Gant Store Launch

Such a week of store launches! Good sign the economy is improving...slowly. The new Gant store on Regent St is lovely and choc-full of cute Americana. I love the homewares. How can anyone resist the Stars & Stripes cushions?!

  

  

  

  

 Lemon = Summer

  

Nauti-cute!

New Look. New Store.

I popped down to the new New Look store on Oxford St today for a preview breakfast and wasn't I impressed?! The mens side of the fashion chain has been developing so fast over the last few seasons that to see nearly a whole floor dedicated to boys stuff seems remarkable. Topman really have something to worry about now. Their designs just keep getting better and better. And, no-one will guess you got it from New Look...yet! There are lots of cute pieces in their Summer collection but these are my faves from today:

 

Mondrian briefs!

 

Shorts! Yeah for summer!

 

Skinny white jeans. Mmmm...

 

Giles Pandas!

 

Quilting!

 

Bow Ties!

 

and...a very cute 2 button double-breasted blazer. Perfect!

Habillées pour l'été 2010 - Dressed for Summer 2010: Part 1

Six short films starring Mlle.Agnes, a French television personality. These were first shown at the Sundance film festival. So interesting! I've been totally engrossed! Unfortunately the embedding option seems to broken for the other 5 parts but you can see them here http://www.sundancechannel.com/fullfrontalfashion/video/. Worth a look!

"Backstage" at Nick Hornby

Go Nick!

Spitalfields Sculpture Prize: Vote Nick Hornby!

 

Spitalfields Market have launched a prize for a new sculpture to sit at Bishop's Square, E1. There are six finalists and I am rooting for my friend Nick Hornby's piece, above. It merges six different aspects of Spitalfields – from its famous Christ Church to the profile of the Spitalfields Woman on display at the British Museum - and is a consistently changing 3-D piece into which visitors can read different images as they circle it.  I love the concept; that it invokes the history of the setting whilst being utterly contemporary. And I am always especially fond of art that transforms a space from different angles. It is one of the great effects that sculpture in particular can have on a space; redefining every viewpoint of that space. I think this will look breathtaking when up as it appears to be as huge as Nick's last few works (he doesn't really do small!). If you think it deserves to be placed on Bishop's Square, vote here http://www.spitalfields.co.uk/vote. Good luck Nick!

The Future draws ever closer

So excited!

Raider of The Lost Archive

I got up so early this morning - so much to do before Milan! Not least, deciding what I will be wearing. Any trip for more than a couple of days is tricky; trying to piece together outfits that will fit within the 20 kilo weight limit, but still be recognisably 'your style'. I often limit the bulky items, like coats, and bulk-up on accessories. But still, it's frustrating; reducing a wardrobe into a couple of capsule outfits. Some days I want to wear all black minimal, some days all colour maximal. But on a trip away from the wardrobe, there has to be some rationing. So, I was awoken this morning with the continuing dreaded question of what the hell am I going to take?!

Fortunately, at around 5am, inspiration finally came. (Funny how that seems to happen during out-of hours. In fact I usually have my best ideas at 5am after very little sleep.) Recently, I've been considering the question of what to wear post-skinny jeans. I've tried some chinos but I'm just not ready for full-on wide legs yet, but the middle ground is really quite difficult to get right, and indeed find. So I've been considering the idea of...cargo pants. The 90s revival is well under way, and there is little more 90s than cargo pants. Two words: All Saints! But the wide-leg doesn't feel quite right. I want it slim, and rolled-up. And then it hit me: I have some already! - in my very small (but well-loved) archive. Now when I say small archive, I mean really small. Katie Grand is supposed to have a whole house devoted to her archive. Mine barely fills a drawer. The black slim pants above are by a Japanese store called Comme Ca Commune, part of the Comme Ca group. Comme Ca is quite an institution in Japan and I will do an in-depth post about them soon. This pair, I bought in 2007 in Tokyo but have probably rested them for nearly 2 years. And oh, they're so perfect; slim but with that cargo pocket detail that makes the leg a little bulkier, a little more outdoors-practical. In 2007 I wore them with a grey waistcoat and white buttoned-up shirt. Now, I'll be wearing them rolled-up with an oversized round-neck sweater. Resurrecting old favourites is so satisfying. And it means one less item to think about before the trip. Let me know if you've resurrected and re-invented any long-forgotten items.

Make Lemonade Not War

A quick heads-up for this blog I have recently been introduced to - make lemonade. Emete, the writer of the blog, interviewed me yesterday for Sketchbook magazine. Sketchbook are planning an upcoming feature on 'editors', following their successful first issue about 'bloggers', so I was very pleased to receive an email from Emete asking for my thoughts on editing. We had a great chat at the Old Shoreditch Station - one of my fave coffee shops! - and so I wanted you to take a look at her work. It's really cute, right? The words are great but the pictures really stand-out too; difficult to do both well. Emete is currently studying in her final year at LCF and is pursuing a career in fashion journalism. From her blog, I'm thinking perhaps she should try picture editing as well. There's a real talent there!

Countdown...

No, not the gameshow, countdown to the fashion weeks silly! And also to the 1st birthday of this blog. My posting has been sporadic to say the least over the last year so thank you to those who have stuck with me even during the periods of drought. I promise a deluge over the next couple of weeks, principally because it's that time of year again when the good, the bad and the ugly of the fashion industry gather together to preview what we'll all want to be wearing in six months' time. I leave for Milan on Friday (fingers crossed the snow stops!) and then on to Paris direct next Wednesday. Celia and I will be writing 'Show Notes' from all of the presentations for  Buckstyle. This season, I decided it would be better to get the reports up as quick as possible, so it's going to be lots of pictures, lots of close-up shorts at the re-see viewings, and our notes on what we think it all means for us as consumers. On here, on the other hand, I'll be posting all the shenanigans going on backstage and at the parties. I'm particularly looking forward to the launch of the new Galliano Men line (and cocktail party!) and of course, the Frankie Morello party - an event that can only be described as obscene. Bring it on!

Luke Worrall @ New Look

The fashion week circus is nearly upon us ...again! How does it come round so quickly. So, as I'm writing Buckstyle's forthcoming 'Key Trends for Spring' feature, I'm also wondering what the key themes for Autumn could be...and what on earth I'm going to wear to the shows?! We leave on Friday so 3 days till blastoff. If only I could find a pair of pleated batik trousers in time. Possibly impossible.

Luke Worrall: The New Face of New Look

Who wudda thought eh? New Look menswear just keeps getting better and Luke really fits their fun, fresh image really well. Love this cardie - so cute! And you can bet it will be super cheap too.

Carolyn Massey for Slazenger: THAT Jumper.

A Carolyn Massey collaboration has been on the cards for a while now but yesterday we saw the first results of her new venture with Slazenger. And how lovely! On sale at asos.com from the Spring, it's classic Massey - Anglo tradition with a grungy contemporary twist. So we get the classic cricket V, but sewn round the neck like a fisherman's all weather winter knit. What a mash-up! Summer meets Winter i.e. Britain's weather for most of the year. And it feels beautiful. Co-labs are everywhere at the moment but this is an inspired pairing. If any brand is due for a comeback, it's Slazenger, and I think this will be a sure fire hit. Has made me think of other brands that could do with a re-launch; perhaps Henry Holland versus Head? What do you think?

A Quickie with Qasimi

 

Me with Khalid, Creative Director of London label Qasimi

 

Celia wearing one of his splendiforous creations, straight off the catwalk.

Elizabeth I meets Arabian Nights!

The Qasimi show was one of the highlights of September's London Fashion Week. It was a kind of re-birth for the label, the first season with Khalid totally in charge - and what a re-birth?! A golden gliterama of Joan Collins-esque proportions...and that was the just the shoulder pads. Keep an eye on this one. Next January's menswear show in Paris should be a very interesting affair.

Well...

I had decided to quit blogger. I haven't updated this in months and I thought, why not just re-launch with a Wordpress account, that'll encourage me to blog! Except of course it didn't. And then I realised that I would lose all my lovely linked friends on here. So, I'm back. Blogging is so funny. It is simultaneously very easy and extremely demanding; a daily pressure to do something very simple. My problem is that I like to do things obsessively, in one big go, not bit by bit. And blogging is best when bit by bit. So, I'm going to just have to get over it and blog something...anything! And then hopefully there will be something to read on here. Since we last spoke, I have launched a new food website called Doyle's Kitchen. You can read my recipes and gastronomical ramblings at www.doyleskitchen.com . Bon appetit!

Refine/Reflect - my new shoot for Buckstyle!

Woohoo, a new shoot! It's my first for a while and I'm really pleased with it. You can see more at Buckstyle.com of course but these two pics are a taster. Elliott, Celia and I all took on one trend them each for the autumn/winter season and mine, understandably, took-up the 1930s influenced dandy look. The fashion industry is trying to deal with the recession in different ways and this is certainly one example to follow; keep it louche and luxe. Formality is a keyword so while the look is decadent, there is a certain reserve. The hair is neat, the shirts pressed and the lapels sharp. This was so much fun to work on, especially shooting with the wonderful Holly Falconer who can always add a romantic air to even the grungiest of surroundings. I'll post a behind the scenes video of the shoot soon.

Brave New World - Buckstyle's first fashion film now live

So, finally we made it. Buckstyle's first fashion film is now live. Hurrah! Shot and Directed by James Yeomans with Creative Direction and Styling by Celia-Jane Ukwenya, the short film is set in a dream-like dystopia where a girl and boy, played by models Alex Jermy and Holly Dormon, are seemingly trapped in a decaying world with no way to contact others, if there are any left. Taking themes of security and protection from the AW 09/10 catwalks, the film explores survival and features key designer pieces by Prada, Yves Saint Laurent, Alexander McQueen, Hugo Boss and Raf Simons, worn alongside high-street items from Topman, American Apparel, River Island and H&M.

Brave New World is an apt title for our first foray into online video editorial as we are the first men’s magazine in the world to attempt a conceptual high-fashion story on film, free to view. In these current times of change, I think it is so important to keep trying-out new ideas, pushing boundaries and exploring how we can make the most of technology that is available now. This video will hopefully be the first of many more to come, reaching a global audience. My own first video will be premiering in about a month's time but I'm not revealing anymore about it yet! You'll have to wait and see...

Brave new World @ Buckstyle.com

Milan Fashion Week: Prada

Prada show last night was mesh-tastic; suits and shirts made of a heavy cheesecloth - surely one of the sexiest seventies' materials? Prada shows are always intellectual i.e there's a lot of deep thought behind the concepts. But I couldn't help but wonder if Miuccia was just trying to tell me something.

Milan Fashion Week: shop windows

Moschino's idea of a Nuclear family!

Fantastic Mr.Fox at Moschino!

A bath in the shape of a diamante stiletto!

dwarf with the seven snow whites!

I know, I know, it's been ages. But I do have a website to edit you know?! Well, I'm in Milan with team Buckstyle and this season is going brilliantly so far. So many items to wish for already! After several days of being surrounded by beautiful boys in beautiful clothes in the beautiful sunshine, I thought I'd put up some kitsch on here - bizzare shop windows! More fashion fun to follow soon.

Buckstyle relaunches!

The New Formality. First shoot from the new Buckstyle

Buckstyle has relaunched. Hurrah! And...At Last!! It's taken a while but we got there in the end. I'll be posting about the trials and tribulations of it soon but the important thing for the moment is that the site is now live. Let me know what you think about it. We'll be updating features every Monday and shopping info daily. Lots of exciting stories coming soon too and some pretty interesting video shoots...wait and see! This also means that I can come out of hibernation from my Mac and start blogging again. Double hurrah!

www.Buckstyle.com

Topman gets another floor at Oxford Circus!

News just in...

Following my meeting with Topman yesterday, they have revealed that the Oxford Circus branch is going to have a major expansion this autumn, adding a whole new floor of men's retail above the current store! All departments will be expanded, including, most excitingly, a permanent area for their limited edition ranges such as Lens and Topman Design. This is such good news. For design conscious guys who want affordable fashion, Topman has lead the way in recent years - pushing the boundaries of what one might expect to find in a high street store. It also goes to show that the most succesful companies are still being brave despite the recession. Congratulations to Gordon Richardson and Co - hopefully we'll get to talk to the Creative Director himself when the new-look buckstyle.com launches soon.

Topman White Tee Collection

Apart from building the new buckstyle.com, I am currently spending most of my time redesigning my new home and visiting press days. Topman launched their White Tee Collection yesterday, the latest in a series of collaborations with designers to transform basic everyday menswear into something a little more distinctive and interesting. Previously the store has organised reworkings of black trousers and white shirts, and this season we see several of the new new kids on the block having a go at that old staple, the plain white tee. The collection includes pieces by Phillip Lim, Juun J, JW Andeson, Richard Chai, Christopher Shannon and Henry Holland - a really good cross section of up-and-coming menswear, proving Gordon Richardson and co still have their finger firmly on the pulse of what's new and next in men's clothing. Above, you can see me modelling my favourite piece, actually from Topman's own Topman Design range - it's a double-layered Tee, or possibly, as seen above, also a scarf or even dress, if you're into that - versatile! This one is priced at £30 and no doubt will sell out as quickly as everything else in Topman's limited edition ranges.

www.topman.com

A little more Utada Hikaru...

I was just reminded of this gem by Utada Hikaru. Really quite an amazing video.

Clemens en August in London

A little video interview I did yesterday with Alexander Brenninkmeijer, Creative Director of Clemens en August, the fashion label that tours the globe, stopping off in cities such as London, Tokyo and New York for just 3 days at a time. The concept is really fun and the limited number of each item and limited time in which one can make a purchase gives the brand a 'new exclusivity' as Alexander calls it. Certainly worth checking out if you're in west London tomorrow!

www.buckstyle.com
www.clemensenaugust.com

stevedoylestyle.com is go!

At last, my portfolio is up and running. You can check it out at stevedoylestyle.com - it's like a review of Buck & buckstyle.com!

さくらはかわいいですね！

Fuji, Cherry Tree, Technology. The Japanese Cliché

Buckstyle.com is relaunching soon and there will be a distinct Japanese feel to the first edition of the new look zine. As such, I have been feeling quite a lot of Nippon nostalgia these last few days, remembering the clean streets, politeness and 24 hour karaoke of lovely-crazy Tokyo. I lived in Japan a few years back, studying Japanese at Uni there, and go back as often as I can; to see friends, eat good food and catch up with the latest style trends. Like Britain, Japan's economy has been hit really hard this recession with the FT reporting this week that exports were down 49% in February compared to last year; the rest of the world seems to have decided they can't afford flat screen TVs and Toyotas just right now. No doubt the indomitable Japanese spirit of 'getting on with things' will see them through though. Japanese people don't have much time for whingers; life is too short and unpredictable. And this attitude is really right for now. The transience of our lives is something Japanese culture accepts much better than ours. Some attribute this to a Buddhist view on life, where all is impermanent and at the same time everlasting. But Tokyoites, especially the growing band of ageing Tokyoites, know this impermanence like almost no other city on earth. The city has been destroyed over and over - split apart by the Great Kanto Earthquake of 1923 and burned down by the firebombs of World War II. The older generation of Edoko have known poverty, destruction and hopelessness. They have also known how terrible times can right themselves through hard work; that nothing is inevitable. In spring, Japanese people from all walks of life enjoy spending time having picnics under the Sakura, or cherry blossom. As a student, I had a few cans of Kirin and Asahi under the pink buds in the park, thinking of nothing more than drinking. But the cherry blossom is popular because it taps into this idea of impermanence. It reminds us of the fragility and beauty of life, bursting out of the seemingly dead branches, beautifying all around it, and then disappearing again as quickly as it had arrived. This idea of celebrating a short burst of beauty from nature is wonderful and, however deep this recession, the Japanese will enjoy it whatever happens to the economy. It's the simple things in life that matter; another Japanese cliché.

Back in 2002, Utada Hikaru was the top of the pops over in Japan. For anyone who knows her music, this is probably quite nostalgic. She is quite renowned for her videos as this shows.

Happy Birthday Mum

Mum on her wedding day, the 4th of the 4th '64. She was 22.

My Aunty Jen, cousin Nicky and Mum at Nicky's 30th birthday.

Mum always enjoyed a good party!

For most of you, St Patrick's Day means a few pints of the black stuff down the pub and possibly the wearing of a green hat and Irish Tricolore. In my family though, it will always be my Mum's birthday. Patricia Doyle (nee McNally- can you get any more Irish!?) was born on St Patrick's Day 1942 and died nearly three years ago now. I still miss her terribly. But having had a rummage through old photos up at the old house in Worcestershire last weekend, I found these, which have certainly brought a smile to my face today. My parents had the good fortune to get married in the 60s so her wedding dress is as simple as simple could be. I still find it remarkable how modern she looks though - in a couple of weeks, that picture will be 45 years old! The coming month is pretty tough for my family - the dead relatives' anniversary season. We have Mum's birthday today, followed by Mother's Day, then the anniversary of her and my beautiful sister Ros's deaths on the 30th March, Mum and Dad's wedding anniversary on the 4th April and finally the anniversary of my Dad's death on 5th May. Sounds grim, eh? As any of you who have lost close relatives know though, each year becomes easier; there are fewer tears and more laughs about the good times. I am very fortunate that I mostly remember my Mum laughing - the life and soul of the party, always looking forward, positive about what might be. She inspires me everyday to get over the bad times and put a smile on. Today I'm thinking about all the fun birthdays I shared with her, always on champagne, and will raise a toast tonight to her memory. Happy Birthday Mum.