Sneak Preview of JShoes AW 11 collection

The inspiration for JShoe's AW11 'Era' collection is the Nouvelle Vague (New Wave) of the 50's and 60's when a group of French filmmakers began experimenting with shots away from mainstream cinema techniques. 

Above is the 'Operator', a two tone finish boot with lace hooks on the ankle. This style takes on a more casual approach with softer shapes and a handcrafted feel.

Brogues are softened with the distressed look.

And don't you step on his blues suede shoes!

There is also the 'Portland'- a lace up moccasin style mid calf boot featuring:
a waxed wrinkle leather upper
a natural crepe sole
sheep skin lining
handstitch detailing.




JShoes goes for Heritage colours in their 'Woodland' inspired collection of traditional styles with a modern twist.

 One of the key styles is the 'Overlord'- a leather lace up military style boot featuring a secondary layer around the ankle which is removable. Comes in black/olive, dark brown/olive or truffle/dark brown. 

The AW11 collection will be available soon on www.jshoes.com

Around the World in a 'Worn All Over' T-Shirt

Worn All Over or WOA is a new casual wear brand that loves to travel. Their inspiration is 'Lust for Distant Scenes'. The designs are all related to travel, featuring real places and real events throughout the world.

This one is 'Acapulco 1967' with the iconic eagle print representing 'the Spirit of Good over Evil', 1967 Silver Medal, Playa Tlacopanocha.

Available in merchant navy or rebel (mint) green.

The fabric used is of super soft sueded cotton with the print in a distressed cracked  style giving a vintage feel which complements the well-travelled spirit of the brand. Herringbone back neck tape and made in Portugal.

Other designs are:

Montreal 1976 t-shirt. Featuring the Montreal Olympic Torch of 1976 in the clever guise of the 'V' from Worn all Over. Colours are stealth black or gun grey.
Berlin t-shirt. With a Berlin Brandenburg eagle print 1957. Colours cue ball white or rebel green
Reno 56 t-shirt.With Reno Washoe County angry prop plane 1956 print. Colours stealth black, poker red or gun grey.

The brand prides itself with the quality of their t-shirts so much that they have given each garmetn the stamp of approval through their 5 star logo (which represents the five inhabited continents of the world). Subsequent collections will all carry this mark through a micro five stars label on the right sleeve and it is set ot become a trademark for the brand.

The t-shirts are £24.95 and can be purchased on www.wornallover.com. Plus they are packaged in neat recycled tubes.

OLIVER SWEENEY – New Triple Welt Colletion

To celebrate the 20^th anniversary of Oliver Sweeney’s Goodyear Storm Welted  collection, they’ve updated a few of their favourites from the original 1991 ‘Walk of Art’ collection.

Using  the original ITshide ‘Commando’ sole results in an on trend chunky profile.  But they are lighter and more flexible than they look due to an EVA midsole enhancing the Goodyear welt.

Walsh - this Oxford brogue was inspired by the original 1991 Redgrave brogue.

Available in a rich burgundy or  tan £255 

Cooper - this round toe style is available in a heady wine colour or the classic black £255

Lewis  - This boot brogue is avilable in tan or the classic black  £285

For more details check out www.oliversweeney.com

Etro Menswear AW11 Collection

'Home on the range' springs to mind with  Etro's furry cow skin coats.....

...... right down to the shaggy footwear .

For a more urban look, Etro uses their signature paisley print .

The colour palette is warm with shades of creams, bieges and light to dark browns......

..... with bright blue adding pops of colour.

Loving the quilted trousers.

Footwear for Linen Suits

Yes linen suits look great with moccasins, boat shoes and even sandals.

But if you're going to the Glorious Goodwood races, then you should aim for the smart look, so opt for something like a spectator shoe in a light neutral colour. Avoid black as this is too dark.

All in the spectator style and in the Herring Premier Collection are from left to right:

 Christchurch – a Monk shoe

 Henley – a full brogue .Also comes in a wide fitting due to popular demand.

Marlow – a tassled loafer

All are in chestnut calf leather with beige canvas body and Goodyear welted. Price £225.

www.herringshoes.co.uk

 Or go even lighter with Zanacco's Silvio Sand, a vegetable tanned leather oxford style shoe at £365. The light sand colour is ideal for the linen suit. www.zanacco.com

Panama hat - the hat to be seen in at Glorious Goodwood races

Whether you opt for the traditional linen suit or just a smart jacket and tie, the hat to be seen in at Goodwood races is the Panama hat.

Charles Tyrwhitt

Charles Tyrwhitt natural colour Panama hat. Was £90 now £34.95. Woven in Ecuador, leather inner band, traditional black ribbon. www.ctshirts.co.uk

Surprisingly the Panama hat doesn’t originate from Panama but Ecuador. Many factors endorsed the name: Panama was  the international point were goods  from South America would be taken before being shipped to Europe and the USA; workers on the Panama Canal wore them for shade and  when visiting the Panama Canal construction President Roosevelt was seen wearing one. But probably the main reason was when the hats were sold in the Paris World Fair in 1855 by a Frenchman living in Panama. Ecuador was not mentioned as a participating country, so the hat became known as Panamas.

Trilby Sussex

At Goodwood, a popular sight is the Panama with the hat band in Goodwood racing colours of red and yellow. These can be purchased from www.goodwood.com  and the price ranges from £40 for the Trilby Sussex ...

Panama Richmond

...... to £250 for the Panama Richmond   

For different colours check out Pachacuti on www.panamas.co.uk  . They import directly from Ecuador cutting out the middle man and are a Fair Trade hat specialist.   

Pachacuti's Fedora Llano  with peacock blue band

This classic, fedora style panama hat can be rolled for travelling. The llano weave is a flexible, durable, herringbone weave and it takes over a week to weave each hat.

The quality of grade 8 llano weave panama hats is very fine. Price £99.50
Image showing peacock blue band. Other colours available are mink, gold and black.

Pachacuti's Fedora Brisa

Another classic fedora style. This time in standard grade weave and trimmed with a red multi-coloured hat band. This is not a rollable hat.  Price £49.90

Pachacuti's Fedora Llano

The Luxury Teal Silk Band is bespoke made for Pachacuti in Devon by the UK's last remaining silk band specialist mill. Also available in sage green. Price £139.00
Grade 8 weave and rollable.

Linen Suits for Glorious Goodwood races.

Alas Royal Ascot is over for another year, but hard on its heels is Glorious Goodwood, providing everyone with another reason to don their glad rags. Dates are 26th - 30th July.

With Ascot, it was all about being ‘dapper’ in your formal morning attire, now it’s the turn of the quintessential summer English gentleman look in a light linen suit and Panama hat.

Unlike the morning suit in Ascot’s Royal Enclosure, the wearing of linen suit is not obligatory to enter in to Goodwood’s Richmond Enclosure. But it is a tradition that caught on ever since the trend setter King Edward VII wore one (and a Panama hat) in 1906. 

M&S Collezione linen blend suit

Linen suits will give you a casual chic look when dressed down with t-shirts, polo shirts, light wool sweaters and open necked shirts. But for Goodwood the dress code for the Richmond Enclosure is a jacket worn with a tie, cravat or polo neck sweater, so you need to wear a shirt and tie with your linen suit.

M&S Collezione collection have a range of pure linen and linen blend suits. The beauty of linen blend is the suit has the appearance of linen but doesn’t crease as easily.

The above image we have M&S Collezione linen blend blazer (£99) and trousers (£49.50) in an almond shade and worn with their Blue Harbour white t-shirt £6. But for Goodwood replace the t shirt with a shirt and tie.

Details of suit: Jacket -2 button fastening, notch lapel, 5 button cuff, front flap pockets. 50% linen, 28% silk and 22% cotton. Trousers- straight leg, on the waist, single pleat, rear pockets with button detail. www.marksandspencer.com

Goodwood's Horse Gallop ties

 

Get really in to the horse racing mood with one of Goodwood’s Horse Gallops tie at £70.  They are pure silk tie with detailed weave of a racing horse at £70. Colour choices are gold, navy, lime,lavender and pink.

www.goodwood.com 

The wearing of light coloured linen suits became popular in the Victorian era when gentlemen travelled abroad and wanted to look well dressed and elegant whilst keeping cool in the sweltering heat.  Linen was ideal as this natural fabric is loosely woven allowing air to circulate freely and the skin to keep cool.  Plus it suits a looser fit style which is more comfortable in hot sticky climates than the more tailored suits and is great for most body shapes.

Karl Jackson at Debenhams

 

The stone colour of Debenham’s Karl Jackson linen 2 button suit £130 is a light shade which won’t show the dirt as much as the creams and whites, plus will look great paired with shirts in most hues.  You could opt for the crisper clean look of a white shirt; an elegant tonal look with creams, ivory and beiges; a cool chic look with pastels or the statement look with bold brights.

Details of suit: Single breasted, notch lapel, 3 button cuff. Left and right straight pockets plus breast pocket, side vents, 100% linen, lining polyester.  www.debenhams.com

If you opt for the white, cream or beige shirt, add a touch of colour with your tie.

The more popular colours for linen suits at Goodwood are the neutral creams, beiges and taupes.

Stvdio Jeffe banks at Debenhams

So stand out from the crowd in your Stvdio Jeff Banks light blue linen suit (£135) from Debenhams. www.debenhams.com .

Pachacuti's Fedora Llano weave Panama hat

Team with Pachacuti’s Fedora Llano weave grade 8 and its luxury teal silk band £139.  The Llano weave is a flexible durable herringbone weave and the teal silk band is made in Devon by UK’s last remaining silk band specialist mill. www.panamas.co.uk

Charles Tyrwhitt Liberty tie

Wear the suit with a white or cream shirt and either a floral or paisley patterned tie to complement the embossed pattern on the silk band of the hat. Charles Tyrwhitt blue and green cotton Liberty ditsy floral handmade tie says ‘English summer’.  100% cotton in a genuine Liberty design fabric. Was £70 now £19.95 www.ctshirts.co.uk

House of Fraser

This Paul Smith cream double breasted linen jacket £550, worn with Kenzo cream linen trousers £170, may not be an actual linen suit, but still looks the part of the English gent.  Unfortunately the Kenzo cream granddad collar t-shirt (£79) won’t pass the dress code for the Richmond Enclosure so go more dapper with a white shirt and coloured flamboyant cravat. The double breasted blazer and cravat are a winning combination.  www.houseoffraser.co.uk 

And don't forget to team with your Panama Hat - see tomorrow's article for more details