Magic & Sparkle

"Last year I got a sweater with a big bird knitted on it. You can beat up for wearing something like that. Yeah, I got a friend who got nailed because there was a rumour he wore dinosaur pyjamas".

- Kevin McAllister, Home Alone.

Autumn Casual

Few bits and pieces I've picked up for the autumn, but shrewdly got during the summer so they nice and cheap.

First up a pair of shoes I've had on my radar for awhile, some long since deadstocked Clark's Minster Moors in tan. Love the design of these and they're perfect for dressing up or down - example worn for a posh meal with the wife the other night and shall be gracing my feet at Bootham Crescent tomorrow.

Next another nice bit of shirting from my favourite French fashion house Faconnable. In a pleasing shade of pink (for late summer) and brown (autumn ticked off too) check with the usual high quality detailing. Smart.

From the sublime to the faintly ridiculous. Vintage St. Michael grandad shirt in very typical 'your grandad' shades of brown, beige and grey. Lose fitting and linen, this will become my gig shirt the next time the Mondays roll into town.

Another bit of 90s vintage next. An old school Stone Island over shirt. Very lightweight and baggy with a simple design, has been thrown on over a polo when strolling down to get the Mirror. Been ages since I bought some Stoney but this was available for peanuts so couldn't resist.

Next up some cult badges. First a soon to be sold out blue (Hartlepool!) Stand against modern football pin from distant echo. I was online purchasing issue five of the mag when I spotted these, and red ones, fresh in. Purchase had to be made. After that we've got a pin from North East based A Casual Man blog. Those of you who haven't marked my words and visited his site, please follow link elsewhere on this blog. Love the simple yet classy nature of this pin, words which could also sum up the blog nicely.

Getting Shirty Again

A few choice shirt signings into the collection. Yet more Ralph, Faconnable, Blue Harbour and Hackett. I'll let the pics do the talking.

Yorkshire Tweed Cap

Picked up a smashing Moon flat cap from the local M&S outlet today. Based in Guiseley, Leeds, Mr Abraham Moon & Son have been making fine tweeds since 1837, to rival those of that well known Outer Hebrides brand. And they now provide their fine wares to high street staple Marksies (the biggest distributor of Moon Tweed in Britain), but also do a bit of collaborating on occasion with the more discerning designer pallets - D&G and Ralph Lauren being two most recently.

Been after a flat cap for awhile, as quite like that 'cap and crombie' combo. Tried and failed with a Harris Tweed bakerboy and missed out on Connoisseur's Villain cap, and so was pleased as punch to get this blue/black cap for £8.99. A Good Northern piece if ever there was one, were once seen as the uncool old codgers head warmer as he fancied pigeons, raised whippets, and hacked and coughed at non league games - all whilst he supped his bitter with yellowing nicotine stained fingers. Now though the cloth cap is a worldwide symbol of cool and to prove it here's some snaps of icons of mine wearing said garment, both of the tweed and cloth variety...

Suggs

Del Boy (David Jason) - Only Fools

Paul Newman

Bill Murray

Shaun Ryder

Jamie Foreman

Ade Edmondson

Danny Reagan (Donnie Wahlberg) - Blue Bloods

Cobblers Clobber

Couple of trotter purchases. Cleared out four pairs of trainers, deeply upset that the arse had fallen out of eBay (70 quid for a pair of size 10 2004 orange/brown Trimm Trab? Fuck off) but it worked in my favour with this pair of One True Saxon Edwa boots. Winning bid 99p. Then six quid postage. But when they arrived the postage label said £7.45. So technically got them for minus 46 pence. Poor sod of a seller. Happy buyer.

Canny pleased with them though. From back in the day before OTS was available in Littlewoods and designed by future Garbstore lynchpin Ian Paley. Nice suede brown desert boot style but with moccasin stitching round the toe. The camouflage bit is a touch of class as well and makes them stand out for me.

Next up is simplicity itself. These soft cotton deck shoes in a classic navy are by M&S Blue Harbour and are a inexpensive addition to the summer shoe collection. Less then twenty quid the simple design would work be it Primark or Sperry Top Sider - but pleased it's BH.

 With the piss poor May weather hopefully behind us and an impending heatwave en route, looking forward to teaming these with a cool polo shirt, cargo shorts and bucket hat. For that authentic England at the European Championship look - minus the pub patio furniture leaving my hands.

The Fishermans Friend

I'm not talking about horrible little lumps of aniseedy nastiness but a nice thick Aran jumper. Been a wonderfully mild Dec/Jan so far, indeed January has been very spring like, but nasty weather will be on it's way no doubt so delighted with this recent pickup. Had a M&S voucher burning a hole in my pocket since the end of October and thought I'd have missed any decent swag in sales, but got this smart winter warmer for £19 (from £50). From M&S Heritage collection, which is a modern retake on classic British heritage clobber, which had a good few thick jumpers - I took notice last autumn/winter - but this one stood out for me. Was over the moon it was in my size and cheap to boot. Another successful thrifty purchase.

Today I'll be Mostly Wearing...

Barbour mac
M&S Lambswool knit
Faconnable shirt
OTS Dogwalker jeans
Pointer Hopkins

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