Loose Fit (Other Mondays collaborations)

 As promised here's the (not so much) good, the bad and the ugly of some of Happy Mondays other designer collaborations.

I wrote once upon a time on this blog about 1999's surprising link up with Admiral. The 1970s football shirt supremos had been bust for about a decade and hoped their big come back would be boosted by Mondays reformation in 99. I can't really say that worked for them as the last time I saw any Admiral gear was in the TU section of Sainsbury's. 

That said they made some smart tour tees, plus back stage crew specials, in a Mondays yellow. And also they stuck to what they knew, producing an awesome red football shirt sold at gigs - a few years ago I spied one on eBay for 40 quid and passed on it. The one I found on Google images was over £300. Sigh.

Next up was last year's Palarse effort. The skateboarding crew went a long way to beat the competition, namely COVID19, to be the worst thing to come out of 2020. Perhaps slightly unfair, the overpriced tees are ok, using central stations design but changing the P for Palaces slant. And there's a crazed Bez.

But the hats, shirts and jacket? Dam, kuff. Decent on a record sleeve but on your person? Yes please? No thanks.

Loose Fix (Happy Mondays x Levi Clothing)

 Posted about bands x brands collabs once upon a time on this blog. With a great deal of suspicion and contempt.

The latest one involves one of my favourite bands - The Mondays - who have had one or two questionable collabs in the past, Admiral and Palace spring to mind (stay tuned for more on these..)

This collaboration seems a bit more on point as the designers are actually Central Station, who worked with Factory Records creating artwork for the Mondays early work. And it's these late 80s iconic designs that are emblazoned on Levi gear.

The t shirts are the pick of the bunch. Clean, crisp, white long sleeved tee coming in a Loose Fit, obviously, with one of four LP covers on the front - singles Freaky Dancin' or Tart Tart and albums Squirrel & Gman or Bummed. If that wasn't cool enough, they come folded up in its own record sleeve box.

Double double good.

Nose's Point

 

Recent Purchases

 Haven't done one of these for ages. Years in fact. When I post a load of bits and pieces I've picked up. This lot is especially random, boredom of lockdown taking effect...

A vintage Folk rainmac in a striking royal blue. Came as part of a job lot of coats, including an Elka x Norse projects fisherman's jacket and couple other smart folk overcoats. Couldn't get a decent photo of the others, anyway this was pick of the litter.

Brook Brothers shirt. Classic long sleeved button down with a fine check from the shirting staple siblings.

Garbstore x Indigo Farm selvedge denim. eBay bargain this, £13. Only couple of blurry photos in listing so took a risk. Paid off nicely as in top condition - no fading or wear. Very smart.

Clarks desert boots. My old pair have gone the journey so pleased to some new ones dirt cheap from TK Maxx.

Another job lot, this time of tittfers. Two Highland 2000 wool watchcaps - these were the brand who did CC's OG McMurphys (which I've got a handful of) so the quality shines through. Made in England also. Then a couple tweed numbers - a bakersboy, for when I'm feeling Peaky, and a trilby for when I'm Still Game.

Pissed up OG England 96 home shirt and Hackett cap. Recently got a refund on my EURO 2020 tickets so was a bit glum. Got these for watching it at home and throwing patio furniture round my garden...

...with an England soundtrack. World in Motion and England's Irie. The two best football tunes IMO.

The devil makes work for idol hands. Particularly when Sara Cox is the centrefold. Few vintage Loaded mag from eBay. For the articles.

A signed Pools ball. Celebrating 100 years of Hartlepool United. Fortunately I've only been around for 37 of them.