rye, East Sussex (a very beautiful place), they have been quietly turning out fantastic haberdashery materials - from Great British oilskin cloth and Harris Tweed selvedge, to a hand picked range of scissors and bespoke sewing patterns.
Started in 2010 by Carolyn Denham and Roderick Field, the team have gone about selecting and crafting a great range of British products. But, more than this, they have given customers the chance to create themselves.
From make-it-your self oil skin bags and leather straps, to producing their own sewing patterns:
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Their philosophy is all ‘sewn up’ in in a fantastic book called The Merchant & Mills Sewing Book (published by Collins & Brown of London), where they encourage readers to ’ successfully express yourself through taking charge of your textiles.’
A great call to action I think!
Otherwise known as the Michelin Building, this was originally the London headquarters of the aforementioned tyre company.
Designed by François Espinasse and opened in 1911, the building was actually created to be able to store and fit tyres in a safe way. The stunning Art Deco styling hides the little known fact that it is constructed mainly from concrete.
In later years, when Michelin moved out, Conran moved in. Setting up a cafe, shop and the now famous Bibendum restaurant.
However, the heart of the building remained - the mosaic floor in the entrance:
The beautiful stained glass windows:
And the Michelin Man himself, the thread woven into the fabric of the building:
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Nunc est Bibendum - ‘Now is the time to drink.’
Design Inspiration: Eames House of Cards
(via All Things Ruffnerian, a Design Blog and More: Charles Eames and I)
Design Inspiration: Eames
