Showing posts with label Fjall. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fjall. Show all posts

Monday, 11 March 2013

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

Wednesday, 25 July 2012

Vintage Fjall Raven Thinsulate

Pulled the trigger on this beaut the other day, couldn't help it. I know Fjall gets a slagging from certain sections of those ITK - that wholely unfair 'new Stone Island' thing and being stocked in the likes of Scott's didn't help its cause. However I love a nice bit of the Arctic Fox and always keep tabs for vintage bits popping up on the bay, also checking the smaller sized listings as the really old mediums listed in the Eastern Block come up as extra large sizings. I once had a cracking blue waterproof in a medium that was 26 inches pit to pit.

Anyway back to this one. Nice pearly white which defies its age - with curious amber and purple trim - and plenty of nice detailing on the front including a 'Blackburn Rovers' badge thing going on. Thinsulate material that will keep those North Sea rains and winds off my back at the Vic. Going to be toasty warm in this quality piece of jacketing in vint condition.

Wednesday, 20 July 2011

Today I'll be Mostly Wearing...

Well actually it was yesterday night for Durham City's friendly game with Consett AFC...

Fjall Raven s/s Nordli
M&S Blue Harbour Luxury check shirt
OneTrueSaxon Dogwalker Jeans (with RL belt)
2005 Adidas Gazelle

Monday, 18 July 2011

Top Five Items

The five things in my wardrobe I could never part with.

1) Baby blue Stoney knit - Not a classic by any means but has some sentimental value. Had an identical one in XL that was my first ever S.I. knit. Didn't realise the smaller fitting sizes so it went on eBay after a couple of years after my chest expanded. Regretted it even though i couldn't zip it up. Then one day one appeared on ebay listed as XL and had to have it, knowing it would be too small. When it arrived it was XXL. Result. Doesn't see much action as the colour a bit gay, but good for cool spring/summer evenings.

2) Raspberry Lacoste Polo - Love my polo shirts and couldn't part with any. Especially this hot pink Laccy number. One of several plain polos with the croc on I own, but this is the favourite - even though I get a ribbing (not like that) for wearing it. They're all from approx. 5 years ago when they were (reasonably) well priced at 50 notes (Wouldn't pay the 65 they ask in House of Fraser now). They some quality though, all looking spanking brand new.

3) Barbour Dry Fly - No other jacket makes cold, windy, grey and wet days look more sexier. Pure class this jacket, made for fishing but wouldn't look out of place on a commando with all those pockets and webbing. Another bargain from the South Shields factory shop for under £75. Don't mind those who say "but you don't fish", because nor does my jacket.

4) 2004 Trimm Trab - It's documented that I'm hating trainers at the moment, but that doesn't include this artwork on your feet. Only two of five pairs of 2004 TTs that remain in my collection (bone/blue the other ones that remain - Argentina, beige/chocolate and green/blue went the journey for big bucks on eBay). Far superior to the horrible reissue Trimms Adidas are churning out every week now. Compare these to the similar colourway from last year and there is...well, no comparison. Better look, better material, better colour, better all round etc.

5) Fjall Raven Marma Smock - Got a good handful of FR jacket in my wardrobe and they outnumber the other brands due to the superior style and quality. Unfairly dubbed the new Stone Island a few years ago and, like OneTrueSaxon, lost some cred for appearing in shops like Scott's, but I love a bit of the Arctic fox and non more so than this. Longest jacket I own and with it's rabbit fur hood you can't help swaggering round like Liam Gallagher in his parka. Picked up, like many quality bits, from the now defunct Found NYC - God I miss it.

Thursday, 16 December 2010

Today I'll be mostly Wearing...

For todays jaunt to the MetroCentre -

Fjall Raven Ferndale jacket
CP Company ribbed cardigan
Polo by Ralph Lauren shirt
M&S stormwear jeans
Adidas Trimm Trab

Henri Lloyd Consort

 Suitable for the sea, Sardinian sandwich shops and soccer stands of Sheffield. Henri Lloyd RWR is one of Mr Strzelecki’s signature pieces i...