Earning my stripes...

E. Tautz SS10...winning the battle of the stripes...

Cast your mind back to the end of September and you might recall that I found myself trapped between the stripes of two very different interpretations of a wardrobe staple, the Breton top. Those all too familiar signature blue and white stripes were originally the garb of French sailors and fishermen but the lightweight chambray cotton versions have since become a symbol of classic cool. The traditional loose fit, wide neck and dropped shoulders that we all know and love, caught the eye of Gabrielle Chanel during a trip to the beach, or so the story goes (as demonstrated in Coco Before Chanel), and she copied the look to kick start a fashion craze and association with style which has never really subsided. During the SS10 Menswear Day presentations at LFW my brain was torn by two incarnations of the classic Breton by E. Tautz and Sibling respectively. I ended up making the correct decision with my more classic style aesthetic winning out...

E. Tautz's Breton is hand made in Great Britain.

Before I wax lyrical about the winning effort, I have to say a few words about the effort which pushed it to right to the very last stripe. Susie loved Sibling's warped take on the Breton in particular and her enthusiasm was infectious. Sibling's knitwear pieces frequently combine timeless qualities and tongue-in-cheek references, all expertly knitted with fine gauge precision that never ceases to surprise me. For their Breton, Sibling collaborated with artist Noah Scalin (of askulladay.com) to incorporate his skull patternation into the stripes perfectly. As persuasive as this collaboration was my desire to have a more classic example of the Breton won through, it just had to to be the E. Tautz version. After placing my order back in November I patiently waited for the Welsh grannies to create my early Christmas present (to myself). Last Friday I got the email that I had been hoping for and nipped down to Savile Row to pick up the piece which had been a recurrent subject of my day dreaming (for some months). The timing was perfect because I was escaping London for a quiet weekend by the Kentish coast and the jumper made a welcome addition to my already bulging suitcase....

Breton jumper by E. Tautz, trousers by Maison Martin Margiela and brogue boots by Lodger.

In a piece on Permament Style, Simon Crompton spoke to Patrick Grant who affirmed that “the stripes on a traditional Breton sweater shouldn’t break into the neckline, The first one should start just below, right across the chest. Jerseys, and those made by machine, rarely achieve this as they are made from just a single pattern." It is easily achieved however, if like E. Tautz's version, it is hand knitted. I keep describing this as a classic example of the Breton but, there is a contemporary twist, sections taken out of the stripes on the arms of the sweater. This, like the rest of the collection demonstrates chic menswear combined with a sense of humour, a sense of Englishness that has been lost over the years. The revived house strives to make stylish clothes to which a wardrobe can be built from. Patrick hopes that in "in ten years time I'd like to think that there are customers who have built a wardrobe of E Tautz, that allows them to dress beautifully every single day of the year, whatever the weather," I'd certainly love to be such a gentlemen and build on my first piece of E. Tautz.

Braving the wind with the Breton jumper by E. Tautz and trousers by Maison Martin Margiela

As mentioned previously, the SS10 E. Tautz collection took inspiration from a set of photographs of the Duke of Windsor holidaying on the island of Mallorca in the 1930’s. Patrick Grant and his team explored the whole idea of an Englishman enjoying life on the Mediterranean in the summer and the Breton look really caught my attention. It encapsulates how well an Englishman can look abroad, the relaxed, almost nonchalant tailoring is a million miles away from the larger lout beach dwellers that come to mind today. There was one photograph in particular which inspired the Breton look above. It was of the Duke of Windsor sitting cross legged wearing a beautiful Breton jumper with rolled up ivory flannels and a pair of espadrilles. With biting winds and freezing temperatures I could not quite replicate this picture of summer serenity but I did my best. Now, comparing Westgate-on-sea during the bitter cold month of January to the Mediterranean at the height of Summer is madness but my trip did provide an opportunity to beach test my latest purchase...

In need of another layer..Custom made suit jacket by j.a.daye worn with polka dot pocket square from Muji, Breton jumper by E. Tautz, trousers by Maison Martin Margiela and brogue boots by Lodger.

Balenciaga

Passing 127 Brick Lane, I saw and loved this girl's Balenciaga jkt. Great little store, carrying a range of carefully hand picked vintage designers to some of the best Belgium and Parisian designers. Some good deals too, on older pieces left over's from the owner's shop in Rome. Sometimes a season or two old, and consequently at a better price.

Tie dye skirt

Exclusive: Joe Casely-Hayford for John Lewis

Joe Casely-Hayford for John Lewis. 'Knowlingly understated' capsule collection.

Many of you will have been excitedly following Apple's new product launch presentation this evening but we have news of a launch that's far more exciting for us. John Lewis have given us the first glimpse of its greatly anticipated collection designed by the legendary Joe Casely-Hayford. The thirty piece capsule collection, created exclusively for John Lewis, celebrates the best of authentic British design while providing a complete wardrobe, encompassing everything from jackets to shoes. The collaboration will be available in John Lewis stores and online in March with prices range from £60 to £399.

“The creative process behind this collection was both novel and challenging. John Lewis has perhaps the broadest customer base I have ever dressed, and so I relished the opportunity to create original, yet wearable clothes with cross generational appeal.” Joe Casely-Hayford

Throughout the capsule collection, Casely-Hayford is offering a new take on classic designs and surely achieves the desired cross generational appeal. Highlights include a tailored wax Barbour jacket, colour block contrast John Smedley knitwear and floral jersey Liberty Art fabric shirts.

Other highlights of the collection are a range of pastel coloured cords and cotton sateen trousers but it the limited edition brogue shoes which are made in England by Cheaney that leave us salivating all over our keyboards. If you are unfamiliar with Cheaney, they are classic shoe brand undergoing something of a quiet and assured metamorphosis under the ownership of William and Jonathon Church. Founded in 1886 by two brothers, Joseph and Arthur Cheaney, Cheaney quickly became one of the premier shoemakers of England. It is their ability to blend the past with the future, using the finest materials available, which has enabled Cheaney to become one of the premier producers of Goodyear welted shoes in the world today. For this collaboration they have helped create the hand punched pukk leather brogues. They are something of great beauty and typify why this capsule collection is so exciting... the collaboration of great British design talent with heritage brands coming together for the high street.

The Pukk leather brogue, £250. Made in England by Cheaney.

Steve has his eye on these brogues in particular but he will have to be quick. They will be limited to a mere thirty pairs and each pair will be numbered. Once the first thirty pairs are gone, the shoe will be available bespoke for a limited period of time online.

From what we have seen from this first glimpse, this is a knowingly understated collection which will undoubtedly appeal to a more fashion conscious man without frightening off the current John Lewis shoppers. Joe Casely-Hayford for John Lewis will certainly see fashion savvy shoppers reassess their perceptions of middle England's favourite department store.

All a flutter for Yamamoto's brooches

You might recall that during my jaunt to Antwerp I was fortunate enough to be walked through the soon to be launched RA concept store. As we wandered through the huge, exciting space Dan The Scout talked us through the array of design talent (Gareth Pugh, Damir Doma, Juun J, Frank Leder, Ute Ploier, Material Boy, Makin Jan Ma, Peter Jensen and Katie Eary to name but a few) which left us motionless, tongues out, salivating like hungry stray dogs. A few months down the line and the store is just about to close the doors on it's first exhibition in Paris (it runs up until 27th at Galerie Foret Verte). The presentation is a unique display of emerging Antwerp talent in an independent fashion and art exhibition. It features the AW10 collections of young designers alongside innovative artistic installations and one designer in particularly who has caught my eye is Sayaka Yamamoto...

Sayaka Yamamoto's Penna jewellery for RA.

You might recognise the name Sayaka Yamamoto because she is one half of BCXSY together with designer Boaz Cohen. However, if you are anything like me this is the first you've heard of this design talent and in that case I should share her bio with you. Sayaka Yamamoto was born in Japan and she graduated from the Hiko Mizuno Jewelry Collage in Tokyo in February 2005. Since then Sayaka has been living in the Netherlands and has graduated from the department of Man & Identity at the Design Academy Eindhoven in 2008. Sayaka’s projects, Little Wonders and SKIN have recently been presented during Dutch Design Week. However, for the opening of RA in October, the designer created a special edition of her jewellery, Penna and it these floaty light accessories which caught my eye. Each of the butterflies designed in to brooches have the initials R or A, everything from Arctic Blue to Rural Skipper...

The life cycle of a butterfly is a remarkable series of changes between seemingly very different forms culminating in the emergence of a butterfly. Throughout nature there are fantastic and fascinating occurrences of many kinds. The metamorphosis of an egg to a butterfly is just one of those wonders that fascinated me as a nipper. I used to spend hours running around the garden with my fishing net trying to catch a butterfly but alas, I was too slow. Sayaka Yamamoto's creations should be easier to catch. Similarly, Yamamoto grew up in the countryside, close to the world of the insects fascinated by their variety of shapes, colours and behavior. This project attempts to evoke those same childhood feelings using imitative materials to recreate the beauty and diversity of the butterfly.

The life of a butterfly is both beautiful and short. I remember reading a quote from someone far cleverer than I, who declared 'butterflies to be self propelled flowers'. So, why not make them immortal and immobile before attaching them to your lapel? As we catch our breath from the first onslaught of fashion weeks, look books and press days with the second batch fast approaching, it is time once again to celebrate the finer details of menswear and these brooches certainly fit the bill. They could be used to transform any mundane, disheveled or aging garment in to a conversation piece. It is all about the finer details and having a little fun whilst getting dressed each morning. I am all a flutter for Yamamoto's jewellery.

Imagining Oscar

Hormazd Narielwalla's latest creation, Oscar.

I first came across Hormazd Narielwalla's work at EXIT Gallery's "A Fairytale About Fashion" exhibition. Narielwalla's Dead Man’s Patterns was a design story, beneath the trappings of menswear into the book, the man, the pattern, and his images really captured my imagination. and I just had to post about it. I have kept in close contact with Hormazd since falling for his artwork and he has just sent me through his latest work, Oscar. Fresh from exhibiting his last body of work at Paul Smith's Furnishing Gallery, Hormazd has imagined Oscar, an old English eccentric brought to life by old bespoke Savile Row suit patterns belonging to men who are sadly no longer with us....

Hormazd Narielwalla's work originates from sets of bespoke patterns belonging to now deceased former customers and from a by-gone era. Everyone sees the finished suit, yet few are privy to that private dialogue which assesses, measures, and catalogues the subtle details which make up one single man and his suit. These patterns have recorded a history of intimate dialogues of customer measurements and fittings over a lifetime but no longer have any practical use to the cutter and are often discarded. The talented artist takes these fragile pieces of parchment out of their original context and breathes fresh life in to the creases and careful folds, along finely traced pencil marks and measurements, giving them a new lease of life as art objects.

Hormazd's creations channels the quirky sense of English tailoring style which is a fundamental facet of Savile Row. They remind me of the E. Tautz film presentation last season. E. Tautz is a label which offers simple tailoring with a little something extra, a bit of pomp, colour, a sense of humour and that Quentin Jones film captures it all. Here Hormazd has gone a little deeper and has exposed that wry smile, sharp wit and sense of eccentricity prevalent within so much of English tailoring.

Throup presents his objects for the lower body

Aitor Throup shows some leg. Presentation image from Dazed Digital.

Aitor Throup's work is distinct, communicating a conceptual approach to design while still creating accessible garments. His work is primarily focused on exploring new structural solutions to clothe the human body. Over the weekend throughout the Galerie Jean-Luc and Takako Richard in Paris, Throup presented his work on the lower body, the seemingly simple trouser to be precise. Thirty eight pairs of trousers from Throup's design past (from 2004-2009) were sculpted on meticulously crafted forms and suspended from the ceiling. The presentation demonstrated the designer's distinct ability to unite form with function whilst explicitly demonstrating the designers fascination with structure and process. Alas I missed out on the presentation itself but Dazed Digital has an interesting article with the designer which sheds more light on it all. To make up for missing out on Paris, I've been watching the stop motion animation of the project which Throup made with the help of Ken-Tonio Yamamoto (whilst taking some screen grabs to share with you)...

I often recall a remark he made in a piece for the Independent: "I only believe in origin, process and innovation." Throup is only interested in justifying each and ever design feature whilst avoiding gratuitous detailing. This mantra is no more apparent than The Funeral of New Orleans. This was Throup's first presentation as part of the MAN showcase in AW08 (the film made with Jez Tozer can be seen over Showstudio). It was a response to the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Throup's collection told the story, through clothes, of how five members of a marching band protect themselves and their instruments. The presentation confirmed Throup's radical approach to both fashion design and the communication of his collections.

Aitor Throup’s 2006 MA collection, “When Football Hooligans Become Hindu Gods” was a three-dimensional comic communicating the story of redemption and transcendence. This story was told through fabric structures which are based on the platform of football casual.s The more technical fabrics provided a sense of British culture, but more specifically of the C.P. Company and Stone Island – led ‘casual’ or ‘football hooligan’ sub-culture of the late 80s and the 90s (on which the over-all aesthetic of the collection is based). Throup's work is generally very structured and technical (in terms of construction), to the extent of being sculptural. Using traditional wools, such as Harris Tweed, not only created yet another unexpected contrast against the structural aspects of the pieces but it also facilitates the moulding and distortion of the fabric by using traditional heat application techniques. I will never tire of analysing this collection or any other of Throup's designs...

Consider my appetite well and truly whet for the prospect of what is to come from this exciting designer next month at LFW. In the meantime why not watch the full stop motion animation on Aitor's website which gives you a three hundred and sixty degree view of each of the trousers features.

Designer Collection - Latest Collection of Fashion Dresses

Dresses are important part of your personality. Here you will find the latest designs of Girls dresses in Pakistan and India.

Kudu, will do now that I have my boots

The waiting game is over...Lodger's Kudu Brogued Boot.

After interviewing Lodger's Nathan Brown back in September my imagination was overwhelmed following his description of his September shoe of the month, the Kudu Brogued Boot. From this moment on I have been day dreaming about them gracing my feet during the coming winter months and beyond. When the Clifford Street store released the first images of the boot I fell head over bootless heels. They were the boots I had dreamed of wearing this winter but until then did not know they actually existed. After placing my order in September I have been patiently...screw that...desperately waiting for that moment when I could take them home.

The boots gracing my feet...(worn with Unconditional wool trousers)

The wait was undoubtedly worth it. The boot is an eight eyelet brogued style, and has a skeleton lining of the same Kudu leather as the upper, and a full lining in a plush purple velvet from Scabal. The craftsman in Northampton have created something truly beautiful out of that antique African antelope hide. As there was only a certain amount of kudu leather available Lodger could only make around twenty five pairs or so. There was only one parcel of this wonderfully battered and aged leather remaining, and the two tanneries that know how to produce it have ceased operation. Once this leather is gone, it is gone forever and my resolve did not last too long and I'm so pleased that I am one of the fortunate few...

Spoken for...My boots were made on 16th October 2009

Lace up boots can be something of a sartorial testosterone shot. They were employed with great effect in a number of Autumn Winter 09 shows, including Alexander Mcqueen, Calvin Klein, Rick Owens, Lanvin and I let's not forget my particular favourite Tim Hamilton. Last year's February shows demonstrated that they can be both smart and causal. Thankfully this AW09 experimentation with boots continued through to a few of my favourite AW10 shows. Not surprisingly Rick Owens did not deviate too much from his futuro-goth aestheticand this included showcasing beautiful boots and cropped tailored trousers. However, there so many lace up boots used in a wonderful and inspiring variety of ways. From Damir Doma's monastic looks to Burberry's military inspired outerwear. From Dunhill's travelling gentleman (as below) to Lanvin's urban warriors. They are a catalyst for the silhouette whilst accentuating both skinny and loose fitting trousers. Lace up leather boots are undoubtedly a true staple of the season and now that I have my beloved Kudu boots in my possession I just had to experiment integrating them in to a few looks...

Relaxed tailoring...Carolyn Massey for Topman Lens scarf coat, red cord shirt from Uniqlo, Carolyn Massey mittens, Maison Martin Margiela trousers.

An air of the military...My trusty old favourite (but often forgotten) Zara coat styled up with a black patent belt from Topman, Carolyn Massey cable knit jumper, Unconditional wool trousers.

Updating my everyday uniform..Custom made suit jacket by j.a.daye worn with polka dot pocket square from Muji, blue oxford shirt from Uniqlo, Oliver Spencer patterned jumper and my slightly battered A.P.C jeans.

A close up shot of my favourite look which demonstrates the mix of textures and patters.