Far Afield Portree Smock

 Nightshade purple. Slurple.

Loaded Fashion: Casual Top Five

 From the first ever edition of Loaded Fashion (A/W 1998) - The Top Boys Top Five.

Has it changed much in 23 years?

Mad Shirt

Everyone has a mad shirt in their wardrobe be it floral design, a loud madras or luminous pink. Or in my case all three. However this Aertex effort takes them to the next level, teaming up with the nutty boys to create this piece of merchandise for their 2010 tour. I was first aware of the shirt a few years ago when blogging about music / designer collabs but only sourced it of late after stumbling across one on the bay of despair.

Aertex has a rich heritage spanning all the way back to 1888, and historical highlights included kitting out the Desert Rats during the war and creating England's 1970 World Cup kit. And ten years into their third century it was working with Madness to create an instant cult classic - a trim fitting, button down gingham complete with Mad M. Mad not Mad.

Summer Swag

With the summer fast approaching and with me dropping a fair bit of weight, I've had a massive clear out of big baggy XL numbers and replacing with slightly slimmer, almost trimmer larges.

First up a few Madras check shirts. A Barbour sample with double chest pockets and hidden button down collar, a staple Ralph Lauren short sleeve Yarmouth and a modern classic L/S by favourite British shirtsmiths tuktuk. All in a pleasing array of summeresque blues, reds and greens...

Summer wouldn't be summer without some cool as Connoisseur bits and pieces. The already iconic Mary Pigeon polo and Heron bucket hat. Also some pinbadges, for FREE, courtesy of Hess the Horse. Sharing some pinbadgelove indeed...

After a spell of weighing up whether to go Stan Smith or Reebok Classic for a cool white summer trainer, have opted for the Exofit Lo Clean. Boks won it being that theyre unlikely to be seen on instagram with the hashtag casuallyobsessed preluding it. #ThatsNotCasual...

Didn't really need another Jacket if I'm honest, but then do we ever need another one? An Oi Polloi issue Armor Lux parka for a criminally low £13 off eBay. In a lovely hue of Francais Bleu (French Blue) and also includes the Frenchies other favourite colour inside the hood and as the lining - white. Anyway 'Lux' like a decent parka anyway...

I'm away this week. In Scotland. And apparently it's going to start raining later today. And not stop until we come back next Saturday. So I've packed a mac...

And finally, with the Gascoigne film out in June (for one night only) a replica version of the 1990 England shirt, complete with his trademark number 19. Perfect for flinging a bit of garden furniture round when on tour in Scotland...

A sample of tuktuk

A recent shirting pick up from North West Messrs tuktuk. Actually a sample effort that never made it to general release. I don't know why though because it's mustard...

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.

Faconnable

I'm a bit Facc'd up me...

Thrifty Shopper

I love a bargain. Here's a few purchases I've amassed in past few months via cheap but not always tasteful means...

GANT - Brand new, in my size and all for the low low price of £3.50 from the local hospice charity shop. Quality find that proves visiting your local thrift shop, despite leaving hundreds of times empty handed, eventually leaves you quids in...

CC Sweat - Had this since the summer actually, but now we've got to autumn it'll get a bit of wear. Full Metal Jacket inspired Viet conflict sweatshirt that says 'Yeah I support the boys overseas, but I'll do it whilst lounging round at home in a quality sweat. Deal with it". £12 from fleabay.

Decent Denim - Lost a fair bit of weight (two stone to be precise) so needed some new jeans as my arse was slipping off in the old ones. A lot of spoken about Japanese selvedge and the like, but I've headed West for the heritage brands of the US in Levi and Lee. By west I mean I went to the local TKM.

Woolrich - You can't beat a bit of Wooly. Got this vintage shirt from bay of despair for a few bob. Not sure what the design pattern is, but provides a bit of welcome relief from all checks in the wardrobe - Smart chambray with fossils. An added bonus is that it's a large. Get in there you formerly fat bastard.

Minster Moors - Love a shoe that looks like a burnt asymmetrical cornish pasty. So just as well I snapped these prime Minsters from the Connoisseur forum for a price of similar worth to fifteen of the Cornwall delicacies...

Faconnable - My favourite shirt brand of all time, but now available as a cap. Wow. Admittedly I'm not a cap wearer (my basey and Air Max days are about a fifth of a century behind me) but this was going for free on above said CC forum. Will name and shame the kind member - Hax. A true Gent who gave me holiday headwear for the price of a fart (only nice)...

Loaded - I only bought it for the articles. No really. Back in 1995 there were no semi nipped lasses in Loaded. Anyway a Great and Straight (Yeah) Shaun Ryder discusses newly formed Black Grape, plus a decent interview with the yet to be disgraced Ron Atkinson and an article on Casuals shopping. From Bay for a bob or two, expect a blog involving this in the not too distance future...

Coal not Dole - Pin badge for a quid. Just doing my bit, a show of support for the NUM. The union will never cave in...

Serpico - Gone full circle and back to the same charity shop where I got this cult classic, that I've shamefully never owned, for 50p. Widescreen edition too so I can appreciate the great mans beard and choice in hats in all there glory...