Loving the Longchamps

I recently purchased the Longchamp Cosmos bag http://www.longchamp.com/gb/bags-handbag-women-10176.html. I first saw it on the arm of Kate Moss, when I met her last summer and it was love at first sight, the bag not Moss! I admired how she hadn't chosen to wear one of her own Longchamp designs, but had settled for this classic number.

Anyway it was a wet September afternoon and I strolled past the Longchamp store, accidentally on purpose as it was my birthday after all, and I bought that bag with no hesitation, and it hasn't left my side since!

My friends have asked me in the past that thought provoking question… can one ever find the perfect handbag? One that satisfies all our needs and desires, whilst looking like a classic piece of arm candy, for at least a few years, until we have our moneys worth! Well I can happily say that this bag comes pretty close! It’s size is big enough to hold, your make up bag, wallet, water bottle and some light shopping, but not too big that it gets over loaded and weighs you down, inducing arm and back pain. It is big enough to smuggle in all kinds of treats to the cinema on those days that you don’t feel like spending £10 on pik n mix. I have on occasion lost my phone literally seconds after I have thrown it inside, but then they do make phones small these days! And had I of used the handy phone sized pocket then panic would not have ensued.

It fits lovely on my arm, and also my shoulder, the leather is of the finest quality, as if Longchamps would use anything else, and it just gets better with age. I must admit when my precious bag first got stained with something non descript, sticky and possibly alcoholic I was a tad upset, but now, I embrace the imperfections. Don’t we all pick up a few flaws and imperfections a long the way, and don’t we all still look all the better for it? Well, maybe I’m speaking for myself here, but I think I’m getting better with age, and why not? After all life is just too short, so go out and buy yourself a Longchamps!

Miss Skirt x

Keep out the winter with Huxley

With the temperature dropping and with the goose pimples slowly crawling up ones arm Huxley Sweaters are just the thing to keep you warm and inject some colour into your wardrobe. Made from the finest Scottish Merino by old boy wool specialists who have been weaving Scottish knitwear since 1874, these guys clearly know a thing or two about producing quality garments.

Bright and bold, Huxley are just waiting to be added to many a gents staple wardrobe, and who could argue? as merino wool is soft , thin and warm. Perfect for days when one needs to look sharp, take a stroll down the pub or as an all important goal post when having a kick about down the park.

Huxley are 100% British and are without a doubt kicking the sand in the faces of all those Ralph Lauren cable knit wearing wise-guys. There is a British dandy in all of us, so grow a beard, embrace the colour and and throw a Huxley jumper over your shoulders.































































Huxley jumpers can be picked up at a whole host of independent stores and can be bought at their own shop www.huxleyclothing.co.uk

Clae Footwear Leads the Way

To all you followers of Skirt versus Shirt, I must apologise for the lack of activity over the summer. it was indeed a very busy period for the Old Shirt and I feel very sorry of the missed opportunity to discuss such pressing issues such as whether socks should ever be worn with shorts, man sandals and the terrifying male 3/4 length trousers. However the autumn in now amongst us and winter is just around the corner bringing us to the subject of practical yet stylish winter footwear.

The summer months, especially in the surroundings of London rely heavily on a smartly coloured pair of vans. Perhaps one of the best shoe designs of the last 50 years, however we have the spring and summer months to revel in the simple wonder of the Vans so for now I want to share my delight in Clae footwear, especially the Romare shoe.

Super sharp and undeniably sleek Clae has become a favourite leader for any self respecting contemporary gent interested in trainer culture. Traditionally crafted tan, sits comfortably against white sole, with elegant stitching, all in all piecing together a fine ensemble which compliments all straight legged denim, courduroy or chino. My Clae Romare's have without a doubt given me a skip to my stride and a jaunt to my jump, keeping my feet warm, my ankles dry and my bottom third looking the business.

Go check out Clae right now.

My Feet Look Gorgeous.. (& yours can too!)

I recently decided to give my poor bank account a little break and save some of my pennies for a rainy day..because of this I haven’t had anything shiny and new to write about! So I thought I would make the most of what I have and be thankful!

My shoe collection is huge and does I admit, continue to grow..for someone who grew up wearing skate trainers and flip flops I have rather a large amount of killer heels in my closet. Some of these I have had for years and worn only once and today when I looked at them I realised I should give them all another go and reignite my love. So with a little sprucing, reinventing and glittery sock wearing I have deemed them worthy to be worn yet again by my trusty feet.

Luckily with the awesome weather we have been getting lately I will be able to wear them out and not just around my flat (I fear wearing heels in the rain for I am a clumsy and that is a bad combination)

So in conclusion, to all of you out there who are trying to reign in the purse strings because your saving for a holiday, wedding or maybe just have no money! I recommend you dive to the deepest depths of your wardrobe and make some of your sad shoes happy again with a little polish and a couple of kisses.

Miss Skirt x

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.