Paninaro

From the sandwich shops of Milan and Turin, to the terraces of Aberdeen, Leeds and Millwall, in the late 80s the Paninaro style was huge among youths of two nations. The violence, the religion, the injustice, the death and most importantly the swag...

Th@t North

A new shop selling old (pre-loved) gear th@t opens tomorrow. Just hope it has website, because it's in Stockport. Th@t's too far to go. Even for smashing old school labels like these...

Pieces and Bits

January. That bleak month after the expense of Christmas where we claim we'll tighten the belts and reduce spending. And we do so. By shopping in sales. Here's a few bits...

Universal Works parka. Lying about this being a Jan purchase, was a birthday present to myself in November. Well, you only turn 31 once. Just haven't got round to posting, been trying to think of a Blur 'The Universal" pun. And I can no longer hold on For Tomorrow. Shit. 

CP Company sweat. Nice plain weave knit by Chester Perry. Again I'm sure this was bought before Christmas so this post makes no sense. For a bargain fee on 15 notes from CC forum.

Casual Connoisseur Weir. Another forum pick up for a score. Missed out on these Football Specials when they were released, but finally, after a severe delay of British Rail proportions, I've got one on board.

Whilst we're on on the subject of #LoveHats a blue Barbour bucket. So that's one for now, one for then..

Tuk tuk Marsh shirt. Oldham meets Madras with this fine design by shirtsmiths tuktuk. Love a shirt and these have fast become my favourite label, thanks to a fine mix of quality and style... Plus extras like stickers and sticks of rock.

Rains Jacket. Finally a cheap Mac from Danish designers Rains. Via a forum yet again for pennies. Lost some weight and took a risk on a M/L. Unfortunately I need L/XL. But I could lose a few more lbs. It really really really could happen. Get in, there's The Universal pun.

Massimo Osti Archive

Damn fine Russian site freizeit were granted a visit to MOA earlier this year. Well worth a look for their glorious, and numerous, photos. Click here for archive blog.

Hats on or off?

Hats On

* The Bobble
The bobble hat has seen a re-surge of popularity in the past few years, no doubt with some part played by the exclusive Tom Weirs by Casualco. Three colourways are released in limited numbers of 50, sell out in minutes on said website for £25, then cruelly appearing on eBay a couple days later for often treble the RRP. The bobble hat is sometimes associated with nerds like bird watchers and trainspotters, but despite this is the ulimate in cool winter warmers as it evades the attention of the fashionists. It's hip to be square.

Casualco.com

*The Trapper
The trapper is as quality as it is functional. Again wins cool points as it does look a bit silly. Flaps can be worn up for that Russian cab driver look or down to protect ears from frostbite in Arctic conditions - or during January mid week games.

Fjall Raven

*The Flat Cap
Maybe because it's because I'm a Northerner that I rate these so highly. One for the Northern League dwellers, pigeon fanciers and whippet breaders. And the odd clued up chap. Tweed caps are proving to be quite popular at the moment, another hat proving that it has a cooler rep now than in the past. As Northern as a road sign saying THE NORTH in, well, the North.

A. Moon Tweed

*The Bucket
A hat made famous by the Madchester and early Britpop scene, the bucket is predominantly found on heads come summer, particularly at music festivals. Worn by those trying to emulate Reni and Liam Gallagher, but less so Man City boss Roberto Mancini. Quite a functional hat as keeps sun out of eyes as well as rain off the head. My personal favourite is the Kangol Spray, but they loss brownie points for churning out those god awful fluffy hip-hop ones.

Stone Roses Reunion Bucket

Hats Off

*The Cap
Worn by everyone and anyone. The baseball cap is synonymous with chav culture, but saying that you don't seem to see them as much these days. Which is probably a good thing given the vulgar house check designs that single handedly brought Burberry to it's knees in reputation stakes. I do have a problem with the Stone Island ones that are doing the rounds at the moment - even the genuine ones look fake. Being the cheaper of S.I.s range this is the SPW garment that lots of young whippersnappers opt for with their pocket money, hoping for top boy status. Gay boy status i'd say. Shit.

Stone Island

*The Beanie
It's like a bobble hat but minus the bobble. And to be fair they ain't all bad, there's a lot of good ones out there. But they lose points for those who throw one on with a t-shirt in the height of friggin summer. Again Stone Island deserve a mention for their thoughtless and unoriginal version. Sticking their trademark button patch on the front of a beanie really wasn't a masterstroke. I thought things couldn't get any worse... until I saw the CP Company goggle ones. Sigh.

CP Company

 *The Deerstalker
These never looked good and are best left in the confines of the mid 80s. If I saw some country gent wearing one combined with a Barbour jacket, shotgun and gun dog I'd probably laugh, even though he genuinely has a right to wear one. So imagine what I'll do if I see some 17 year old on the terrace combining one with Sergio trackie top. I'll point and fucking laugh.

80s Casuals

*The Trilby
Unless you're one of the seven members of Madness or one of the Blues Brothers then you haven't got the right to wear a trilby. One for the old boys as part of their Sunday best, after wearing the flat cap on a saturday. Another hat which has it's chequered past thanks to Aquascutum et al.

Aquascutum

Under Fives

Well, CP Under Sixteens for an under two. Jakey boy, who's partial to a bit of baby Ralph Lauren and also boasts a nice collection of Clarks, got his first bit of fine Italian sportswear recently. Lovely little purchase from eBay for less than the price of a stamp. 99p for as new CP Company zip up sweat.