Todd Lynn's SS11 Collection at Royal Ascot Fashion Show

This Canadian born designer is loved by the rock music world and has dressed the likes of U2, the Rolling Stones and Marilyn Manson.  He is renowned for his razor sharp androgynous rock style tailoring for both men and women, and this year he showcased his SS11 collection at the Royal Ascot Fashion Show.

Mainly of his women's collection, he did manage to sneak in a couple from his men’s collection.

MacLeod jacket –blazer with diagonal zip fastening features snake skin leather patches on the shoulders and above the pockets. Zips at the cuffs and buckles at the back.

Teamed here with McClintock shorts with snake skin leather side panels....

...... and here with Mullis trousers.
Fabric used is of a linen blend with a touch of elastane to give a better fit.
This is futuristic rock 'n' roll.

Charles Tyrwhitt on the move!

Charles Tyrwhitt, the quality shirtmaker and menswear brand, has moved its flagship store from 92 Jermyn Street to  98-100 Jermyn Street. 

Why bother just moving a few doors away you may ask- well because the new premises are bigger and better. Here the merchandise is spread over two floors and occupies over 4,000 square foot. The store is light and bright due to its corner position allowing daylight to shine through the many floor to ceiling shop windows.

And a sense of space due to the atrium style as you descend to the lower ground floor via the wide quarter turn helical staircase for the smart casual/weekend  wear selection.

But somehow keeps the quintessentially cosy British look through the comfy sofas , leather armchairs, cushions  and dark wood.

Loved the mannequins with their artist’s model style jointed wooden limbs and their cloth covered heads  in various patterns.

Also, good news, they have a promotion on until the end of May where some of their clothing is half price! 

Red & white dogstooth jacket was £310 now £155. 100% cotton, woven in italy with working button 3 cuffs and natural corozo buttons.

Worn here with:
Stone cotton linen canvas trousers were £120 now £59. 68% cotton, 32% linen.

White twill Sea Island quality slim fit shirt was £120 now £59.95. 100% cotton

Navy plain woven tie was £50 now £24.95. 100% silk

Navy quarter handkerchief was £26 now £12.95. 100% silk,
hand rolled hems, discreet Charles Tyrwhitt logo.

Tan Bristol loafers with apron stitch, were £330 now £165. 100% calf leather and made in Northampton, the UK shoe capital. Goodyear welted, leather sole with rubber heel. Fully leather lined.

Mid blue modern jacket was £310 now £155. Again 100% cotton, woven in italy and has working button 3 cuff and natural corozo buttons.

Worn here with:

Soft red single pleat chinos were £80 now £39.95, 100% cotton

Green stripe lightweight Oxford casual shirt was £69 now £29.95. 100% cotton and semi fitted.

Belford navy & pink textured stripe narrow tie was £50 now £24.95. 100% silk

Pink plain handkerchief was £26 now £12.95. 100%silk, hand rolled hems, discreet Charles Tyrwhitt logo.

Light grey Bentley suede summer brogues, were £330 now £165. Made in Northampton, the UK shoe capital. Goodyear welted , leather sole with rubber heel. Fully leather lined.

And if you can't make it to their new store, check out their website: www.ctshirts.co.uk 

Nautical Look - French Riviers playboy look for the Spring

It’s usually the fine knits here as the look is fresh, clean and oozes style. Cool cotton knits are a popular choice for those hot yachting days. Mainly navy and white and lots of horizontal stripes.
The authentic nautical stripe is the Breton stripe originating in the French Provence of Brittany . Here the fisherman found the fine double twist cotton protected them against sudden gusts of wind. They were introduced to the French navy in 1858, where the stripes helped spot any sailors who fell overboard . The original also had 21 stripes , one for each of Napoleon’s victories.
Now it’s just a classic but still comforting to know if you do happen to fall overboard.

New Look have a Breton striped knitted jumper in white with navy stripes at a swimmingly good price of £9.99. Ready for work aboard with cream shorts, red/blue boat shoes, orange mac and brown canvas backpack all from New Look. Available from New look stores or via www.newlook.com

Or go to the darker side and choose navy with white striped mariner jumper in pure cotton from Brooks Brothers (£89). Looking good with a pair of white lightweight chinos in the Milan fit (£89). Available from Brooks Brothers, 150 Regent St - 0203 238 0030 / www.brooksbrothers.com

However stripes as we know aren’t very slimming so make sure you don’t have them around your tummy area if this is a concern. Keep to the shoulders. Or go for something like the Musto sail classic cardigan. Plain navy with nautical strip detail going vertically down the neckline – a much more slimming effect- £70. Available on www.musto.com

Chunky knits can still sail their way in to this category with something like Musto’s chunky knit shawl cardigan in navy or white. Just team with a tee shirt underneath - www.musto.com

And there is always the plain sweater with the boat neck – New Look white knitted jumper. Available from New Look stores or via www.newlook.com

New Look's SS11 beachwear collection

It's the New Year and thoughts now turn to summer holidays. So get ready and check out New Look's beachwear.

Get noticed in these yellow board shorts and red plimsolls, teamed with a surf strip tee and white hooded long sleeve tee.

Or go floral in these blue/white hibiscus board shorts shown here with white mesh tee, grey striped hoodie and blue flip flops.
And if you don't fancy getting wet surfing the waves there is the fleece shorts option:

Vintage inspired colourful dip dye vest, blue fleeced shorts, yellow flip flops and beaded necklace.

Blue tee with custom made surf applique, green fleece shorts, aviator sunglasses, yellow plimsolls and bracelets.
All you need to do now is book that holiday!

Alternatives on Amazon:

Garbstore SS11 at Urban Outfitters

Garbstore draws it’s influence from what they coin as ‘unfamiliar vintage’ – familiar garments that reference the past in the use of original fabrics or the way they are made and then add a modern edge in to the mix.

Urban Outfitter's Boutique Brands -Velour and Alife SS11 collection

Swedish fashion brand Velour call their style  ‘Feel good Preppy’ where the designs mix the classic preppy look with Swedish west coast influences.

For SS11, colours are light and fresh such as this mint cable knit jumper and baby blue chinos with checked shirt.

Teamed with a pair of Alife crepe soled plimsolls for the retro feel

New Look Spring/Summer 2011 Collection for Men

This season New Look is adding their extra details to the three classic looks: vintage work wear; collegiate look and the nautical inspired look.

VINTAGE WORK WEAR

Inspired by 1930's America with double denim still on trend. Here they are pairing the American classic pale blue chambray shirt with a white tee, raw denim jeans and an eagle buckle belt.

Showing you've worked your fingers and jeans to the bone in this grey American motif tee and distressed jeans with braces.

For an alternative to the hard wearing denim, chinos show they are up to the challenge and come in shades of tobacco, ecru and navy. Here seen with a red & white check shirt and dark denim jacket.

COLLEGIATE LOOK

This time the colegiate look is a mix of all -American teens preppy and school Brits casual sports. Here a red varsity cardigan is teamed with a navy v-neck tee and grey cuffed tracksuit bottoms.

Working the look here is no sweat in this white military polo,light beige chinos and grey marl collegiate sweat.
THE NAUTICAL INSPIRED LOOK

And where would spring be without the ever perennial infusion of nautical wear? Here we have a red and white stripe tee with navy blazer and trousers.

Double denim also makes an appearance here in dark wash denim blazer and shorts with white and navy stripe tee.

And make sure you're ready for the high seas and match your Breton striped knitted jumper and cream shorts with an orange mac, brown canvas backpack and red/blue boat shoes.

New Look's collection is all plain sailing in the trend and value for money department.





Alternative looks on Amazon:

KTZ Spring/Summer 2011 collection at London Fashion Weekd

As London FashionWeek neared the end, what better way than to bring a royal medieval touch to it with hints of King Arthur and his knights.

A knightly black and white hooded tunic is richly decorated in a patchwork of fleur de lys, stripes and turret patterns with a large dragon thrown in for good measure. Plus a few medals for decoration.

The King Arthur style hairdo and crown sets off a black and white patchwork jacket again of fleur de lys, stripes and turrets plus the large dragon. A scattering of fleur de lys is embossed on the black shorts.

If knights went to baseball matches, they'd probably wear a black sequined baseball style jacket and horned sequined baseball cap teamed with black and white fleur de lys, turret and striped shorts.

For that royal workout King Arthur could wear gold embossed bird and sun patterned black jogging bottoms. Accessorised with armour plated hand shields and of course his crown.

Or maybe pale pink and gold striped satin jogging pants with fleur de lys and dragon motif.

For that incognito jogging through the park, there is the pale pink and gold striped hooded jacket with black fleur de lys and black sequined dragon motif worn with a regal visor instead of the common sunglasses. And sandals of pattern embossed leather

To practise his punches, there is the pale pink and gold striped long boxer style satin shorts with fleur de lys motifs.

Other regal outfits are the pattern embossed leather shorts and sandals with gold embossed black t shirt.

And for the more subdued look there is the double layered black shirt with shimmering green strips and matching shorts.

James Long Spring/Summer 2011 Collection

Titled -‘They died Too Young’ and inspired by classic films such as Midnight Cowboy, My Own Private idaho and a time of psychadelic living,..

....we see an abundance of fabric patch-worked together and hazy mix of bright colours in psychadelic splash patterns.

Trippy knitted patchwork in silver grey wools are worn with splash print trousers.

Splash print shorts mixied with block colour panelled twin sets,..

..desert dried rolled up denim shorts and..

..trousers with acid bright silk and chiffon tailored shirt under patchwork jumpers.

Lightweight indigo mohair,

and liquorice and tobacco coloured leather jacket also add to the swirling pot of colours.