Recent Purchases

Few bits and pieces amassed during last couple of months -

Aquascutum scarf. Had one of these for yonks but outed it on eBay and regretted it. I know the house check is a oft maligned thing these days, but 'Water shield' scarf is a classic. Picked up this lana wool one from TKM.

Getting back into me skinhead gear - got a crombie jacket recently but couldn't get a decent photo of it - and this vintage houndstooth shirt fits the bill perfectly. It's by Ralph Lauren which obviously isn't traditional skinhead gear but it's got no branding and the staple button down collar. A winner for a bin lid off eBay.

From the sublime to the faintly ridiculous. Another Ralph shirt (I do wear other brands I promise) with no branding but with a whacky design that could only be Lauren. Patchwork quilt 'Bob Camp' short sleeved button down, again for next to nowt offa fleabay.

Chatham have been providing top notch quality boating gear for over two decades now. Based in Kent they've become a staple label for British designed and made technical clothing for offshore activities. Smart pair of brown deck shoes from TKM for £15.

Break from the norm with these. Certainly never have been or never will be a plimsol wearer, and have previously scoffed at guys on forums claiming Supergra kicks are good. Still not a hundred percent on them, but they're comfy and will be decent for kicking around in. And couldn't resist from same TKM for £7. Daft money.

Balls to all that half and half scarf nonsense. But don't mind flashing a bit of club and country. Got this Pools/England badge for the San Marino game back in October as I tried to get excited about national games again. Didn't work. And a steward mistook it for a Burnley badge.

Issue two of Stand AMF. Issue No 1 sold out with a fortnight so was pleased got the second issue of the best magazine around at the moment. Worried I might of missed out as it went AWOL in the post but those #AMF lads sent out another one no questions asked.

Slightly disappointing artwork and album title, but being a Madness die hard the incredibly positively named Oui Oui Si Si Ja Ja Da Da has been added to the stack of CDs. The nutty boys tenth studio album is a bit less exciting as some efforts, but still a couple of cracking tunes on it. The main single they're pushing 'My Girl 2' is a splendid blend of ska mixed with Northern Soul. Beautiful.

Factory Records Graphic Album book. Wanted this for ages and the wife duly delivered with this on my birthday. Expect a post on this very very soon...

Ralph Lauren Shirtings

The new boys on the block like tuktuk and Mikkel Rude may be taking all the shirt related plaudits at the moment, and rightly so, however I still don't think you can really beat a nice bit of RL. A staple diet in any blokes wardrobe, found in 1969 stateside but finally going big here in the 1990s due to 'Polo Geezer'. The shirts are timeless with their classic designs, soft cotton and are always cool in style. Picked up a few more to add to the shirting collection including a short sleeved Madras check, an incredibly busy Two Ply Ellington and a pleasing green/blue Poplin Tartan. Courtesy of fleabay and TKM.

Custom Fit Madras

Ellington

Poplin Tartan

Bill Murray Style

The iconic genius is not only known for his superb acting and comedic timing but also for his fine, yet outlandish, clobber. Some of what he wears shouldn't look good but it fucking well does.

Stay tuned for another post on Mr. Murray in the not too distant future...

Getting Shirty (recent purchases)

Decided I needed some serious shirt investment a couple months ago so went hell for leather in sourcing them. Here's what I got..

First up a classic navy blue/white Gingham check Ralph Lauren. Oozes quality and I don't think anyone does this kind of shirt as well as Mr. RL. Following that another Polo by RL design called 'Bleeding Madras' - I think it's bleeding gorgeous. Got a slight worn look to it, which is something that's never really appealed before, and think the wooden hand painted top button is a real touch of class. A mix of colours, reds, greens and blues, meaning it'll be champion peeping through with a whole host of knitwear come the autumn. Both picked up from TK Maxx for £35ish - they're outdoing themselves with the RL casualwear at the moment.

Next up is a crisp looking Faconnable, not disimilar to a Barbour Tattersall I own if it wasn't for the wavy checks. In three tone green on a bright white shirt. Great shirt from this brilliant French label. eBay for £12 BNWT

Next up are two from the Markies outlet. A pastel coloured short sleeve Oxford shirt for less than a tenner. Fell in love with this shirt when I saw it last summer, but never got round to buying it. Lush one for summer and bigger fitting than other Blue Harbour shirts, but seeing as it'll only be worn in stifling July heat (if we're lucky) then that bagginess can only be a good thing. Also a supersoft brushed cotton number in autumn browns that will be going into storage until the colder months, but might as well prepare for it because it'll roll around in no time.

So all in all five excellent shirt purchases in my opinion, well worthy of wardrobe space. And all from my favourite brands (with the exception of Barbour) for shirtings.