The need for Tweed

Many have often argued that the modern man these days is not only far too casual but also incredibly un refined in their choice of dress. As a fan of contemporary casual items such as the humble t-shirt and being an earnest promoter on the elegant practicality of denim. I do, rather strangely at times, wish for a past when men would cut a sharp, clean tailored figure on any landscape that they so desired to be involved in. Although I wouldn’t want to spend all of my days wearing a suit and hard shoe, quite frankly any unnecessary heavy clothed attire in the middle of summer worn on the tube is a good reason in itself not to endorse suits. However despite this, I do find myself longing for the occasional vintage accessories that gentlemen of old would carry, such as a Hip Flask, pocket square (to brighten up ones blazer) or even a fine patterned handkerchief; an article which could save many a tree if brought back into fashion.

The Tweed Run is the perfect example of such an occasion when all modern dandy’s, urban squires and anarchic gentleman can come together, polish of their steel frame (mine is an early 80’s Viscount) and travel through London at a leisurely pace in their finest tweed. Many cut a dash in their high argyle socks, plus four trousers, tweed Jackets and brylcreemed hair. The contents of many hip flasks were shared and conversation was held at a jaunty canter over cucumber sandwiches and a cup of tea.

First produced during the 1800’s in Scotland. Tweed cloth was produced initially for gamekeepers but lately has slowly crept into contemporary fashions. I can’t quite explain how good wearing tweed made me feel, I felt noble, honourable and jolly spiffing, so spiffing that I’ve decided to save my hard worked pennies and invest in some tailored tweed in the not too distant future...

Here are some more pictures from the Tweed Run revolution.






/>

Skinny Vs Baggy

I don't often write about male fashion, girls fashion is so much more exciting & we have so many more ways of adorning ourselves. However, this is one subject which I felt I just had to comment on. Skinny jeans on men, forget boyfriend jeans, it seems to all be about girlfriend jeans, the skinnier the better...or not!

Now, there is probably a handful of men that can pull this look off (The Horrors in my housemates opinion look sexy in them..!) and it is a handful..but there are a whole damn lot of guys out there who can't.




Bless him, little does he know..

Seriously boys take a look in the mirror before you leave the house, there are a few things you should take into account when dressing up in skin tight leg apparel. Does my bum look big in this? Is my sperm count at risk? Am I revealing a little bit to much of my manhood? Are my pins skinnier than my girlfriends? In my opinion all very important factors!

Stemming from Cornwall I grew up in the presence of skater and surfers boys (yay!) so I may be a little bias, but for me baggy jeans are far more appealing! I'm not talking so low that the bum is completely exposed and the underpants are on view to all, but baggy enough to leave a little to the imagination if you know what I mean?!

Here is my approved guide for all you misguided men out there..

Too Skinny..





Perfection!




Too Baggy!!



It might be pink, but do I really need to see that much of your underwear just yet?!



Unfortunately not everyone shares my love for the baggy bottoms..but sooner or later they'll be fighting back with a vengeance!

My rides here..



gotta go, sk8erzz!

Miss Skirt x

Anyone fancy a tee?

Sometimes, when times are down and you have a huge pile of work to get through, or a small dilemma to sort, a fresh tee can help re-energise and lift ones spirit. Like most men, I have a healthy fascination with the T-shirt, one that has lasted all through my reasonably shortish life. I can remember saving my pennies as a young lad in order to buy some bright tee, a loud colour often complete with a garish logo across the chest. During my late teens and early twenties I even aspired to owning a tee in every possible colour.

Now that I’m slightly older, my tastes have changed, gone are the huge logo’s (I’ll leave those for the younger chaps) and I’m now on the lookout for something that is still desired by other t-shirt fiends, but also subtle with a slight hint of rebellion. This quest for the right Tee has though, in recent times, lead me down a blind path, as I previously stated, large logo’s are for the oh so young, I’ve never quite been in to band tees and t –shirts of the humorous variety have never quite sat well with me.

Many recent Unfruitful T-shirt trips has resulted in myself amassing a large collection of polo’s which has heavily tipped my wardrobe ratio for light upper wear strongly in the favour of Ralph Lauren and the fierce green crocodile. Last summer had left me so dissatisfied wit the lack of t-shirt options that I only wore plain white.

So far 2010 (and admittedly the back end of 2009) has been incredibly kind, delivering several fine specimens from unlikely sources. These few welcome additions are now getting the wear they deserve for not only the upcoming warmer months, but for many years after that.

1991 Granada Wheel Appeal,discovered at a charity shop at the grand cost of £1.99, if
anyone attended the 1991 Granada Wheel Appeal , please let me know.



This Yankees tee purchased by a much younger Shirt whilst visiting NYC nearly 10 years ago for a pricely $4 as the Yankees had taken the World Series the night before: long forgotten about, but now much loved.



This beauty was again bought in New York whilst visiting at the same time of the NY marathon in October 2009.



This was actually a gift from our very own Miss Skirt and incredibly the result of a consumption of several Monster Munch packets, waving the proverbial skirt versus shirt fist at the anorexic obsessed fashion world.

Wellington Chic

I’ve just returned from a lovely Easter break in my homeland of Cornwall. It was hard leaving this time, something about taking the girl out of Cornwall but you can’t take the Cornwall out of the girl! I think it’s a combo of the sea, the countryside and all those friendly old faces that trigger a need in me to give up on the big bad city and shack up with lots of animals, grow my own veg and trade my heels in for a lovely pair of wellies!

Anyway it got me to thinking that for many of us it’s getting to that exciting time of year when we can frequent all the wonderful and interesting festivals that this country has to offer. Glasto, Latitude, The Big Chill there are tonnes to choose from! Gone are the days that festivals were just about good music and interesting people, we now have a lot more to take into consideration like it if is muddy what will I wear on my feet?! Wellies have come along way over the last few years..no longer just for farmers & people who like hanging around in mud, they are an eccentric fashion statement.

There are some obvious industry leaders out there, Hunter being the primary manufacturer of “posh” wellies! All the festival going celebs are wearing them, and it’s a race to see who can adorn their feet with the newest most glamorous Hunter wellies. For those of us who can’t afford to spend £60 on glam wellies then there are to my delight much cheaper options out there.

My advice would be to get yourself down to the local farm shop and purchase some traditional green ones for next to nothing.

Oooo Arrr!!

Miss Skirt x