Recent Purchases.

It's been a bit quiet lately, hasn't it? Work has been occupying a lot of my time but one thing it hasn't prevented me from doing is spending my hard earned on some new clobber. Here are a few recent purchases; some old and some new.



When it comes to denim, Japanese experts Edwin are a personal favourite of mine. These guys have well over fifty years experience in the business and they aren't ones to cut corners when it comes to quality. The ED-71 is a slightly slimmer-than-usual straight fitting jean made from 14oz Japanese Red Selvedge Denim. All of the obligatory details – leather waist patch, embossed buttons and the iconic stitching – are all present. If you can brave out the uncomfortable breaking in stage then selvedge jeans are definitely where it's at.



Yeah, you're right. Now probably isn't the time of year to be buying suede shoes but I'm a sucker for a bargain regardless of what season it is and so upon noticing a pair of Clarks Ashcott at nearly half price, they just had to be bought. The Ashcott made a return to the Clarks Originals range last year following a long hiatus from production. Its simple silhouette and the typical Clarks quality ensure this simple classic will remain on my feet for a long while.



It isn't a brand I'd usually look at but Ben Sherman nailed it on this one. The introduction of their Modern Classics range has seen the label return to doing simple things very well; something that was a huge part of their appeal in the first place. This Fisherman's Parka comes in a lovely burnt gold colour and is complete with embossed buttons, toggles and a corduroy collar. Albam rip off? Maybe. Smart jacket? Definitely.



Oi Polloi have recently had collaborations with both Norse Projects and Henri Lloyd but this cashmere blend jumper dates back a few years when they were producing their own gear. Superb quality and perfect for this time of year, this jumper is already seeing its fair share of wear. Keep your eyes peeled on Oi Polloi and their Cottonopolis range due out later this year.



They may be new to our shores but Heritage Research have been producing fine quality clothing exclusively for the Japanese market for years. Inspiration for their range is drawn from pretty much everywhere: military, outdoor and classic workwear. The Longline Parka remains one of their most popular jackets and this limited edition orange effort is made in England and full of all the quality details you'd expect to see with a brand of this pedigree.

Proper Mag #10

The good chaps over at Proper Magazine are all set to release their much improved tenth issue. Having worked together with some major players in the publication industry – including James Brown and designer Matt Sankey – Proper are now offering a magazine that is over double the length of any previous issues. It's still got all the humour and content that made you love it in the first place including a look inside the Garbstore HQ, an interview with the bloke behind Post Overalls and a peek inside one of the most enviable vintage collections in the country.

All this and much, much more for a little over a fiver. Pre-order now to avoid disappointment.

Rest in Peace.

John Winston Ono Lennon.

9 October, 1940 - 8 December, 1980.

"Imagine there's no heaven..."

Arguably John Lennon's most famous and finest solo single, "Imagine" is a fitting tribute to the man who tragically departed us thirty years ago. While the moments where his solo work matched the quality of his Beatles efforts were few and far between, "Imagine" is one song that can hold its own with any Beatles track.

The lyrical content of the song goes hand in hand with Lennon's political views at the time. Promoting the idea of a "one country, one world, one people" existence, Lennon believed such a utopian view wasn't outside the realms of possibility. He said, "Can you imagine a world without countries or religions?" It's the same message over and over. And it's positive."

The song is so great due to the brilliant melody and tone that carries it. Its composition on the piano as opposed to the guitar enabled the song to have a much gentler mood to it than much of Lennon's previous solo work.

Often considered one of the greatest songs ever written, artists as musically varied as David Bowie and Lady Gaga have covered the song at one point in their careers. Noel Gallagher even shamelessly (though rather brilliantly) ripped it off for "Don't Look Back in Anger." The song remains an undoubted classic.

Recent Purhcase - Universal Works Mountain Jacket

We're well into winter now and with it, well into big jacket weather. This little offering from Universal Works is the latest addition to my wardrobe. As with the vast majority of the Universal Works range, the design itself is simple enough. Clearly the inspiration for this jacket has been drawn from the functional 60/40 mountain parkas first produced by the pre-eminent American outdoors brands of the 1970's, yet the detailing and quality propels the jacket into a league of its own.

If you're after more information on the Universal Works label, check out this interview with their main man David Keyte.

The Big Picture.

Above are some choice from photographs from the annual photo contest run by the National Geographic. Touching and beautiful in many different ways, I'd strongly recommend visiting the Boston.com website for a wider selection of these truly breathtaking images.

Ben Sherman: Modern Classics - A Return to Form?

"Why should I have any interest in Ben Sherman?"

This is a question many of you may be asking yourselves. The label, while originally both exclusive and innovative, suffered the overkill that plagues many success stories and has seen the company reduced to little more than catalogue fodder. However with the imminent launch of the 'Modern Classics' range, does this brand merit a place in your wardrobe once again?

Having founded the company in 1963, Ben Sherman began making shirts himself in a small Brighton factory and with it laid the foundations for a clothing company that would become essential wear for many youth subcultures, from the mods to the skinheads. With the launch of Modern Classics, Ben Sherman hope to use over fifty years of knowledge and experience in order to update and reproduce some of the classic items of menswear.

There's chambray shirts, button down collars, fisherman's jackets, naval knitwear, chinos, bobble hats and scarves. All classic items, all given a modern twist whether it be through a new interpretation or an updating of fabrics. There's a clear influence from the likes of Saint James and Albam and from what we've seen it looks pretty decent indeed.

To promote the range, whet our appetites and provide a different slant to that of their usual products, Ben Sherman went to Kilchoan, arguably the most remote place in the UK, for a photo shoot. The following photos are a choice selection from that shoot.






More information about the Ben Sherman Modern Classics range can be found at their official website.